The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office has completed a criminal investigation into allegations that an Evansville man filed to run for elected office despite being banned from doing so. Misdemeanor criminal charges have been filed as a result.
On February 03, 2026, deputies responded to the Vanderburgh County Election Office and met with Vanderburgh County Clerk Dottie Thomas. Thomas reported that Kenneth Colbert had come to the office earlier that day and filed paperwork to run as a Republican candidate for delegate to the Indiana Republican Party’s state convention.
Thomas explained that Colbert completed candidacy paperwork that included a signature affirming he met all requirements for the office. However, his filing came despite being declared ineligible to run for office by the Republican Party due to not being in good standing. Thomas confirmed that Colbert had previously been served paperwork notifying him of this ineligibility. Copies of both the ineligibility notice and his candidacy paperwork were provided to deputies.
Sheriff’s detectives reviewed the documentation and confirmed that Colbert had been declared not in good standing and therefore ineligible to run for office as a Republican through December 31, 2029. Detectives interviewed former Vanderburgh County Republican Party Chairman Michael Duckworth, who served as chairman when the ruling was made. Duckworth confirmed that Colbert was clearly aware of this decision: after he was informed of the 8th District’s ruling on his ineligibility, he appealed that decision to the Indiana Election Commission.
When interviewed by detectives, Colbert maintained he had done nothing wrong and claimed he had not been given paperwork regarding his ineligibility. However, without being prompted, he mentioned that he was in “bad standing.”
Colbert was issued a citation for Falsely Making a Declaration of Candidacy under Indiana Code 3-14-1-1, a Class A Misdemeanor. He has been given a court date of May 19, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.
CHARGED:
Ken L. Colbert, 61, of Evansville. Falsely Making a Declaration of Candidacy as a Class A Misdemeanor
Presumption of Innocence Notice: The fact that a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.