Carla Clark | For The Republic Tom Dell, owner of Dell Brothers, asks Vishaan Chakrabarti a question about the planned installation, during the 2023 Exhibit Columbus , Public by Design, presentations at the Commons, Columbus, Ind., Saturday, February 25, 2023.
When it comes to encouraging responsible politics, Columbus City Council member Tom Dell puts his money where his mouth is.
$6.25 to be exact.
The three-term Democrat was one of 20 current or former candidates who failed to turn in a required 2023 year-end campaign finance report by the deadline of noon on Jan. 17.
Based on a fine of $50, Dell calculated he owed the Bartholomew County Election Board $6.25 for filing his paperwork three hours late. The council member and business owner then gave that exact amount of money to the board during their meeting Thursday.
Bartholomew County Clerk Shari Lentz, as well as board president James Holland and board member Mark Kevitt, initially chuckled over Dell’s gesture. A decision was made last week that Dell was among a dozen late filers who will not be fined after making late filings.
But as he addressed the board, it became clear Dell’s real intent was to make a point to all local candidates.
The integrity of the county’s election board is maintained from ensuring that candidates fulfill their responsibilities, Dell said. And since state law gives the board the ability to fine and penalize, the councilman said it’s only right that the board take steps to make sure all candidates abide by election laws.
“For the integrity of the election process, I expect you to fine me accordingly,” Dell said. “If you make a mistake, you pay for it. And I think you need to hold everybody else accountable. It’s only right I pay because that’s the way the law reads, and I am not going to be above the law.”
Pleasantly surprised, Holland and Kevitt told Dell he was the only one of 20 candidates who apologized for their late filings.
“I think your words and gesture reflects on your own character,” Kevitt said.
“We need more public officials like you,” Holland told Dell.
Following last week’s election board meeting, certified letters were sent to eight individuals who have still not filed the report. By Thursday, all but two former candidates had turned in their paperwork: 2023 mayoral candidate Sean Burton and 2020 county council candidate Derick Olson.
The board said last week they would issue a fine of $50 if a current or former candidate did not turn in a report or meet with the board by Thursday. But Holland, who serves as board president, said Burton and Olson can’t be fined because there’s no proof they received their certified letters.
New letters will be hand-delivered by representatives of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, Holland said. Both of the former candidates will be asked to meet with the board at 10 a.m. on Feb. 29.
