This is where the rubber meets the road. Candidates for the 7th District special election race must make their intentions known and begin working precinct committeepersons for votes. With little more than a week to go before the Democrats and Republicans caucus to pick their candidates, we still don't know who all is running. Is that crazy or what?
On the Democratic side, both City-County Councilor Andre Carson and County Treasurer Mike Rodman have made their candidacies official by filing the necessary paperwork with the Democratic Party. I'm told that attorney Randle Pollard filed paperwork with the party late yesterday as well. State Rep. David Orentlicher has filed a statement of candidacy with the FEC and has been working harder calling committeepersons and lining up dollars for his bid than any other candidate, but he has not officially filed paperwork with the party to run in the caucus next weekend. The Star's Brendan O'Shaughnessy reports that State Rep. Gregory W. Porter, State Rep. Carolene Mays of Indianapolis, former state party chairman Robin Winston and former state health commissioner Woody Myers are also potential candidates. Other Democratic sources say City-County Councilor Joanne Sanders is also running; however, both she and Robin Winston were in Iowa this week working the Iowa Caucus. You can't be taken seriously if you can leave the state to work on somebody else's campaign so close to the date of the vote.
On the Republican side, State Rep. Jon Elrod has filed a statement of candidacy with the FEC, but neither he nor any other Republican candidate has filed paperwork with the party to run in the caucus slated for next weekend. Sources say Jerusalem Post publisher Tom Rose and former 7th District candidate Marvin Scott are both planning to run. Brian Howey also reports that Blan Dickerson, son of 2006 candidate Eric Dickerson, is interested in the race as well. The silence I've heard coming from Republicans, though, is deafening. Is anybody serious about this race in the Republican Party? They haven't convinced me if they are. I'm sure not prepared to promote any of them based upon what little I've seen and heard to date.
It really is disconcerting to think that with so little time left before a room full of people gather to select two candidates, one of whom is assured of becoming the next U.S. Representative for the 7th District, the public knows so little about who the candidates in the race are, let alone where they stand on the issues. It doesn't say much about our representative democratic process, does it?
Friday, January 04, 2008
Thursday, January 03, 2008
GOP Caucus For 7th Set One Day After Dems'
Republican committeepersons get less than a two-week notice that their caucus to nominate a candidate in the special election for the 7th District will take place a day after the Democratic caucus on Sunday, January 13 at the state fairgrounds at 6:00 p.m. Candidates will have up to 72 hours prior to the caucus to file paperwork to run. The date of the special election has not yet been set by Governor Daniels, but judging from comments made by state GOP chairman Murray Clark, a special election on the same day as the primary election is out of the question.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Senate Schedules Hearing On SJR-8
A proposed constitutional amendment to repeal the property tax will get a hearing in the Senate's Rules and Legislative Procedure Committee on Tuesday, January 8 at 2:00 p.m., or upon adjournment of the Senate. The hearing on SJR-8 (Sen. Brent Waltz and Sen. Mike Young) will take place in Room 431. There will be an opportunity for public testimony. If you wish to contact members of the committee to express your support for the repeal of property taxes in Indiana, you should contact the following committee members:
Republicans:
Senator David Long, Chairman
317.232.9972
s16@in.gov
Senator Richard Bray
317.232.9840
s37@in.gov
Senator Beverly Gard
317.232.9493
s28@in.gov
Senator Brandt Hershman
317.232.9494
s7@in.gov
Senator Connie Lawson
317.232.9414
s24@in.gov
Senator Teresa Lubbers
317.232.9808
s30@in.gov
Senator Jim Merritt, Jr.
317.232.9533
s31@in.gov
Senator Brent Steele
317.232.9814
s44@in.gov
Democrats:
Senator Lindel Hume
317.232.9523
s48@in.gov
Senator V. Simpson
317.232.9849
s40@in.gov
Senator Samuel Smith
317.232.9847
s2@in.gov
Senator Richard D. Young
317.232.9427
s47@in.gov
Republicans:
Senator David Long, Chairman
317.232.9972
s16@in.gov
Senator Richard Bray
317.232.9840
s37@in.gov
Senator Beverly Gard
317.232.9493
s28@in.gov
Senator Brandt Hershman
317.232.9494
s7@in.gov
Senator Connie Lawson
317.232.9414
s24@in.gov
Senator Teresa Lubbers
317.232.9808
s30@in.gov
Senator Jim Merritt, Jr.
