COLUMBUS, Ind. - Bartholomew County Council District 2 Republican candidate Mark Bense is submitting a formal request for a recount of his election, alongside allegations of corruption within county government, on Monday, May 18.
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 Dwayne 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."
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