Five complaints ask election board to review recent school board meeting remarks

As of Monday morning, November 2, Five people have filed complaints with the Blackford County Election Board over remarks made at a school board meeting one week before Election Day.

The complaints name school board member Scott Malott and Superintendent Chad Yencer. They say the two used the Oct. 27 Blackford County Schools board meeting to sway voters. The Ledger obtained copies of the complaints.

What was said

Near the end of the meeting, during board comments, Malott said the district had given raises “to everybody” and was in good financial shape.

“With the elections coming up, it’s just really important that we keep solid leadership where solid leadership needs to be,” he said.

Yencer spoke next, telling voters that a straight-party ticket does not count in school board races. “So it’s important that you know that if you’re typically a straight party voter,” he said.

Yencer's statement cited a 2025 law change that added party labels to school board races starting this year, but straight-ticket votes still do not count in them.

Malott is unopposed on Tuesday’s ballot, winning his seat regardless of turnout. The only incumbent facing a challenger is Jones, who faces Armstrong in District 3. Jones’s campaign signs read “Proven Leadership.”

What the complaints say

All five complaints name both Malott and Yencer, citing the above comments.

Kyle Pitts, one complainant and school board candidate, wrote that Malott used the meeting “to coerce voters to re-elect himself and other candidates on the board.” He asked the board to make sure school officials “remain neutral using public assets during the election cycle.”

Kerra Armstrong, also a school board candidate, and another complainant filed complaints both indicating Phil Jones's campaign slogan was repeated during the meeting by Malott. Armstrong’s complaint says Malott “inadvertently used the campaign slogan of a sitting school board member who is currently seeking re-election.” Neither complaint specifically names Phil Jones or his campaign's slogan, but he is notably the only candidate who is being challenged for his reelection bid.

Both ask the board to review the remarks under Indiana Code 3-14-1-17, and both say they are not asking the board to assume a violation occurred.

The last two complaints cited the same meeting, calling the remarks “unethical" and "illegal," asking for Malott to be removed from the ballot, and one requesting he be removed from the board entirely.

The law

Indiana Code 3-14-1-17 bars a “government employee” from using the employer’s property to advocate for or against a candidate. The law defines a government employee as an employee of the state, a political subdivision or a charter school, or a special state appointee. A first offense is a Class A misdemeanor.

If the election board finds a violation, state law lets it take the action it considers appropriate. That includes referring the matter to the prosecutor or the attorney general.

The deadline to challenge a school board candidate’s place on the November ballot was Aug. 21, according to the state’s 2026 Candidate Guide.

The school board

Malott and Board President Phil Jones did not respond to requests for comment.