Staff report
TERRE HAUTE — When David Decker resigns as Vigo County commissioner, his successor will be chosen by a Democratic Party caucus.
Democratic Party Chairman Joe Etling had no comment on Decker’s status as commissioner and said he has not received a resignation letter.
He did explain the process for filling a vacancy of the countywide elected office. A caucus of precinct committee people would have to be conducted within 30 days of a vacancy, and there must be 10-days notice of a caucus.
Potential candidates would have to file a declaration of candidacy with the Democratic Party chairman no later than 72 hours prior to the caucus.
The successful candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast.
Decker has agreed in U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, to plead guilty to distributing methamphetamine. He also agreed to resign his elected county position.
Decker, 53, is scheduled to appear for an initial hearing at 9 a.m. today in federal court in Terre Haute.
County commissioners Judy Anderson and Paul Mason said they had no comment on the criminal proceedings involving Decker.
They said they did not know he had been under investigation for drug-related activities.
Anderson did say that “David [Decker] was a very good commissioner. He worked very well with Paul and I. All this is his personal life that I know nothing about … Anybody that elected him shouldn’t feel bad about that because he did a good job as commissioner.”
