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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowSecretary of state candidate Greg Ballard has added a lawyer specializing in election law to his legal fight against the Indiana Election Commission over whether it should meet to consider campaign finance complaints.
Ballard said Thursday that Greenwood attorney Michelle Harter will represent him Friday at a Marion Superior Court hearing on a motion for a preliminary injunction. Harter’s practice focuses on general civil litigation, election law and appellate advocacy.
Ballard sued the commission last week and is asking a court to order it to meet to consider four complaints. Ballard started off representing himself and said he would drop the case if the commission met.
Ballard has said the commission has not met since July and is ignoring the complaints. He wants a meeting held before Election Day on Nov. 3. Ballard said he isn’t asking for a particular outcome in those cases.
He just wants the commission to review the complaints.
State election officials did not respond Thursday afternoon to messages seeking comment from The Indiana Lawyer.
Ballard wants the commission to consider complaints that focus on Republican candidate Max Engling and Democrat Beau Bayh.
Libertarian Lauri Shillings also is running for secretary of state.
Ballard, who is running under the newly formed Lincoln Party banner, told reporters last week that Republicans and Democrats on the commission “are protecting themselves rather than protecting the integrity of voting in Indiana.”
He noted that the commission has met in September over the previous five years but did not meet last month.
The former Republican Indianapolis mayor said in a statement that not meeting was “an abandonment of duties.”
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