Widow of coroner chosen for ballot

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - One of the last question marks of November's ballot has now been removed.

Donna Avolt was sworn in to fill the last four months of her husband's term as Tippecanoe County Coroner Thursday evening. Her husband, former coroner Dr. David Avolt, was killed in a car crash in Florida last month.

In a caucus meeting, Donna faced off against Philip Fisher.

In a vote of Republican precinct committee members, she won by a vote of 49 to 36.

"It's been bittersweet," Avolt said. "I'm standing here because I lost my husband but I'm also gratified for the trust and the confidence that the precinct committee people have put into me."

Avolt said she and David had agreed to quit after one more term. But she wants to finish what they started, which includes the completion of a 20-year drug study that she says will be released soon.

Avolt will run unopposed on November's ballot. It's a position she held from 2005-2008.

In our bonus video, Avolt answers questions about the other things she hopes to accomplish in office and how her husband's death will change how she goes about her job.