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Indianapolis, Indiana - March 5th, 2025 8:31 am EST.
Factchecked by Sam Keen and Kelly Roberts
First reported by Nothing changes if nothing changes on March 4th, 2025
In what appears to be a case of financial fraud, campaign finance violations, or outright money laundering, two Marion County Indianapolis City-County Councilors—Brian Mowery and Paul Annee—have reported thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the Franklin Township GOP Club, yet the club’s own treasurer says those payments never happened.
Email correspondence from Bob Elrod, Franklin Township GOP Club Treasurer Photo byGmail
At a recent club meeting, Bob Elrod, the Franklin Township GOP Club treasurer, was confronted about these contributions, as the club has never filed the required financial reports for such donations. His response? Complete denial. Not only was he unaware of the payments, but he also stated "the club doesn’t even have the kind of money" that was reported as donated.
The next day, when copies of the campaign finance reports were emailed to Elrod, his story shifted. He then claimed the funds came from a campaign fundraiser held for the councilors—but insisted the club had nothing to do with it and the transactions weren't authorized. This explanation falls apart under scrutiny.
Blatant Financial Discrepancies & Unanswered Questions
The Franklin Township GOP Club sponsored and promoted the fundraiser in question. Even more suspiciously, contributions attributed to the club continued to appear on finance reports well into subsequent years—long after the supposed one-time fundraiser.
So, who actually had access to the club’s accounts? Who authorized these payments without authorization? And why is the club board completely unaware of these transactions? And then there’s the most bizarre detail—Councilor Paul Annee isn't even a resident or a political representative for Franklin Township. He resides in and represents Perry Township. Why is the Franklin Township GOP Club supposedly funneling money to a councilor who has nothing to do with their township?
There is one glaring common denominator between the club and these questionable contributions: Cindy Mowery, Franklin Township chair and campaign treasurer for both councilors. Given her role overseeing both the club’s finances and those of the councilors, this raises serious concerns about conflicts of interest, financial misconduct, and potential criminal activity.
Cindy Mowery’s History of Financial Misconduct
This isn’t Cindy Mowery’s first brush with financial impropriety. She was previously investigated by the Indiana State Board of Accounts as president of the Marion County Fair Board. That investigation found that she illegally misappropriated taxpayer funds to make improvements to her personal home. Now, she’s at the center of yet another financial scandal—this time involving missing campaign contributions, unverifiable payments, and a complete lack of accountability.
Legal and Ethical Accountability—Or Lack Thereof
Adding another layer of irony, the Franklin Township GOP Club is led by two attorneys:
Aaron Freeman, club president, is also a state senator and an attorney.
Bob Elrod, club treasurer, is also an attorney.
With two legal professionals at the helm, one would expect a higher standard of financial oversight and transparency. Instead, the club has ignored multiple requests for verification of the payments and has provided no explanation as to why campaign contributions attributed to the club do not align with its own records.
New Leadership Promises Accountability
Amidst this turmoil, the Marion County GOP has elected Natalie Goodwin as its new chair. Goodwin, who previously ran for the Indianapolis City-County Council District 4 seat, has pledged to hold Marion County politicians accountable and is demanding transparency in her tenure. Her leadership could signal a shift towards ethical governance and financial integrity within the county's political landscape.
So, Where’s the Money?
At best, this is a case of gross financial mismanagement. At worst, it’s campaign finance fraud, illegal misappropriation of funds, or even money laundering. If the Franklin Township GOP Club never made these contributions, where did the money come from? Who actually wrote the checks?
And why is Cindy Mowery—who has a documented history of financial misconduct—once again in the middle of it all?
As usual in Indianapolis politics, the silence is deafening