Race for coroner's office carries political overtones

Responsibilities of a coroner: 1) investigate all deaths that are a result of violence, casualty, suspicious circumstances or when they occur suddenly to someone in good health; 2) identify the decedent, establish time of death, cause of death and manner of death; 3) file a report on the findings with the coroner's office, and in some counties with the clerk's office.\nIt doesn't seem like partisan politics would play a large role in the selection of this office and the execution of its duties, but the office of the coroner is an elected position. Differing policy objectives and views about the role of the office from the candidates are shaping this year's coroner election into a good old-fashioned political race.\nThe three candidates, Republican Gary Darland, Democrat David Toumey, and Independent Tamara Harty are all pointing to their experience as the reason Monroe County should elect them to succeed the current coroner, Democrat George Huntington, who is not seeking re-election.\nToumey has served as deputy coroner under Huntington, and before that he was the deputy under previous coroner Dennis Troy.\n"I think I have the experience needed for the job," Toumey said. "I've (served as deputy coroner) for 10 years, and I've done it well. I've been here for many years so I already know and have worked with the people I would be working with as coroner."\nToumey also noted that he was certified last June as a medical legal investigator by the Indiana State Coroners Training Board, something neither of his opponents can claim.\nDarland served for 20 years as an officer in the Indianapolis Police Department. He said his experience in that capacity, where at one time he was working in the third busiest district in the country, prepared him for the types of things he would see and have to investigate as coroner.\n"I've seen everything -- I've been there," he said. "I would bring (to the job) life experience, an understanding of different religions and different cultures, knowledge of the difference between a violent death and a natural one and compassion for the families of the deceased."\nHarty has worked for the past three and half years as a crime scene technician in the detective division of the Bloomington Police Department, gaining valuable experience in many facets of the investigation process.\n"I've worked on all types of crime scenes," she said. "In addition to the on-scene investigation (my duties have included) transporting evidence to the state lab, testifying in court, interactions with the FBI and training of other evidence technicians."\nThe candidates differ significantly in their philosophies concerning the office of the coroner.\nHarty has advocated a more preventative role for the coroner during her campaign, saying that certain measures could be taken to cut down on the number of deaths before they happen.\n"I envision a coroner's office that is pro-active," she said, "working to prevent the loss of life … the coroner's office can provide the link between the preventative resources that we have and the families that need them."\nHarty said a specific incident -- a child abuse homicide that occurred last year -- is why she is running and one of the reasons she is advocating the pro-active measures.\nIf elected, Darland plans to appoint either two medical doctors or a doctor and a licensed attorney as his deputies. He also talked about the possibility of adding volunteer deputies to better deal with a large, growing county. He said he wants to have a staff that is prepared for the worst possible scenario.\nHe also emphasized completing the investigation and corresponding paperwork accurately and rapidly with the utmost respect for the dead and their families. Darland acknowledged the somberness and difficulty of the job.\n"What the county needs as a coroner is someone who has an iron stomach, a gentle heart and eyelids that can hold back a bucket of tears in certain situations," he said.\nToumey's campaign has focused on five objectives he would like to accomplish as coroner.\n"I would want to continue cooperation with the police, create the position of investigator -- someone who would train to become a deputy -- and create a child fatality review team," he said. "I would also like to provide the opportunity for specialized training for first responders and create a joint death investigations team."\nGetting their name and ideas out is important, but the candidates agreed that campaigning for coroner is a delicate and challenging endeavor and unlike campaigning for other elected offices.\n"It shouldn't be political, but it is," Toumey said.\nHarty agrees and said that is why she is running as an independent.\n"I feel strongly that the coroner should not be identified with any political party," she said. "I've never shown up to a crime scene and been asked 'What party do you belong to?' -- it's not relevant to the office."\nTo distinguish themselves from their opponents, the candidates have relied on distributing literature and speaking at various campaign functions, such as the Monroe County candidates' forum that took place Monday night. Harty and Darland spoke at the forum, but Toumey was unable to attend.\nIncumbent coroner George Huntington has not endorsed any of the candidates.