LaPorte County Official Allowed to Remain on Ballot

Election board rules Richard Gramarossa meets residency requirements despite challenges

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The LaPorte County Election Board ruled that Richard Gramarossa, a Republican running for re-election to the Galena Township Board of Trustees, will be allowed to remain on the ballot despite challenges to his residency. The board voted unanimously to keep Gramarossa on the ballot, though some members expressed doubts about whether he actually lives in the district he represents.

Why it matters

Residency requirements for elected officials are an important part of ensuring accountability and representation. The decision by the LaPorte County Election Board highlights the challenges of verifying residency, even when there are questions raised about an official's living situation.

The details

The challenge to Gramarossa's residency was brought by the LaPorte County Republican Party Chairman Allen Stevens, who alleged that Gramarossa actually lives 15 miles away in Michigan City with his wife, who is a county commissioner. Former LaPorte County Auditor Tim Stabosz testified that electric bills for Gramarossa's claimed residence were unusually low, while an independent investigation found Gramarossa's vehicle was spotted at his wife's Michigan City home more often than his own. However, Gramarossa's attorney Christopher Cooper presented documents showing Gramarossa pays for utilities at the Galena Township home and has his driver's license and credit cards registered there.

  • The election board hearing took place on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
  • The state-mandated deadline for making decisions on ballot challenges for the primary was about one hour away when the hearing concluded.

The players

Richard Gramarossa

A Republican running for a second four-year term on the Galena Township Board of Trustees in LaPorte County, Indiana.

Allen Stevens

The LaPorte County Republican Party Chairman who challenged Gramarossa's residency.

Tim Stabosz

The former LaPorte County Auditor who testified about low electric bills at Gramarossa's claimed residence.

Christopher Cooper

The attorney representing Gramarossa, who presented documents showing Gramarossa's utility payments and other evidence of his residency.

Connie Gramarossa

Richard Gramarossa's wife, who is a LaPorte County Commissioner.

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What they’re saying

“I don't believe for one minute that Rich Gramarossa lives in Galena Township. However, proving that is a different story.”

— Heather Stevens, LaPorte County Clerk and Republican member of the election board (hometownnewsnow.com)

“Even though there are a couple of concerning things, I don't think concerning things can over weigh the standard by which we have to address this.”

— Julia Sinclair, La Porte County Democratic Party chairperson and member of the election board (hometownnewsnow.com)

“Nobody in their right mind believes that this is actually what somebody that lived there full-time would spend on an electric bill.”

— Allen Stevens, LaPorte County Republican Party Chairman (hometownnewsnow.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges of verifying residency requirements for elected officials, even when there are questions raised about their living situation. The LaPorte County Election Board's decision to keep Gramarossa on the ballot despite doubts about his residency underscores the difficulty of proving a candidate does not meet the legal standards, even when circumstantial evidence suggests otherwise.