A Clark County, Indiana voter has asked election officials to strip Republican county council candidate John Benningfield from the November ballot, arguing he had active felony convictions on his record when he filed his candidacy paperwork. Benningfield has pleaded guilty to seven felonies.
Clark County voter Sarah Stivers filed a petition asking the Clark County Board of Elections to remove Benningfield from the ballot, according to WHAS11. The petition challenges Benningfield's eligibility to run before his convictions were expunged.
The Expungement Timeline at the Center of the Dispute
Under Indiana Code ยง 3-8-1-5(d)(3), a person is disqualified from running for or assuming elected office if they have pleaded guilty to or been convicted of a felony, unless that conviction has been pardoned, reversed, vacated, set aside, or expunged, according to FindLaw. Indiana's expungement statute addresses the process for seeking expungement, per the same law referenced by the station's report. The Indiana Code expungement chapter is available through Justia Law.
The dispute concerns Benningfield's expungement process. A judge's decision on that process could affect his eligibility, but the article does not establish how the timing of an expungement would affect his candidacy.
Party Says It Relied on Attorney's Word
Party Says It Relied on Attorney's Word The Clark County Republican Party has said it valued Benningfield's community advocacy work. Jeremy Snelling helped recruit Benningfield to run while knowing about his criminal record. The article cites Indiana candidate filing rules in its discussion of candidate certification. Fannie Broxon was mentioned in connection with the certification process, but the account does not provide a verified statement from her.
Benningfield was nominated and placed on the ballot after filing the appropriate paperwork, and he faces Democrat Teah Williams-Hampton in the Clark County Council District 1 race, according to Ballotpedia. The ballot challenge has prompted discussion of Benningfield's candidacy and community work, but the available account does not establish what he said at a Board of Elections meeting or how he said he would respond to the board's decision.
Community Roots in Recovery Work
Community Roots in Recovery Work Beyond the ballot fight, Benningfield has been identified as a forensic director or manager at Thrive RCO, a Southern Indiana recovery community organization, according to Thrive RCO. The article also discusses work involving community corrections and recovery services. It provides broader statewide context on substance-use services and reentry work in Indiana's correctional system.
What Happens if Benningfield Is Removed
If he is disqualified, the article discusses a possible replacement candidate after the primary.
Hoodline previously covered a similar SD 38 ballot fight, and the article also discusses ballot-eligibility questions.
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