317.232.9533
s31@in.gov
Senator Brent Steele
317.232.9814
s44@in.gov
Democrats:
Senator Lindel Hume
317.232.9523
s48@in.gov
Senator V. Simpson
317.232.9849
s40@in.gov
Senator Samuel Smith
317.232.9847
s2@in.gov
Senator Richard D. Young
317.232.9427
s47@in.gov
Ballard May Have To Face Showdown On Billboards
It didn't have to be this way, but as a result of last-minute maneuvering at the end of the Peterson administration, Mayor Greg Ballard will have to decide if 10 billboards that Pinnacle Media erected years ago without city approval will have to finally be torn down. The Marion County Environmental Court has already ordered the company to tear down the 10 billboards it constructed along the city's interstate highways inside the I-465 loop nearly 7 years ago. The Indiana Supreme Court on three separate occasions blocked legal attempts by the company to avoid a 7-year-old city ordinance barring the signs. A compliance hearing originally scheduled for today to confirm the company had complied with an earlier court order and removed the billboards, however, has been extended until next Wednesday, January 9, with the concurrence of the City's corporation counsel office and the Ballard transition team.
Tom Williams of Citizens Against Billboard Blight is disturbed by the latest turn of events in this long-raging community interest battle against the billboard company. He complains that someone within the Ballard transition team agreed to the move to defer the compliance hearing until next week. According to Williams, the 10 signs in question have still not been torn down, and he fears the owners may believe they have a more supportive mayor in Greg Ballard. Outgoing Corporation Counsel Kobi Wright directed city attorneys to concur with a request to provide the billboard owners another week on their hearing. Pinnacle is represented by Allen Townsend, an attorney with Bose McKinney. Wright formerly worked for Bose McKinney before becoming Corporation Counsel. He departed his position at the end of the year and is being replaced by a member of the Daniels administration, Chris Cotterill.
After Pinnacle's third attempt in the courts to save the billboards failed, the company faced an October order to remove the sign faces and tear down the structures within 30 days. At a compliance hearing on November 26, 2007, the court ordered Pinnacle to remove all advertising from the signs no later than December 1, 2007. The court denied a request by Pinnacle to delay the effective date of the order until the end of January, 2008 to provide the company additional time to find a buyer for the signs. It set a compliance hearing at that time for January 2, 2008. The Court made it clear Pinnacle could face sanctions if the structures and faces were not removed by today's date.
It is now apparent that Pinnacle is not at all willing to accept defeat. Quite to the contrary, the company, according to City-County Council sources, initiated efforts through Marion Co. GOP Chairman Tom John, an attorney, to fast-track a proposed ordinance at the end of last year, which would have grandfathered-in Pinnacle's 10 billboards, through the council prior to the January 2 hearing date. Sources say John originally approached Councilors Lance Langsford (R) and Jackie Nytes (D) to sponsor the ordinance. Although Langsford originally agreed to sponsor the ordinance proposal, he later withdrew his sponsorship after he heard from concerned community activists, and Nytes never agreed to sign on. Scott Schneider, who like Langsford did not seek re-election to his council seat, agreed to sponsor the proposal.
