Amy Drake helps oversee a $248 million county budget. The job requires attention to statutory language, district lines and financial detail.
On Feb. 25, 2026, the St. Joseph County Election Board voted 3–0 to remove Amy Drake from the Republican state convention delegate ballot after determining that her CAN-37 listed the wrong district and could not be corrected after the filing deadline.
The ruling applied only to Drake’s delegate candidacy. Drake remains a sitting member of the County Council and a candidate for County Council District B.
The challenge was filed by Michael Johnson, who told the board that party rules require a delegate candidate to reside in the district where that candidate seeks election. “Ms. Drake filed for district five but she resides in district one,” Johnson said. He argued the filing “is invalid and she should be removed from the ballot accordingly.”
Drake did not dispute the facts.
Under oath, Drake confirmed she resides in District 1 while her CAN-37 listed District 5. When her attorney, James Masters, asked whether the listing was a clerical mistake, Drake answered, “That was an error.”
Election Board member John Jorgonski then asked Drake if she attempted to look up her district number online: “Did you use the website and type in your address when you looked it up?”
“I did not,” Drake responded.
Masters urged the board to apply what he described as “fundamental fairness,” citing redistricting confusion and instances in which other candidates were permitted to correct filings. Drake testified, “I understand that some candidates were told that they had mistakes on their forms and they were able to correct them. I was not told it was a mistake.”
The board rejected that argument. Members noted the district boundaries had already been reviewed and approved at a prior meeting. During the hearing, Jorgonski stated that “the board has decided in the last meeting that everything on the filing of the new districts were all above board and upright.” The deadline had passed. Drake signed the CAN-37 affirming that “the information in this Declaration of Candidacy is true and complete, and that I meet the specific requirements of this office.”
The vote was unanimous.
Drake signed a declaration of candidacy listing the wrong district and acknowledged she did not verify it first. The board enforced the deadline.
Public office requires ownership of mistakes, not explanations after the fact.
Logan Foster
Logan Foster is the founder and editor of Redress South Bend, an independent news outlet covering local government, courts, and public institutions in South Bend and St. Joseph County, Indiana. He reports from primary documents: public records requests, court filings, state audit reports, and campaign finance disclosures. His reporting has examined city and school district payments made without competitive bidding, school board spending, and the records of candidates in county races. Redress South Bend obtained the South Bend Police Department's ShotSpotter coverage map after the department initially denied public access. The outlet is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Online News Association. Reach him at info@redresssouthbend.com
