Former Republican Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard announced his run for Indiana secretary of state as an independent, aiming to provide a nonpartisan option for voters.
Ballard will need to gather nearly 37,000 petition signatures and raise around $2 million to be competitive in the race, which will be the top statewide race on the Indiana ballot this year.
A recent poll conducted by Independent Indiana showed Ballard with support from nearly one-quarter of voters in a hypothetical matchup against the Republican and Democratic nominees, indicating a potentially tight three-way race.
Feb 9, 2026 If you’ve never heard of Mountain TeaStateForest, you’re not alone; even many locals don’t realize it exists. Quietly tucked into a remote corner of Brown County and only officially named a stateforest in 2020, Mt. Tea is one of Indiana’s most recent public land additions. I checked it out partly out of curiosity and partly because I love finding lesser-known places to hike. What I …
MountainTeaStateForest is a beautiful natural area located in the southern part of Indiana. The forest covers an area of 1,200 acres and is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. The forest is situated in the rolling hills of the Hoosier National Forest, making it an ideal destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. One of the main …
For access to the lake area at Mt. TeaStateForest: take first right past gate then follow path towards cabin before curving left towards the lake; expect obstacles like downed trees to navigate Wear long pants while hiking due to limited foot traffic and potential encounters with hunters or rattlesnakes
Nestled in the heart of Indiana, Mt. TeaStateForest is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, drawing visitors with its stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife. The forest is characterized by its rolling hills, vibrant flora, and serene atmosphere, making it an ideal destination for hiking, birdwatching, and simply soaking in the beauty of nature.
Feb 21, 2025 Exploring Mountain TeaStateForest on foot is a delightful way to connect with nature. To help you make the most of your adventures, we’ve compiled the top easy hikes and walks in Mountain TeaStateForest. Perfect for short hikes, kid-friendly excursions, and family-friendly outings, …
Mountain TeaStateForest is a popular dog friendly hike in Nashville. Visit Bring Fido for an overview of the trail, along with pictures, directions, and reviews from dog owners who’ve been there.
Candidate Challenge: Election Board Hearing, Feb 19, 2026
The board upheld the challenge to Republican candidates Rich Stanley and Sherrie Mitchell and removed them from the primary ballot.
Rich Stanley plans to challenge the Election Board’s decision in circuit court. This legal step is necessary to build a case—if required—for a potential hearing before the U.S. Supreme Court regarding alleged violations of the First and Fourteenth Amendments. (1)
The Election Board’s position supports the fact that political parties are considered private entities or clubs and do not need to provide justification when removing a candidate from their ballot. This position has been supported by federal and state courts.
Individuals can still run as Independents if they meet requirements established by both the parties and the state. In practice, winning as an Independent is similar to trying to get rich by buying a lottery ticket.
Justification? The irony is that Rich was removed from the Republican ballot because of his wife’s donation at a fundraiser for Independent candidate Greg Taggart. But the underlying reason was most likely his criticism of Mark Bowman’s leadership as Party Chair.
Taggart’s fundraiser was supported by leaders in the Republican Party despite concerns that it violated Rule 1-25. The precedent is that county partys’ within the state have banned candidates for up to 10 years for violating this rule. At a 2024 League of Women Voters forum, Taggart publicly stated that he was not a Republican and was defeated in the general election by Tim Clark, the Republican candidate.
Rule 1-25 states: “The term “Republican in Good-Standing” shall be defined as a Republican who supports Republican nominees and who does not actively or openly support another candidate against a Republican nominee.”
Those in attendance at the 2024 fundraiser who are on the 2026 primary Republican ballot include:
Scott Rudd (Commissioner)
Pearletta Banks (Clerk)
Greg Taggart (Washington Township Trustee)
Party leaders reportedly supporting the fundraiser included: Robyn Bowman (Vice Chair) and Tanner Bowman (Secretary). Mark Bowman is the Party Chair.
Rule 1-25, in practice, can be overridden by “unwritten rules.” The written rules may be selectively applied—enforced for some and ignored for others.
The “unwritten rules” described by Republican Party leadership include the fact that Individuals may be deemed in “bad standing,” and therefore ineligible to run as Republicans, for criticizing party officials, previously supporting (no time limit) a non-Republican candidate, or for other perceived infractions.