Members of the City-County Council received unusual letters from two Republican state representatives lobbying for passage of the Pinnacle ordinance. On November 30, 2007, Rep. David Wolkins (R-Winona Lake) wrote to councilors asking them to adopt Schneider's proposed ordinance "as a means of implementing Indiana Code 36-7-4-1109 and as a means of acknowledging the property rights of Pinnacle Media." Referring to the legislative enactment as the "Pinnacle Bill," he explained that he sponsored the bill because he believed the Indiana Supreme Court had "overturned the long standing recognition that 'property rights' vest with respect to permitted uses of property at the time a property owner applies for any required permit" in Metropolitan Development Commission v. Pinnacle Media, LLC, 836 N.E.2d 422 (Ind. 2005). He continued, "The Pinnacle Bill was the general assembly's attempt to quickly overturn this judicially adopted and very vague, 'property rights' standard with respect to permitted uses of property." Days later, Rep. Phyllis Pond (R-New Haven) followed up Wolkins' letter with one of her own lobbying for passage of the Schneider proposal. "There seems to be some misunderstanding, as the intention of the General Assembly in adopting this statute was to finally resolve the Pinnacle litigation," she wrote. "I encourage the City-County Council to adopt this proposed ordinance . . . " Despite the lawmakers' pleas on Pinnacles' behalf, the Rules & Public Policy Committee tabled the ordinance last month in the face of opposition from the Peterson administration and community activists.
By way of explanation, Pinnacle Media first sought to exploit a loophole in Indianapolis' billboard ordinance back in 1999. An older version of the city's ordinance did not regulate placement of billboards along interstate highways within the County. As Pinnacle began leasing property rights along abandoned railroads from the Hoosier Heritage Port Authority and applying with the state's Department of Transportation for a permit to erect billboards, the City-County Council adopted an ordinance in 2000, which extended the city's ordinance to include interstate right of ways. The state initially turned down 15 requested permits for the company but later reached a settlement allowing the company to construct 10 billboards. When the company began constructing billboards in the county without seeking permits from the city, the Department of Metropolitan Development placed stop work orders on their construction, which began the battle that has continued to this date. Despite the city's opposition, the company constructed and built all 10 billboards, which have been in use all these years.
Pinnacle won first legal rounds against the city at the trial court level and the Court of Appeals, but the Supreme Court overturned those decisions, holding that Pinnacle had no vested property rights "where no work has been commenced, or where only preliminary work had been done." 836 N.E.2d at 429-30. Pinnacle petitioned the Supreme Court for rehearing, and while the matter was still pending, succeeding in obtaining passage of the so-called Pinnacle Bill sponsored by Rep. Wolkins. [Note, I found no evidence anyone filed a registration with the state's Lobby Registration Commission on behalf of Pinnacle to lobby for this special legislation]. In a second opinion, the Supreme Court sustained its earlier ruling and refused to apply the new statutory enactment to Pinnacle's benefit, noting that there was "nothing in the legislation evidencing an intent on the part of the Legislature that it have retroactive effect." In yet a third attempt, Pinnacle tried unsuccessfully to avoid summary judgment as ordered by the Supreme Court by amending its original complaint. The trial court and the Court of Appeals ruled that the doctrine of res judicata barred Pinnacle's new claims, and the Supreme Court denied transfer of the case.
While all this litigation was in process, Pinnacle Media sold its assets to Lamar, one of the nation's largest billboard companies, for approximately $10.4 million on June 25, 2004, according to documents Lamar filed with the SEC. A source tells me that a substantial amount of the purchase price was escrowed, pending the final resolution of the litigation pertaining to the 10 Indianapolis billboards. The source says the escrowed amount will be retained by Lamar if the company is not allowed to maintain the billboards; however, Pinnacle turned over management of the signs to Lamar as soon as the sale went through. Interestingly, in documents filed by Pinnacle's attorneys with the Court, Pinnacle urged the Court to give it more time because it no longer had any equipment to remove the signs or facilities to store signs. That may be the case, but Lamar, which is also now a party in the litigation, does have the equipment and facilities. One source conservatively estimates that the billboards in question generate at least $2 million in revenues annually. That gives you an idea how much money is on the line here for Pinnacle and Lamar.
The Ballard administration officially began its first full work day today following his noon inauguration yesterday. Opponents fear Pinnacle, through Tom John, will exert influence on the Ballard administration to reverse the city's long-standing opposition to the billboards. The opponents note that Pinnacle's owner, Phil Nicely, has been a generous contributor to Republicans. He contributed at least $8,500 to Gov. Mitch Daniels' campaign over the past several years, and he made a $1,000 contribution to the Greater Indianapolis Republican Finance Committee on September 10, 2007. An employee of John's firm, John Cochran, has been named special counsel to Mayor Ballard. A former colleague of John's at the Secretary of State's office, Paul Okeson, is the Mayor's new chief of staff. And John is believed to have close ties to the new Corporation Counsel, Chris Cotterrill, who will have the job of instructing city attorneys on how to deal with the matter at next week's compliance hearing.
