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Saturday, July 07, 2007

Ind. Gov't. - More on: 2nd NW Indiana legislator backs out of resignation

"Cheney can't serve living 200 miles south" is the title to an editorial today in the Gary Post-Tribune. Some quotes:

Last month, [Former state Rep. Duane Cheney] announced he was resigning from state office midway through his term and moving from Portage to land he and his wife purchased near downstate Spencer. * * *

Yet, this week, Cheney inexplicably changed his mind. He wants a mulligan on that resignation letter.

Now, he says he can still represent Portage from about 200 miles to the south. He says he would "maintain" an apartment in Portage. Although there's no law that forbids it, we think it's a bad idea.

BTW, the ILB recalls that a recently retired state senator served for years in a leadership position after he had retired and moved to the Michigan.

[More] According to this story in the Chesterton Tribune yesterday, Cheney likely will continue to represent the district. Here is a somewhat confusing selection from the story:

Democrat precinct committee members will meet at 6:30 p.m. this Sunday in Portage City Hall to decide what has become an unusual contest for the vacant 10th district House seat. * * *

[Jennifer Wagner, communication specialist for the Indiana State Democrat Party] said that if the Democrat caucus votes to rescind Cheney’s resignation, Cheney will remain as state representative. But if the caucus does not grant Cheney’s request, Clem will be the new state representative, since he is the only candidate to file with the state party by Thursday’s 6:30 p.m. deadline.

Cheney cannot file as a candidate to keep his state office. According to state law, a candidate who causes a vacancy cannot file as a candidate for the seat, Wagner said. So the only option for Cheney to stay in office at this point is to ask that his resignation is rescinded.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on July 7, 2007 09:15 AM
Posted to Indiana Government