Indiana state Sen. Ron Alting said he will resign if reelected, after he was accused of shoplifting at Walmart stores while doctors tested him for changes in his judgment.
Story Snapshot
- Alting, a Lafayette Republican in the Senate since 1998, said he “did things that were wrong” and takes responsibility.
- He is accused of shoplifting at Walmart stores in Lafayette and Monticello, and reports tie him to a store in Florida.
- A special prosecutor is reviewing six Lafayette-area theft cases and will decide whether to charge him.
- He said specialists are testing him for changes in his judgment, behavior and thinking.
What Alting Admitted And What He Plans To Do
On Wednesday, October 21, Alting posted on Facebook that he will leave the Indiana Senate. “I did things that were wrong and completely out of character for me,” he wrote. “I take responsibility for my actions.” He said he has been through “extensive medical evaluation for concerning changes in my judgment, behavior and cognitive functioning.” After talks with his family and doctors, he said, he decided to “bring my time in public office to an end” and focus on his health and family. He apologized to his family, friends, colleagues, constituents and “the store employees involved.”
Alting, 70, is the most senior member of the Indiana Senate. He represents District 22, which covers Carroll County and part of Tippecanoe County. Because voting is underway, it is too late to take his name off the Tuesday, November 3, ballot. A Senate Republican spokesperson said he will keep his seat until Election Day. If he wins, he will resign, and a Republican Party caucus, a meeting of local party members, will choose his replacement. If he loses, Democrat Natasha Baker, a teacher, would take the seat when his term ends. Baker said voters “deserve a senator elected by the people, not hand selected by party insiders.”
The Medical Claims
Alting first spoke about his health on October 7. He said he had noticed “concerning changes” in his judgment and thinking and was “stepping back from actively campaigning” while doctors evaluated and treated him. In that same statement, he said he had done things that were wrong and apologized to the store employees involved.
In his October 21 post, he said his testing included specialists in neurology, which deals with the brain and nerves; geriatrics, which is care for older adults; and mental health, along with an MRI scan and other tests. “That work is continuing as my doctors seek a definitive diagnosis,” he wrote. He has not named a condition.
The Law-And-Order View For Voters
Police say Alting took items from Walmart stores in the Lafayette area and in Monticello, both in or near his district. Elkhart County Prosecutor Vicki Becker was named special prosecutor, an outside prosecutor brought in to handle the case. She is reviewing six theft cases reported in the Lafayette area going back to August. Local reports also tie him to a suspected theft at a Walmart in the Naples, Florida, area. No charges had been filed as of mid-October, according to local reports.
Alting has not spoken about the specific allegations. He is accused, not convicted, and Becker will decide what charges, if any, he faces. Fellow Republican Sen. Spencer Deery said Alting made “the right decision.” Earlier in October, local Republicans had said they would wait until after the election before calling for him to step down.
What To Watch Next
Two things come next. Voters in District 22 go to the polls on Tuesday, November 3, with Alting’s name still on the ballot. The special prosecutor will then decide whether to file charges in the Indiana cases. Any word from Florida would come from authorities there.
Bottom Line For Readers
A senator with nearly three decades in office said he did wrong, apologized to the store workers, and chose to step aside to focus on his health. The law will still run its course through the special prosecutor, and voters in his district will have the last word on November 3.
Sources:
wfyi.org, nypost.com, jconline.com, wthr.com, purdueexponent.org, wlfi.com, wibc.com
