Name on the rolls is the same at the polls
Post-Tribune (IN)
March 11, 1987
March 11, 1987
What's in a name?
Plenty for many of those running for public office.
Some candidates are very particular about how their names appear on voter registration rolls since the names appear on ballots the same way.
Former U.S. Rep. Katie Hall of Gary has always appeared on the ballot as Katie Hall. That's how she filed her candidacy with the Indiana secretary of state's office when she ran for state or national office.
But Hall this year is running for Gary city clerk, and her name will appear on the ballot as she is registered to vote. While she signed her declaration of candidacy as Katie Hall, she is registered as Katie Beatrice Hall.
Lake County Clerk Kenneth R. Peterson, who said the law is silent on how names should appear on the ballot, said he uses voter registration to maintain a uniformity.
Hall couldn't be reached for comment, but Peterson said he understands she plans to change her registration to Katie Hall. She and other primary candidates have until April 6 to do so.
Most people know Lake County Commissioner Atterson Spann by that name.
But in 1978, Spann was on the ballot as Noah Atterson Spann Jr. In 1982, it was changed to Noah A. Spann Jr. In 1986, he was Atterson Spann Jr.
State Sen. Carolyn Mosby, D-Gary, was Carolyn Brown Mosby on the 1980 ballot. In 1984, Mosby was simply Carolyn Mosby.
Lake County Clerk-elect Robert C. Antich, who is known to most as Bob Antich, appears on the ballot as Robert C. Bob Antich. There was Robert L. Bob Freeland who appeared on the ballot as such when he ran for Lake County commissioner in 1978. He lost the race. He also is a former Gary councilman.
This year there is a Robert Bob Warner running for East Chicago councilman.
Byron "Duke" Florence, another East Chicago candidate, used his nickname on his voter registration. The nickname will be included on the ballot.
Then there are the married women who don't want voters to forget their maiden names or different names from former marriages.
Lake County Auditor Anna Anton uses Anna Nuzzo Anton on the ballot. There will be a Phyllis Flick Yates on the Hobart primary ballot running for City Council.
There will also be a Frances Juzwiak Kegebein running for Hobart clerk- treasurer.
In Highland, Marguerite Lant Montgomery is running for clerk-treasurer.
Griffith Trustee Marthann Hanrath today has a name different from the one on the ballot in 1983. She is now registered and will appear on the ballot under her married name, Marthann Gatlin, which could be confusing for those looking for the Hanrath name.
Geraldine Leek-Thomas, the Gary city clerk, will be taking advantage of the popular Leek name just as her late sister, Barbara Leek Wesson, did. The longest name on either ballot this May will be Michael Jarrett Whittinghill, a candidate for Lake Station councilman at large. That's 26 letters.
There will be a Joseph McCarthy on the ballot in Hammond, seeking a City Council spot. There's nothing especially different about the name, but those who remember the former U.S. senator by the same name may just vote for him. Or they may not.
Caption: PHOTO - 2 NOAH ATTERSON SPANN JR., KATIE BEATRICE HALL
