ISP To See If Candidacy Form Was Tampered With

TERRE HAUTE, Ind – Indiana State Police have been called into investigate and see if a declaration of candidacy document form was tampered with.

Tess D. Brooks-Stephens is one of two candidates for the Democratic nomination in the Third District on the Terre Haute City Council.

Brooks-Stephens says that her name should be listed on the ballot ahead of the other candidate in the race Cheryl Loudermilk.

The clerk’s office had Brooks listed as the middle name and Stephens as the last name and not as a hyphenated last name.

County Clerk Brad Newman has claimed that correction fluid was used to modify the document after it was filed.

Brooks-Stephens has said she did not alter the form after its January 17th  filing.

Her attorney Chris Gambill told us Monday evening that she could not have altered it as she did not have access to the form after it was turned over to the clerk’s office.

State Police detectives tried to question Brooks-Stephens yesterday, but Gambill told us yesterday that his client will speak with investigators after she testifies under oath April 15 in Vigo Circuit Court.

She is asking for the court to order her name be listed first on the ballot.