Checks and balances on power are meant to come from Precinct and Vice Precinct Committee members—but these positions can be appointed by the Party Chair. Vacancies may also remain unfilled, potentially limiting opposition. History shows that centralized power can erode trust and accountability over time. Obtaining a list of the Precinct and Vice Precinct committee members has required signing a non-disclosure agreement.
The cost? A monopoly on political power such as exists in Brown County, reduces competition, can contribute to waste, inefficiencies, and moral corruption, and can limit the number of people that want to be involved in county government. Moral corruption refers to the decline of ethical standards and principles, leading individuals or political clubs to engage in immoral or unethical behavior.
A system perceived as corrupt risks undermining the ethics and integrity of those who operate within it—sometimes without them even realizing it.
A Way Ahead?
Organizations like Independent Indiana (IndependentIndiana.org) are working to challenge the system by supporting independent candidates. The belief is that independent candidates may be more focused on serving their communities rather than party structures or special interests. America’s Founding Fathers warned that political factions could become contrary to the intent of the Constitution.
The Brown County Leader Network (browncountyleadernetwork.com) also introduces methods and tools for improving systems and supporting structural reforms aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability and improving performance.
The challenge isn’t just about one candidate—it’s about fairness, transparency, and the future of representative government.
Footnotes:
Rich Stanley, along with Tim Clark, is challenging a previous ruling that they are not in Good Standing with the party and cannot run as Republicans for five years. This decision was challenged in federal court, which ruled in favor of the Party and is also being challenged.
Clark, Stanley lawsuit dismissed in federal court, Brown County Democrat. “Clark and Stanley have now formally appealed the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, asking the higher court to reverse the decision and allow their case to proceed.”
“There’s simply too much division,” Clere (R) said. “Partisanship is a big part of what’s driving it. We need to move away from that and try to find ways to come together as elected officials and unite our constituents, our communities.”
Indiana is one of just six states that allow straight-ticket voting, along with Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Oklahoma and South Carolina, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
While the General Assembly partially eliminated the practice in 2016 by abolishing straight-ticket voting for at-large races, lawmakers and election experts say the resulting hybrid system has only added confusion.
“Voters don’t always understand that they still have to select individual candidates for at-large races when they vote straight ticket,” Clere said. “So they choose not to vote at all.”
Clere, now in his ninth term, said he has authored or co-authored versions of the bill multiple times, first filing it jointly in 2023 with former Rep. Rita Fleming, D-Jeffersonville. He said the issue has only grown more urgent as political divisions have intensified.
Andi Rogers-Bartels, who owns multiple restaurants, rental properties and retail spaces in Nashville, said she wanted to serve on the CVC to help ensure tourism dollars are used in ways that benefit both visitors and residents. She pointed to the recent increase in the innkeeper’s tax and said, “It’s going to be an important year with the new three percent raise in the tax. We really need to figure out what we as a community want and what we can do with that extra three percent.” She cautioned against simply shifting entire budgets between departments, telling the council, “It can’t just be a whole move of the budget from one entity to another. It’s got to be dissected and looked at a little closer.”
Jan 13, 2026. County Council Meeting (Jan 8, 2026). County Council rehashes 2026 budget after process breakdowns, January 13, 2026 by Courtney Hughett.
From 2012 to 2018, residential assessed values increased by less than 4% per year. But beginning in 2019, annual increases exceeded 8%, fueled largely by rapid growth in home market values that far outpaced other property types. As market values surged, the property tax burden shifted disproportionately onto homeowners.
To rebalance the system, SEA 1 phases in an increase to the homeowners’ deduction, ultimately allowing homeowners to deduct 67% of their home’s market value by 2031. At that point, homeowners will pay taxes on only 33% of their home’s assessed value. This phased-in change will gradually shift some of the tax burden back to other property classes, restoring balance to the system.
Commissioner Meeting Agendas: You can sign up at the county website to have these sent to you via email. They are generally available the day before the meetings. Commissioners meet every first Wednesday of the month at 2:00 p.m. and on the third Wednesday at 6:00 pm.
Brown County Democrat Newspaper.Publishes government meeting schedules. Reporter Courtney Hughett provides extensive coverage of what was discussed.
Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI tools like Google Gemini can be used to provide analysis and summaries of the meetings. The tool can also inform you of how to prompt for the information you are requesting.
