Dubois County Republicans to Challenge County Council Candidate's Eligibility in Court

BY: DAVID SHEPHERD, NEWS DIRECTOR / PHOTO: FACEBOOK 

JASPER -- A Democrat running for the Dubois County Council is being urged to drop out of the race by local Republicans and they’re filing a challenge in court to get her name off of the ballot.

Sen. Mark Messmer, Chairman of the county’s Republican Party says Mikayla Granados isn’t eligible to run since she is a convicted felon.  Messmer says she has had ample time to comply with her obligation to remove herself from the ballot.  So far, she hasn’t done that.

The clerk’s office needs a decision by August 24th to ensure there is enough time to take Granados’ name off of the ballots. 

A judge is asked to rule on the matter within 10 days of its filing.

Granados pled guilty to possession of narcotics and maintaining a common nuisance last year.  Those are both felonies. 

I reached out to Granados for reaction.  She told me she couldn’t make a statement yet.  I have an interview scheduled with the Democratic Party Chair, Mike Kendall later this morning. 

I’ll have their side of the story coming up at on our noon and afternoon reports of local news and here on our website.

See the full statement from Senator Messmer below.

Monday afternoon (August 10, 2020), an action was filed by Mark Messmer, Chairman of the Dubois County Republican Party, by counsel, Eric J. Schue of Dentons Bingham Greenebaum, LLP, requesting that Mikayla Granados be removed from the ballot as candidate for the office of Dubois County Council.

This action was taken for the following reasons:

  1. Upon knowledge of her ineligibility to run for office under Indiana law, Ms. Granados had the obligation under Indiana law to immediately remove herself from the ballot as a result of her felony convictions.  Ms. Granados has failed to meet her obligation by voluntarily removing herself from the ballot.
  1. We believe that, under Indiana law, Ms. Granados is not an eligible candidate for Dubois County Council and cannot be elected to the office of Dubois County Council in this election.  If Ms. Granados would win the election as an ineligible candidate, the County would face significant uncertainty and expense.
  1. Ms. Granados has had ample time to comply with her legal obligation to remove herself from the ballot.  The Clerk’s office needs a decision by August 24th to ensure there is enough time to get the ballot approved and printing complete prior to mailing out absentee ballots in September.  The Judge must rule on this filing within 10 days.  August 10 was the last filing day to ensure that the absentee ballots are printed correctly and to eliminate the chance that the County incurs additional costs to change the ballot later.
  1. Having an ineligible candidate on the ballot will only result in distraction and confusion in this election cycle.  This is an important election for Dubois County – and it should be focused on the genuine issues and opportunities for our County and those candidates who are eligible to serve on the Dubois County Council.

Due to the above reasons, we believe it is in the best interests of the voters and taxpayers of Dubois County:

  1.  To obtain a Court ruling of whether Ms. Granados is an eligible candidate under Indiana law; and
  1. If the Court rules that Ms. Granados is not an eligible candidate, to remove Ms. Granados from the ballot for the Dubois County Council election.