COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Bartholomew County Democratic Party released a statement Wednesday challenging the candidacy of Bartholomew County Councilman Matt Miller, a Republican. Democrat Party Chairman Steve Schoettmer, along with Democrat candidates for the Bartholomew County Council, filed a complaint in Bartholomew County Superior Court seeking a declaratory judgment from the court as to whether Matt Miller is currently eligible to serve on the county council.
They are also challenging whether he is eligible to remain a candidate for the 2020 general election, alleging that he actually resides in another county.
In August, Miller said in a Facebook post that families who live in his neighborhood formed a petition and wrote a letter to Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps questioning his residency. Miller has listed 1331 North County Road 550E in Columbus as his address. The petition claims the property is vacant and unkempt, and also states that it has been vacant for years and that no one resides at the location.
Miller said he “owns several pieces of real estate both in and out of Bartholomew County, and will continue to do so.” The Bartholomew County Election Board reportedly chose not to investigate.
In the statement released by the Bartholomew County Democratic Party, Schoettmer says that he filed a verified and sworn “formal complaint” with the Election Board on August 18, and they chose not to take action. He continued, “It is for this reason that today’s complaint was filed. While Miller claims his neighbors have publicly lied about his place of residence, he will now have an opportunity to have those claims properly investigated and their accuracy determined in a court of law.”
Local News Digital reached out to Councilman Miller for comment but did not receive a response.