Opponents fear that Pinnacle's supporters will reintroduce the grandfathering ordinance at next week's first council meeting on January 7, two days before the compliance hearing. I spoke to CCC President Bob Cockrum this afternoon about the matter. He is quite familiar with the proposal as he was present at the Rules and Public Policy Committee last month when the Schneider proposal was tabled. Cockrum told me that he had not been contacted by John about the ordinance, and that he had not been advised by any members of an effort to reintroduce the proposal.
In Pinnacle's request for an additional week, it told the Court it "needs additional time to finalize its plans to remove the ten outdoor signs," but it knew at the Court's November 26, 2007 hearing in this matter it was expected to have that accomplished no later than today to avoid sanctions. If the one-week continuance of the compliance hearing had not been granted, the city's attorney would have shown up in Court today asking the Court to find Pinnacle in contempt of its earlier order for failing to remove the billboards. Because of the continuance, the Ballard administration has waded into a controversy the opponents rightfully felt they had finally won fair and square. The city has spent countless time, energy and expense protecting our city's neighborhoods from the blight posed by these billboards. Why would anyone want to throw all of that away to benefit a wealthy campaign contributor who, unlike most property owners, has a deep pocket to game the legal system. As one of the city's attorney's argued in a legal brief, it is time to bring an end to "this unrelenting and unnecessary . . . litigation."
Mayor Ballard has no choice but to make a decision in this matter now. If he believes in being a partner with the neighborhoods as he pledged during the campaign, he'll tell Pinnacle the game is over and demand one hundred percent compliance with the order the city fought all these year to attain on behalf of the city's neighborhoods. If he or the Republican-controlled council chooses any other course, they will deservedly raise the ire of MCANA and risk losing the good will he brings to office with him. I, for one, am confident Mayor Ballard will make the right decision.
Tom Williams of Citizens Against Billboard Blight is disturbed by the latest turn of events in this long-raging community interest battle against the billboard company. He complains that someone within the Ballard transition team agreed to the move to defer the compliance hearing until next week. According to Williams, the 10 signs in question have still not been torn down, and he fears the owners may believe they have a more supportive mayor in Greg Ballard. Outgoing Corporation Counsel Kobi Wright directed city attorneys to concur with a request to provide the billboard owners another week on their hearing. Pinnacle is represented by Allen Townsend, an attorney with Bose McKinney. Wright formerly worked for Bose McKinney before becoming Corporation Counsel. He departed his position at the end of the year and is being replaced by a member of the Daniels administration, Chris Cotterill.
After Pinnacle's third attempt in the courts to save the billboards failed, the company faced an October order to remove the sign faces and tear down the structures within 30 days. At a compliance hearing on November 26, 2007, the court ordered Pinnacle to remove all advertising from the signs no later than December 1, 2007. The court denied a request by Pinnacle to delay the effective date of the order until the end of January, 2008 to provide the company additional time to find a buyer for the signs. It set a compliance hearing at that time for January 2, 2008. The Court made it clear Pinnacle could face sanctions if the structures and faces were not removed by today's date.
It is now apparent that Pinnacle is not at all willing to accept defeat. Quite to the contrary, the company, according to City-County Council sources, initiated efforts through Marion Co. GOP Chairman Tom John, an attorney, to fast-track a proposed ordinance at the end of last year, which would have grandfathered-in Pinnacle's 10 billboards, through the council prior to the January 2 hearing date. Sources say John originally approached Councilors Lance Langsford (R) and Jackie Nytes (D) to sponsor the ordinance. Although Langsford originally agreed to sponsor the ordinance proposal, he later withdrew his sponsorship after he heard from concerned community activists, and Nytes never agreed to sign on. Scott Schneider, who like Langsford did not seek re-election to his council seat, agreed to sponsor the proposal.
