Laura Campbell is now the Hamilton County Republican County Chairman, following a ruling from the Indiana Republican State Central Committee. The decision declares Campbell as the “duly elected Chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party” in the document dated March 16th, 2016.

That means Pete Peterson, a member of the Fishers City Council, is no longer Hamilton County Party Chair.  Peterson was elected to the post in a caucus vote by party precinct officials in late January.

The controversy was over 71 votes cast by those appointed to precinct posts by former Chairman Pete Emigh before he resigned as chairman.  The Republican Party Hearing Board, in making its recommendation to the State Central Committee, says the state party was not properly notified of the appointment made of the 71 precinct officials in question.

The report says, in part:

“Due to the failure of the State Secretary to receive notice of the 71 new appointments and an official list reflecting these appointment, at least 30 days prior to the vacancy in the office of Hamilton County Republican Chairman, the 71 new appointees were not eligible to vote in the Caucus to file the vacancy.”

Those 71 votes made the difference in the election and Campbell has been declared County Chairman as a result.

Peterson told LarryInFishers he doesn’t understand when and where he waived any rights to make his case, as the hearing board says in its recommendation.  He confirmed he is no longer county chairman and Laura Campbell now holds that job.

Peterson was also upset that the hearing board report misspelled the name of Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, showing his last name as “Fadiness.”

Peterson says he has no idea what happens next.