Indiana Cases May 12, 2020: Decola v. Starke Cnty. Election Bd.

Case Description

Appellant Pro Se: Thomas DeCola, North Judson, Indiana

Attorney for Appellee: Janette E. Surrisi, Wyland, Humphrey, Clevenger & Surrisi, LLP, Plymouth, Indiana

Vaidik, Judge.

[1] In January and February of this year, Thomas DeCola declared his candidacy for three offices in the Starke County primary election that was originally scheduled

[146 N.E.3d 1085]

to be held on May 5: Starke County Treasurer, Railroad Township Republican Precinct Committeeman, and Republican State Convention Delegate-District 17. On February 7, Starke County Republican Party Chairman Dave Kesvormas filed challenges to DeCola's candidacy for all three offices, claiming that DeCola had engaged in "gross misconduct" at a political conference and that he "does not meet the qualification and prerequisite set forth in the rules of the Indiana GOP." Appellant's App. Vol. II pp. 14, 15. The Starke County Election Board held a hearing on the matter on February 26, sustained the challenges, and ruled that DeCola "will not appear on the primary ballot in Starke County in 2020." Id. at 126.

[2] On February 28, DeCola appealed the Election Board's action to the Starke Circuit Court, asking the court to "order the Board to reinstate his candidacies[.]" Id. at 7. A hearing was scheduled for March 20. That day, Governor Holcomb issued an executive order postponing the primary election until June 2 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. See Executive Order 20-07, https://www.in.gov/gov/files/EO_20-07_Rescheduling_Primary.pdf [https://perma.cc/7Z6L-VV2A] During the hearing, however, the Election Board's attorney indicated that some absentee ballots had already been sent to voters. After the hearing, the court issued an order affirming the Election Board's decision.

[3] DeCola then appealed the trial court's decision to this Court. The matter was transmitted to this panel on May 7. DeCola asks us to order the Election Board to "reinstate" his three candidacies "on the June 2, 2020 Starke County Republican Primary and absentee ballots." Appellant's Br. p. 17. The problem with that requested relief is that only three weeks remain before the primary—a primary that will be conducted largely via absentee ballot because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even under optimal circumstances, it is highly unlikely we would order a county election board to start from scratch on absentee ballots three weeks before an election. We certainly will not do so with the pandemic ongoing, with Indiana's reopening effort still in its early stages, and with a growing number of absentee ballots having already been sent to voters. As the Election Board states, "To redo the absentee ballot in this environment would be untenable." Appellee's Br. p. 18. DeCola makes no argument to the contrary.

[4] As we have said, "A case should be dismissed as moot when no effective relief can be rendered to the parties before the court." J.B. v. State , 55 N.E.3d 831, 833 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016). Because we could not grant DeCola the relief he seeks even if we were to agree with him that the Election Board erred by keeping him off the ballot, we dismiss his appeal. We express no opinion on the merits of the Election Board's decision.

[5] Dismissed.

May, J., and Robb, J., concur.