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Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Ind. Law - "Glaspie said he asked several people in the Republican Party, who he declined to name, if his convictions for intimidation with a deadly weapon and criminal recklessness would make him ineligible"

Another story about a convicted felon and eligibility to public office today, this one in the Lafayette Courier & Journal. Brian Wallheimer reports:

OXFORD -- Two 1993 felony convictions are coming back to haunt David Glaspie.

Glaspie will likely never take the seat he won on the Oxford Town Council last month, and now his job in the town's street and sewer department could be in jeopardy.

"The fact that he's a felon is a problem with me," said Lowell Gardner, a town councilman. "His employment will be seriously discussed."

Glaspie applied to run as an independent, at-large candidate for the council in this Benton County town. The application specifically asks if candidates are ineligible because of any criminal conviction.

Glaspie said he asked several people in the Republican Party, who he declined to name, if his convictions for intimidation with a deadly weapon and criminal recklessness would make him ineligible.

"When I asked about my criminal convictions, I was told they weren't pertinent on the local level," Glaspie said. "I sought out information to make sure it was on the up-and-up and I found out it's not."

Janet Hasser, Benton County Circuit Court clerk, said she is seeking advice from the Indiana Election Division on what to do. She said she's never had a case similar to this.

"There's no clear answer because it's an at-large seat and there are no state statutes for this and the deadline to contest the election has passed," Hasser said. "He's not eligible to assume office."

Glaspie said he's looking for an attorney to advise him on the matter. He said he wants his options, but isn't looking for a long legal battle.

Here is a list of some of the earlier ILB entries on a convicted felon's eligibility to run for, or serve in, public office.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on December 4, 2007 12:27 PM
Posted to Indiana Law