Petition in Huntertown asking for clerk/treasurer to be impeached

HUNTERTOWN, Ind. (WANE) - More than a hundred people in Huntertown have signed a petition to impeach David Rudolph.  Rudolph is in the second year of a four-year term as the town's Clerk and Treasurer.

Jacquelyn Tracey started the petition in January.  She said Saturday she is aware Rudolph has been dealing with some health issues, but added the problems with Rudolph began before he became ill.

"In part of my research, I uncovered the town of Huntertown paid close to $1,700 in late fee payments to the IRS last year because he was paying payments late, repeatedly," Tracey claimed.  "It wasn't one payment late, it was five payments late."

Tracey said she feels everyone in the town wishes Rudolph a full recovery, but feels he should step down as the Clerk and Treasurer.

"Ideally, Rudolph would step down," Tracey said.  "If not, the town council would then hopefully look into the impeachment process and see what they can do."

Huntertown Council President, Jim Fortman said he has never seen a situation like this before.

"This is unprecedented," Fortman said.  "I've been on the council for several years, two different times, and this is the first time I've run into something like this, or even heard of something like this."

Fortman said the council's lawyer is looking into the petition.  He said once the council learns what can be done, or if anything can be done at all, the council will pass the information on to the residents.

The council's next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 21.