Preliminary work was done on an update to the county comprehensive plan (cost around 37K). The update process was limited to two public meetings at different locations, on the same day and a survey. Link to the draft and current version below:
Commissioners declined to approve the Draft without more community engagement to include identifying “communities” within the county. Coud developing and perhaps testing an agenda for future public meetings be helpful to identify the scope of desired changes?
Brown County — Historical, Cultural and Economic Context
Summary. Brown County, is known for its scenic beauty and natural terrain, and as the most heavily forested county in Indiana. Tourism generates approximately $21 million in gross wages and accounts for about 10% of the county’s GDP. Total taxable income on tax returns exceeds $510 million. Approximately 77% of residents’ income is earned outside the county. Although more than half of the land is federally or state-owned, thereby reducing the property tax base, this characteristic enhances the county’s appeal to visitors and current and future residents.
History — Rural, Brown County State Park, Artist Colony, Bedroom Community
Brown County is a bedroom, retirement, work from home county with tourism where residents desire a more rural lifestyle. (We have 4 stoplights in the county (the 4th was just added last year (2025).
Residents want to live here but generate their income (77%) from outside the county. Tourism accounts for around 21 million in gross wages. The Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of all residents is over 510 million.
Our tax policy is high income (among the highest in the state) and low property (among the lowest in the state.). Our GDP is around 362 million and the total for surrounding counties is around 30 million. Tourism accounts for around 40 million in GDP.
Lower property tax supports second homes and tourist rentals.
Schools. Declining enrollment has been systemic.
Home Costs and Affordability. Demand and availability of buildable land have increased median home values that exceed what is affordable fort those at the more modest income levels. Affordability defined as spending no more than 30% of pre-tax income on housing.
A New Path for Brown County. A Hypothesis for a Modern Plan for growth and Economic Development in Brown County, Indiana, By Chris Schneider – December 5th, 2024
10 Secluded Towns Lost in the Hills of Indiana’s Rugged Brown County Region: Elkinsville, Cornelius, Gatesville, Stone Head, Trevlac, Gnaw Bone, Helmsburg, Bean Blossom, Story, Nashville,
Not included: Cordry and Sweetwater Lakes
Jobs:
Total (2023): 3840; Tourism Related: 1,026
Total Tax Returns Filed: 7,302 (2023).
Residents paying tax – no job: 3,462.
Wages:
“Brown County is more typical: 32% of the earnings generated in the county flow out while 77% of the earnings realized by local residents originate elsewhere.
Brown County is among the eight in the “high wage increase and high job growth corner,” which leads to prioritizing economic development resources where the market indicates they are best used.
Economic Development – Subsidies, Abatements, Tax Increment Financing.
The county has nothad to subsidize a developer for a project. An abatement (400K) was offered (never used) to the previous owner of the Little Opry to help finance wastewater treatment for a new music venue. Rebuilding the Little Opry with private money was not feasible.
The state did approve a 39 million dollar concept to provide sewer service along a corridor that runs from Lake Lemon, Trevlac, Helmsburg to Bean Blossom and Woodland Lake. Priority is service in Bean Blossom (about 200 homes), a new plant in Helmsburg, and then extending service to Lake Lemon.
:
Medical Services.
No hospital or 24×7 Urgent Care Facility. Hospitals and urgent care available in surrounding counties.
Medical services provided by two ambulances that serve residents and tourists.
Medical treatment can also be provided by volunteer firefighters and EMTs if/when they may be available.
Four Main Principles (Elements). It is important that this comprehensive plan explain the principles (elements) that should be followed when making decisions and alsothe relative importance of each principle, as this will help those who must make difficult decisions. This will be especially important in those situations where a decision must balance competing principles. (Ref: Brown County Comprehensive Plan, 2011 Revision).
“Criteria” (Four Main Elements (Principles)
Preserves – Natural Features and Way of Life
Discourages Economic Decline (One Side of the Coin)
Fosters Economic Development (Other side of the Coin)
Enhances the desirability of Brown County as a place to live in retirement should also be protected, when possible
3. Need: Decision Criteria – Weighted Decision Matrix – to assess (score) “Relative Importance of each principle.”
Internal Controls – Prevention of Waste, Fraud, Abuse, and Mismanagement. Both the state and federal governments have Internal control-related statutes, policies, and processes to provide assurance to citizens that tax dollars are used effectively and efficiently.
