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Last updated on Thursday, February 26, 2015
(BEDFORD) - The Lawrence County Election Board voted to deny Sam Shaw’s challenge of primary mayoral candidate Bradford “Brad” Bough this morning.
The Election Board, which consists of Republicans Myron Rainey and Democrat Don Henderson, found there was no merit to Shaw's claims and denied the challenge. Election Board member Republican Gordon Emery was out of state and could not attend the hearing.
Shaw filed the challenge this past Friday, stating Bough "Filed as candidate for public office while employed on government grounds and on the government time clock."
Shaw says the filing was done while Bough was being paid by federal taxpayer's dollars.
Both Shaw and Bough filed their candidacy on Friday, February 16 before the noon deadline.
Rainey stated that he checked with the county auditor to see how Bough was paid and it was determined he is not paid by federal funds, but his salary is taken from the county's general fund which does not subject him to the Act to Prevent Pernicious Political Activities, or the Hatch Act.
Shaw questioned if filing for candidacy was campaigning on government grounds.
"Is signing that declaration campaigning or not?" he asked. "Can you campaign on city, county or government ground? What is the definition of campaigning, if filing that form is campaigning than he should not have been doing that on government ground and should have filed his candidacy through the mail."
Bough told the board he was not being paid when he filed his candidacy for office.
"I was on my lunch hour," Bough stated. "I filed my candidacy at 11:40 a.m. I normally take my lunch hour every day from 11:30 to 12:30."
Henderson questioned if the Veterans Affairs office was closed during that time. Bough said it was and a sign was placed on the door stating the office was closed.
Bough also stated that to attend the hearing this morning, he had taken comp-time
"As part of my duties I attended a meeting at the Mitchell American Legion on Monday," Bough says. "I am using the comp-time from that to attend this meeting."
Shaw still questioned if filing your candidacy for mayor was campaigning. He called his challenge a "test case," saying, "Is this part of a campaign or not? ... It might be a reflection on what happens in the future. I want to be the mayor of Bedford. By coming in and signing that paper, you're now a candidate, and you're campaigning. Once I sign my name, I'm campaigning for that office, in this case, the mayor of the city of Bedford."
But the board disagreed.
While denying the challenge Henderson stated he felt it was "unreasonable" to ask any candidate to file for office through the mail.
"If you say filing for office is campaigning that would keep any office holder from coming into this office to file," Henderson says. "If that was the intent of the legislation they would state that office holders would have to file by mail. I see nothing wrong with them coming into this office to turn in his or her candidate form. It is unreasonable not to allow a candidate to do it in person."
Bough sent the following statement after the board's finding:
I applaud the decision of the board for allowing me to remain on the ballot.
Their decision has given the voters of our City, the freedom to make the final decision as to who our next Mayor will be.
Personal attacks, rumors and gossip have no place in this or any campaign, be it via social media, yard signs or in print.
I agree that under our Constitution, people have the right to be as mean spirited as they want; however, two glowing factors need to be brought to their attention.
First, the Constitution is nothing more than ideas on a piece of paper, unless there are Citizens like my fellow Veterans and I, who are willing to leave the safety of our homes and defend those ideas to the death, if need be.
Second, the children of our City, simply deserve better from those vying to be their elected leaders.
And to that end, I pledge to focus on the issues in this campaign, avoid personal attacks and make a positive case (see below) as to why I am best qualified to be the next Mayor of, Bedford.
At this moment, I am the only candidate on the entire ballot, who has served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Next, how many candidates in this election can honestly say they have served their Community, State and Nation? I can.
At present, I serve the community as the Lawrence County Veterans Service Officer and in the last reported fiscal year, the VA reported, the Veterans of, Lawrence County, receive $10.2 Million Dollars in monetary compensation.
This is not a one time grant, but real income, earned through sacrifice, which will come, year, after year, after year, to the most deserving people in our Community, our Veterans.
Also, I have served the people of Indiana, as an Officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant and finally, prior to my retirement, as a Captain, with the Indiana Department of Corrections.
Further, I served our Nation as a Subject Matter Expert in Afghanistan, at Pol-e-Charki Prison, where the most dangerous enemies of our Nation since WW II were held and also, in the U.S. Armed Forces, as a Military Working Dog Handler.
Additionally, the leadership and organizational skills developed during my service to the Community, State and Nation are self evident in my daily duties.
But factually, being a Veteran can be a political liability, in liberal areas of the Nation.
As an example, did you realize that in every single Presidential election, from 1992 thru 2008, that all five losing candidates from the major parties were Combat Veterans?
Surprising, but true.
However, I sincerely believe the citizens of Bedford, Indiana, are far more patriotic than what we see on the national level.
And it will be these patriots, voting their conscience, along with the votes of my fellow Veterans and their families, which will be the deciding factor on May 5th and again on November 3rd.
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