UPDATE-May 20: Bartholomew Co. Council candidate files for recount, Judge recuses himself due to 'conflict of interest'

COLUMBUS, Ind. - (SECOND UPDATE: 5-21) - In an official statement, Judge James D. Worton has recused himself from the Bartholomew County Council recount case involving Mark Bense and Leah Beyer due to a conflict of interest.

According to the statement, both parties have days to agree on an eligible special judge. If an agreement cannot be reached, the special judge will be appointed by the Bartholomew County Clerk of Courts. The first hearing on the case is Thursday, May 28.

When asked for comment, Bartholomew County Republican Chairman DeWayne Hines pointed to "Indiana Code Title 3. Elections § 3-12-6-1" which states that:

"If a candidate who is entitled to have the votes recounted under this chapter does not file a petition within the period established by section 2 of this chapter, the county chairman of a political party in the precinct in which the recount is desired may file a petition to have the votes recounted. A county chairman is entitled to have the votes recounted only in a partisan race."

FIRST UPDATE: 5-19: Mark Bense has officially filed a recount in Bartholomew County Superior Court 1 for the Bartholomew County Council District 2 nomination. Bense filed pro se and he plans to represent himself in this case.

ORIGINAL STORY 5-15: Bartholomew County Council District 2 Republican candidate Mark Bense is submitting a formal request for a recount of his election on Monday, May 18, alongside making multiple allegations of corruption within county government. 

In the 2026 Primary Election, incumbent Leah Beyer was projected to win after receiving 868 votes compared to Bense's 861. During an interview, Bense made several allegations against his opponent, alleging that various officials may have conspired against him to prevent a recount.

In a follow-up interview with LND News Director Random Allen, Bense claimed that Bartholomew County Treasurer Barbara Hackman discouraged his run because "The Republican Party is happy with the incumbent." Following the election, Bense alleges the various personnel at the Bartholomew County Courthouse "refused to speak to him" regarding the recount issue.

Upon contacting Bartholomew County Republican Party Chairman DeWayne Hines, Bense also claims that Hines refused to approve a recount and refused to "sign a document that you will not give me a recount and there is no fraud in this election." Instead, Hines claimed that recounts are only required in "partisan elections,"  and advised him to seek further legal counsel.

Bense sent a formal letter to the County Clerk's Office, Treasurer Barbara Hackman, and the Republican County Chairman Dwayne Hines, requesting a recount. He concluded the letter by claiming, "There's never been an election like this in Bartholomew County history. This candidate was preselected by the party, and it was already determined that she was going to win the race before the race started."