Members of the City-County Council received unusual letters from two Republican state representatives lobbying for passage of the Pinnacle ordinance. On November 30, 2007, Rep. David Wolkins (R-Winona Lake) wrote to councilors asking them to adopt Schneider's proposed ordinance "as a means of implementing Indiana Code 36-7-4-1109 and as a means of acknowledging the property rights of Pinnacle Media." Referring to the legislative enactment as the "Pinnacle Bill," he explained that he sponsored the bill because he believed the Indiana Supreme Court had "overturned the long standing recognition that 'property rights' vest with respect to permitted uses of property at the time a property owner applies for any required permit" in Metropolitan Development Commission v. Pinnacle Media, LLC, 836 N.E.2d 422 (Ind. 2005). He continued, "The Pinnacle Bill was the general assembly's attempt to quickly overturn this judicially adopted and very vague, 'property rights' standard with respect to permitted uses of property." Days later, Rep. Phyllis Pond (R-New Haven) followed up Wolkins' letter with one of her own lobbying for passage of the Schneider proposal. "There seems to be some misunderstanding, as the intention of the General Assembly in adopting this statute was to finally resolve the Pinnacle litigation," she wrote. "I encourage the City-County Council to adopt this proposed ordinance . . . " Despite the lawmakers' pleas on Pinnacles' behalf, the Rules & Public Policy Committee tabled the ordinance last month in the face of opposition from the Peterson administration and community activists.
By way of explanation, Pinnacle Media first sought to exploit a loophole in Indianapolis' billboard ordinance back in 1999. An older version of the city's ordinance did not regulate placement of billboards along interstate highways within the County. As Pinnacle began leasing property rights along abandoned railroads from the Hoosier Heritage Port Authority and applying with the state's Department of Transportation for a permit to erect billboards, the City-County Council adopted an ordinance in 2000, which extended the city's ordinance to include interstate right of ways. The state initially turned down 15 requested permits for the company but later reached a settlement allowing the company to construct 10 billboards. When the company began constructing billboards in the county without seeking permits from the city, the Department of Metropolitan Development placed stop work orders on their construction, which began the battle that has continued to this date. Despite the city's opposition, the company constructed and built all 10 billboards, which have been in use all these years.
Pinnacle won first legal rounds against the city at the trial court level and the Court of Appeals, but the Supreme Court overturned those decisions, holding that Pinnacle had no vested property rights "where no work has been commenced, or where only preliminary work had been done." 836 N.E.2d at 429-30. Pinnacle petitioned the Supreme Court for rehearing, and while the matter was still pending, succeeding in obtaining passage of the so-called Pinnacle Bill sponsored by Rep. Wolkins. [Note, I found no evidence anyone filed a registration with the state's Lobby Registration Commission on behalf of Pinnacle to lobby for this special legislation]. In a second opinion, the Supreme Court sustained its earlier ruling and refused to apply the new statutory enactment to Pinnacle's benefit, noting that there was "nothing in the legislation evidencing an intent on the part of the Legislature that it have retroactive effect." In yet a third attempt, Pinnacle tried unsuccessfully to avoid summary judgment as ordered by the Supreme Court by amending its original complaint. The trial court and the Court of Appeals ruled that the doctrine of res judicata barred Pinnacle's new claims, and the Supreme Court denied transfer of the case.
While all this litigation was in process, Pinnacle Media sold its assets to Lamar, one of the nation's largest billboard companies, for approximately $10.4 million on June 25, 2004, according to documents Lamar filed with the SEC. A source tells me that a substantial amount of the purchase price was escrowed, pending the final resolution of the litigation pertaining to the 10 Indianapolis billboards. The source says the escrowed amount will be retained by Lamar if the company is not allowed to maintain the billboards; however, Pinnacle turned over management of the signs to Lamar as soon as the sale went through. Interestingly, in documents filed by Pinnacle's attorneys with the Court, Pinnacle urged the Court to give it more time because it no longer had any equipment to remove the signs or facilities to store signs. That may be the case, but Lamar, which is also now a party in the litigation, does have the equipment and facilities. One source conservatively estimates that the billboards in question generate at least $2 million in revenues annually. That gives you an idea how much money is on the line here for Pinnacle and Lamar.
