Name that irks Democrats on spring primary ballotGARY | A Gary woman whose last campaign for Lake County public office ended in a historic loss for the Democratic Party appears ready to face voters again.
The Lake County Board of Elections website shows
Carol Ann Seaton as a candidate for the 2nd District seat on the Lake County Council, representing most of Gary. The council has fiscal authority over county government and income tax powers.
The office is currently held by incumbent Councilwoman Elsie Franklin, who is running for re-election.
Neither Seaton, who also is running as Democratic committeewoman for Gary precinct 5-13, nor her attorney returned calls Tuesday for comment.
The new candidate's name and address are the same as those of the Carol Ann Seaton who rose from obscurity in 2010 to an upset victory as the Democratic nominee for county assessor. Political observers looked forward to her victory in the fall because no Lake Republican had won a countywide office in 50 years.
But her campaign soon foundered after her legal residency became an open question because she held driver's licenses in Indiana and Michigan, a violation of state law.Both states suspended her driving privileges. Officials at the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles didn't return calls for comment on Seaton's current driving status.
The Lake County prosecutor's office charged her with failing to register three cars with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, as required of all state residents, a Class B misdemeanor. She has pleaded not guilty to that charge.
Prosecutor Bernard Carter announced in 2011 he would dismiss the charge if she avoided vehicle-related offenses for one year, but Lake Superior Court records indicate the misdemeanor is still pending against her. The case is set for another hearing Feb. 27.
County officials canceled property tax deductions on Seaton's home in the 2300 block of Adams Street and pursued back taxes against her that same year, because
the application forms for the tax deductions appeared to have been forged in the name of a dead relative.
Seaton denied any wrongdoing. The prosecutor said the statute of limitations barred his office from pursuing any tax violations in connection with the Seaton homestead, but county officials removed her from the Lake County Property Tax Board of Appeals, where she ruled on the tax assessments of others.
Voters in the fall of 2010 handed the Republican candidate, the late Hank Adams, victory over Seaton, who also was blamed for hurting other Democratic Party candidates.
Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., the Democratic Party chairman, isn't welcoming Seaton's return to the ballot. He said Tuesday he will be supporting incumbent councilwoman Franklin in the spring primary.