By FRED SWIFT
The County Line
It was supposed to be a caucus, but it became simply an appointment.
Fishers Democratic precinct committeemen in the North Councilmanic District were called to fill a city council vacancy when Samantha DeLong resigned her seat due to a planned move out of state.
The caucus vote was planned for last Sunday, but party officials found that committeemen had not been certified as required by state election law.
In the absence of properly certified committeemen, the county chairwoman, Dayna Colbert, was entitled to appoint a replacement for Ms. DeLong. She appointed Crystal Neumann and forwarded the paperwork to County Clerk Kathy Williams.
Whether there would have been a caucus contest for the seat was not disclosed.
Both DeLong and Neumann are Democrats, and under state law the party which elects a local official is allowed to pick a successor when a vacancy occurs.