Our third ad was just released. The Secretary of State oversees every election in Indiana and should NEVER appear to favor one candidate over another. I’m Greg Ballard, former Republican mayor of Indianapolis, and I’m running for Secretary of State as an independent. I’m the only one in this race who has publicly committed not to endorse, campaign for, or donate to other candidates on the ballot while I’m in office. If you agree that the person overseeing our elections shouldn't pick sides, I’m asking for your vote on or before November 3rd.

New ad we’re releasing today:

I have hired notable Greenwood election attorney Michelle Harter to represent me in the lawsuit seeking to require the Indiana Election Commission to meet. Harter previously served as Senior Legal Advisor to Justice Steven H. David of the Indiana Supreme Court for almost seven years, and taught at the IU McKinney School of Law school and UIndy. Harter’s practice focuses on general civil litigation, election law, and appellate advocacy. She has been involved in multiple high-profile Indiana election cases. I filed suit to force the Indiana Election Commission to consider four campaign finance complaints filed in the Secretary of State’s race. The Commission has not met since July despite traditionally holding a meeting each September. I am not asking for a particular outcome in those cases, only that the Commission do its job and review the complaints. I’m delighted to have Michelle join the team. She is knowledgeable and quickly got up to speed on this case. I feel 100 percent comfortable with her arguing before the judge Friday.” A hearing on a motion for a preliminary injunction will be held in Marion Superior Court 3 Friday at 11:30 before Judge Jennifer Prinz Harrison.

Today, Knox County Clerk David Shelton filed an Amicus Curiae brief in my lawsuit to compel the Indiana Election Commission to meet. Shelton filed a campaign finance complaint against the Engling campaign in July. He is not asking the Court to decide if a violation occurred, but rather that the Commission be required to meet and consider his complaint. Mr. Shelton and I are both asking for the same thing - the Indiana Election Commission to do its job. The Commission has a duty assigned by law to decide campaign finance complaints - and the clock is running out to do that before the election. Early voting has already begun and voters deserve to have the information about whether the candidates on the ballot are in violation of the law or in compliance. Marion Superior Court 3 has scheduled a hearing on a motion for a preliminary injunction this Friday at 11:30 a.m.

Iraq War veteran and national political commentator and podcaster @PaulRieckhoff has endorsed Greg Ballard for Indiana Secretary of State. He announced the endorsement during an interview with the former two-term Indianapolis mayor and retired Marine lieutenant colonel on his podcast, @indy_americans. "You have my endorsement," Rieckhoff told Ballard. "We want you to win, but getting on that ballot and securing that space for the movement is also very important here." Rieckhoff founded Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. He now works to elect independent veterans to office through @IndyVetsAmerica. He appears regularly as a commentator on national television news networks, including CNN. The episode with Rieckhoff and Ballard, "Hope in the Heartland," focused on what Ballard's campaign means beyond Indiana. In particular, it looked at the campaign's potential to establish the Lincoln Party and open the door for future independent candidates. The Lincoln Party would have ballot access in Indiana for the next four years if Ballard receives at least 2% of the vote. "This is one that has national implications and real implications for the movement," Rieckhoff said, calling Indiana "an important epicenter for what's happening in our independent movement." Ballard, a retired U.S. Marine, discussed how more competitive general elections could reduce the polarization driving voters away from both parties. "We think the toxicity, the heated rhetoric, the name-calling, all of this that's going on, the parties have lost their way," Ballard said. "But if we have competitive general elections in November, we think all of that reduces dramatically and may even stop." Watch the full interview at youtube.com/watch?v=tp7tAb48…