One of the two Democratic candidates for Marion County sheriff is taking heat for a campaign mailer that critics say is misleading.
Kelvis Williams, a deputy chief in the sheriff’s office, sent out a flyer this week that encouraged residents to vote for him and five other Democrats in the May 5 primary.
The leaflet includes a caption that reads “Your official Democratic team!” and a digital stamp that says “Official candidates” with a picture of a donkey, the unofficial symbol of the Democratic Party.
Critics say the ad falsely implies that the candidates have the support of the Marion County Democratic Party, which in 2023 abandoned the practice of endorsing candidates ahead of the primary elections, a practice known as slating, after years of criticism from less established Democrats who said it encouraged favoritism.
The mailer did not come from the Marion County Democratic Party, a party spokesperson told Mirror Indy.
“While slating is no longer a practice (the party) adopts, we cannot control how candidates choose to work together or align themselves,” executive director Megan Huntzinger said.
Myla Eldridge, the party chair who is running for reelection as county auditor, was also included on the flyer. She did not respond to a request for comment.
The mailer includes a disclaimer that it was paid for by Williams’ campaign and was not approved by any other candidate or committee.
Williams did not respond to Mirror Indy’s request for comment, but in an interview with IndyStar, he initially said he obtained permission from the five candidates — before later recanting his statement and saying he didn’t get their blessing.
None of the candidates reached by Mirror Indy said they agreed to be included on the flyer.
Ryan Mears, the Marion County prosecutor who is running for reelection, said that while he supports Williams, he believes Kate Sweeney Bell, the Marion County clerk who was party chair before Eldridge, was behind the ad campaign.
“I was completely unaware of the mailer, but it does not surprise me. Kate Sweeney Bell and the old guard have a long history of these kinds of shady misleading tactics,” Mears said in a statement to Mirror Indy.
Mears has endorsed Karla Lopez Owens, an attorney in the prosecutor’s office and immigration activist who is running against Bell in the county clerk’s race. Bell is also included on the mailer.
Bell did not respond to emails, phone calls and text messages seeking comment.
Joseph O’Connor, the Marion County Assessor who is running unopposed, said he supports Williams but was also not consulted about the flyer.
The other candidate on the leaflet, Faith James Kimbrough, the Marion County recorder, did not respond to a request for comment.
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Critics say flyer shows ‘problematic leadership’
Gregory Patrick, a Democrat and captain in the sheriff’s office who is also running for sheriff, said Williams is resorting to “tricks” to win an election.
“Democratic voters deserve the truth — not a last-minute trick,” Patrick said. “Tactics like that are beneath the office.”
Samantha Douglas, co-host of The Black Briefing podcast, said she planned to vote for Williams but now supports Patrick after seeing the flyer.
She said the mailer looks “strikingly similar” to the slating mailers the party sent out prior to 2023. She also said she’s frustrated that Williams is aligning himself with Bell, who Douglas says is an example of “problematic leadership” in the county party.
“There has been a documented history of her being a barrier, especially to young, less experienced candidates who want to get on the ballot, especially when she was in her seat as the party chair,” Douglas said.
“This is not the kind of mentality that we need shaping our culture, our party and our elections.”
Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.
Peter Blanchard covers local government. Reach him at 317-605-4836 or peter.blanchard@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on X @peterlblanchard.
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