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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe selection of a new Johnson County prosecutor has been delayed two weeks after county Republicans were told Thursday night that none of the candidates had filed all of the necessary forms.
According to the Daily Journal in Franklin, the Johnson County GOP gathered Thursday night to caucus and name the successor for former prosecutor Bradley Cooper, who was removed from office last month after being sentenced on felony domestic battery charges. Republican precinct committee members were gathered to name Cooper’s successor from among a group of six candidates, but Johnson County Republican chair Beth Boyce told the caucus that none of the candidates had filed an official declaration of candidacy.
While each of the six candidates — James Ackermann, Carrie Miles, Beckie St. John, Indiana Inspector General Lori Torres, Mike Vertesch and acting prosecutor Joe Villanueva — had submitted letters to Boyce indicating their intent to seek the prosecutor’s seat, party leaders learned this week that the candidates could also be required to submit an official Declaration of Candidacy on a state form.
Two of the candidates, Vertesch and Miles, also had not filed statements of economic interest.
The precinct committee vote has been rescheduled for Aug. 29. The successor named that night will be immediately sworn in and will serve the rest of Cooper’s elected term, which runs through 2022.
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