Editor,
While it’s well-known that political candidates need thick skin, their spouses often stay out of the fray. It takes a special type of person to intimidate a candidate’s spouse, and that is exactly what happened on the first day of early voting at the Carmel Clay Public Library.
Denise Hannon, wife of Carmel City Council at-large candidate Dr. Tim Hannon, was greeting voters at the polls for the first time ever. Instead of handing out literature, which often goes straight into the trash, she brought a bowl of candy to offer to all library visitors.
All three (other) incumbent at-large candidates were greeting voters at the same entrance to the library as Denise. Two of them took pictures of her, then one went into the library to fetch an election official. As it turns out, greeters are not allowed to offer candy to voters. The official came outside and admonished her, which was upsetting and embarrassing.
All of the at-Large candidates cite church affiliations on their profiles. The Christian thing for them to do would have been to give Denise a polite heads up that offering candy wasn’t allowed, particularly considering that they know it’s her first time campaigning. Instead, the incumbent candidates chose to rattle her by involving the election board. They should be ashamed of their behavior.
Pat Hannon, Carmel
