Marshall County Election Board finds commissioner candidate violated election law

A Democratic candidate for Marshall County Commissioner is facing possible criminal charges after the County Election Board determined Monday that he violated election law by falsifying a candidacy filing.

The Marshall County Election Board met Monday morning to hold a public hearing on whether Emanuel Reese, the Democratic candidate for County Commissioner District 1, violated election law by falsely stating on a required report that he had no felony charges.

The issue was first raised in early October by Republican Party Chairperson Deb VanDeMark, who had received information that Reese was ineligible to run for the elected position. According to that information, Reese had two felony charges dating back nearly 20 years — one in St. Joseph County and the other in Noble County. County Attorney Sean Surrisi confirmed with Reese that he had served time for those charges.

After the public hearing, the three-member Election Board — Steve Harper (R), Susan Kreighbaum (D), and County Clerk Jenny Bennitt — determined that Emanuel Reese violated election law.

The board voted to have County Attorney Surrisi send a letter to the Marshall County Prosecuting Attorney for review and possible criminal charges.

Surrisi noted that the Indiana State Police will handle the investigation. He emphasized that the Election Board's findings do not automatically mean Reese has been convicted of a crime — it will be up to the prosecutor to make that determination.

Surrisi also noted that, with the year-end transition and a new prosecutor taking over on January 1st, a decision on whether to pursue charges may be delayed.