I’ve been observing local elections in Indiana (off & on)  for about 45 years.  In almost every local election I’ve watched, there are allegations of one side stealing the other side’s campaign signs.

In this year’s Hamilton County Council Republican primary election, incumbent Councilman Rick McKinney is running for reelection, and has leveled some serious sign theft charges that resulted in the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department opening an investigation.

McKinney says he had signs missing in the area of Cumberland Road and 116th Street in Fishers.  The Sheriff’s Department says the cell phone of a county council candidate, Jeff Hern, was found near the area of where the signs were located. According the the Sheriff’s office, Hern, currently the Fall Creek Township Trustee, has been interviewed about the incident.

No charges have been filed.

Hern is out of town and not available for comment.

There are three at-large county council seats up for grabs in the May 3rd primary. McKinney and Brad Beaver are incumbents.  Hern, George Kehl and Bill Dennis are also candidates.  The top 3 vote-getters among the 5 hopefuls will end up on the November general election ballot.  No Democrats filed for county council seats.