Check this out! IN rep implicated

For Immediate Release: November 5, 2006
Public Access Request Reveals Serious Ethics Violations
11/5/2006

Emails show Kathy Richardson is doing political fundraising from her
County position as well as legislative work on County time and
resources

NOBLESVILLE - A public access request for emails from County Elections
Administrator and State Representative, Kathy Richardson, has revealed
serious ethics violations and misuse of County resources. The emails
from Richardson's Hamilton County email address were obtained using
Indiana public access laws.

Emails were found containing fliers for fundraisers being held for
Richardson's State Representative campaign. "The emails we received
Friday night numbered in the hundreds. We have barely scratched the
surface in finding what is contained in these emails, and we have
already found two fliers entitled Halloween Fundraising with Rep. Kathy
Kreag Richardson Majority Caucus Chair. These fundraisers were held in
2005 and just this past month. These are serious violations of
Indiana and federal law," said Keith Clock, Chairman of the Hamilton
County Democratic Party.

Over suggestions that Richardson may be involved in electioneering, Dale
Simmons, the Republican co-general counsel for the Indiana Election
Division was quoted in the Indianapolis Star as saying a that a
candidate would have to be actively campaigning for herself or her
party to be guilty of electioneering. Clock believes the discovery of
fundraising fliers for Richardson's State Representative campaign using
her County email address proves electioneering.

Also found in the requested emails were messages clearly revealing that
Richardson is actively engaged in her duties as State Representative
using her County-issued email address and taxpayer provided equipment.
"This just goes to show that Kathy is in fact doing her State
Representative work while being paid by the County and using County
resources. In the emails we have read so far, we are seeing Kathy
working with her Legislative Assistant, strategizing with other
Republican leaders, writing constituents and so on. This is proof that
we need someone who has one job - - that is to run the elections for
Hamilton County."

Last month the Hamilton County Democratic Party called for the
resignation of Kathy Richardson as Election Administrator over a series
of errors and the fact that as Elections Administrator she is overseeing
her own election as a State Representative. Just in this election we
have had absentee ballots going out late to military personnel and two
candidates missing from the ballot within a two week period. During
this time Kathy has been working on her fundraiser and doing political
and legislative work. Kathy's activities are considered "ghost
employment"� under Indiana law, and is considered a felony. We will be
asking the County Prosecutor and Indiana Attorney General to
investigate and press charges. The discovery of these emails just
strengthens our argument that Kathy should be asked to resign
immediately.

Hmm ... interesting...