County – Need for a Management Internal Control Program (MICO). Unfortunately, at the County level, the State Board of Accounts’ (SBOA) scope of review of internal controls is primarily focused on finances rather than operations. Compliance by county offices is generally voluntary. This puts the burden on county citizens to expect the county to develop and review internal controls, including providing an annual statement of assurance that the controls are adequate and identifies the need for a County Management Internal Control Program (MICP).
Credit Rating:The two-notch downgrade reflects our view of heightened vulnerability in management following continuous and numerous internal control findings.
Audit Report: Adverse Opinion on U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
In our opinion, because of the significance of the matter discussed in the Basis for Adverse and Unmodified Opinions section of our report, the financial statement referred to above does not present fairly, the financial position and results of operations of the County as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Audit Report: Opinion on “Regulatory” Basis of Accounting (1)
In our opinion, the accompanying financial statement referred to above presents fairly, in all material respects, the respective financial position and results of operations of the County, as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024, in accordance with the financial reporting provisions of the Indiana State Board of Accounts described in Note 1.
This is a special investigation report for the Brown County (County) Surveyor’s Office, for the period November 1, 2018 to December 31, 2024, and is in addition to any other report for the County as required under Indiana Code 5-11-1. All reports pertaining to the County may be found at http://www.in.gov/sboa/.
We performed procedures to determine compliance with applicable Indiana laws and uniform compliance guidelines established by the Indiana State Board of Accounts and were limited to records associated with the Surveyor’s Corner Perpetuation Fund. The Results and Comments contained herein describe the identified reportable instances of noncompliance found as a result of these procedures. Our tests were not designed to identify all instances of noncompliance; therefore, noncompliance may exist that is unidentified.
“The Green Book may also be adopted by state, local, and quasi-governmental entities, as well as not-for-profit organizations, as a framework for an internal control system.”
Counties. “Internal controls are designed by the county offices based on the identified risks of not achieving their objectives and the available resources to address those risks.”
Federal. At the federal level, statutes and policies include the following:
With litigation pending before the Indiana Supreme Court and a state law under challenge, the council’s decision may hint at how Bloomington will have to grow in the future — lot by lot — if the city doesn’t prevail in annexation-related court cases.
Vernon the state’s last charter town: In a state where every other municipality operates under uniform state statute, Vernon remains Indiana’s lone charter town, governed by an incorporation act approved on Jan. 22, 1851. (Smith, Indiana Capital Chronicle)
“The commissioners have supplied the humane society with $50,000 per year with no contract for the past three years. The monies were extended to the end of this year as a gesture of good faith.
“The taxpayers of DeKalb County deserve to know how and where their monies are being spent,” Miller’s prepared statement concluded.
The project drew fierce opposition from residents once they learned of potential costs. While homeowners were initially told monthly costs would be less than $100, county commissioners say that figure climbed closer to $200 after the board failed to secure federal grant funding.On October 31, IDEM determined the district must be dissolved, citing the project as economically unfeasible, unfair, and unreasonable due to project changes, delays, and resident cost concerns.
“Bureau of Labor Statistics information, unadjusted for inflation, shows how each Indiana county did in the past 10 years in terms of job growth and wage increases.”
Informative article! Notably, Brown County is among the eight in the “high wage increase and high job growth corner,” which leads to prioritizing economic development resources where the market indicates they are best used.
However, note in the article that you get a big percent change when your base is low, and your increase in amount is average. $10 increase is big stuff when your base is $15, but it’s much smaller when your base is $80.” So, a little more research is needed.
In his article, “Dollars on the Move,” Morton Marcus reported: “Brown County is more typical: 32% of the earnings generated in the county flow out while 77% of the earnings realized by local residents originate elsewhere.”
Brown County is a bedroom, retirement, and work-from-home community with a tourism industry, where residents seek a more rural (country) lifestyle.
The amenities provided by tourism businesses enhance the quality of life and make a modest contribution to the economic base.
For instance, Tourism accounts for approximately $21 million in gross wages, and the adjusted gross income of all residents filing tax returns exceeds $510 million. The county’s primary sources of revenue are from income tax (among the highest rates in the state) and property tax (among the lowest rates).
Ball State economists reinforced that our best bets for economic growth are Housing (bedroom + community), Recreation, Wholesale, Production, and Retail.
Independent Voters of Brown County IN 