The Ballard administration officially began its first full work day today following his noon inauguration yesterday. Opponents fear Pinnacle, through Tom John, will exert influence on the Ballard administration to reverse the city's long-standing opposition to the billboards. The opponents note that Pinnacle's owner, Phil Nicely, has been a generous contributor to Republicans. He contributed at least $8,500 to Gov. Mitch Daniels' campaign over the past several years, and he made a $1,000 contribution to the Greater Indianapolis Republican Finance Committee on September 10, 2007. An employee of John's firm, John Cochran, has been named special counsel to Mayor Ballard. A former colleague of John's at the Secretary of State's office, Paul Okeson, is the Mayor's new chief of staff. And John is believed to have close ties to the new Corporation Counsel, Chris Cotterrill, who will have the job of instructing city attorneys on how to deal with the matter at next week's compliance hearing.
Opponents fear that Pinnacle's supporters will reintroduce the grandfathering ordinance at next week's first council meeting on January 7, two days before the compliance hearing. I spoke to CCC President Bob Cockrum this afternoon about the matter. He is quite familiar with the proposal as he was present at the Rules and Public Policy Committee last month when the Schneider proposal was tabled. Cockrum told me that he had not been contacted by John about the ordinance, and that he had not been advised by any members of an effort to reintroduce the proposal.
In Pinnacle's request for an additional week, it told the Court it "needs additional time to finalize its plans to remove the ten outdoor signs," but it knew at the Court's November 26, 2007 hearing in this matter it was expected to have that accomplished no later than today to avoid sanctions. If the one-week continuance of the compliance hearing had not been granted, the city's attorney would have shown up in Court today asking the Court to find Pinnacle in contempt of its earlier order for failing to remove the billboards. Because of the continuance, the Ballard administration has waded into a controversy the opponents rightfully felt they had finally won fair and square. The city has spent countless time, energy and expense protecting our city's neighborhoods from the blight posed by these billboards. Why would anyone want to throw all of that away to benefit a wealthy campaign contributor who, unlike most property owners, has a deep pocket to game the legal system. As one of the city's attorney's argued in a legal brief, it is time to bring an end to "this unrelenting and unnecessary . . . litigation."
Mayor Ballard has no choice but to make a decision in this matter now. If he believes in being a partner with the neighborhoods as he pledged during the campaign, he'll tell Pinnacle the game is over and demand one hundred percent compliance with the order the city fought all these year to attain on behalf of the city's neighborhoods. If he or the Republican-controlled council chooses any other course, they will deservedly raise the ire of MCANA and risk losing the good will he brings to office with him. I, for one, am confident Mayor Ballard will make the right decision.
Andre Carson Enters 7th District Race
City-County Councilor Andre Carson is officially jumping into the 7th District race to succeed his late grandmother, Rep. Julia Carson, according to WISH-TV's Jim Shella. Shella blogs this afternoon:
That makes three Democratic candidates actively working the race. State Rep. David Orentlicher has already been calling committeepersons and organizing fundraisers. Marion Co. Treasurer Mike Rodman is also seeking support from committeepersons. City-County Councilor Joanne Sanders, also mentioned as a possible candidate, is spending part of this week in Iowa working the Democratic presidential caucus being held there tomorrow night. Perhaps that means she will not be a candidate after all.
Andre Carson left state Democratic Headquarters with a handful of papers this morning, preparing to file as a candidate for Congress in the 7th Congressional district.
Carson confirmed his intention to run but declined an interview on the subject until he can send a letter to the precinct committeemen who will choose a replacement for his grandmother, the late Julia Carson.
As for the committeemen, Democratic chairman Dan Parker points out that 560 of them will take part in a caucus to choose the nominee (Andre’s the favorite, all of a sudden) on January 12. On February 16th there will be slating for the May primary election and only 425 will take part. Its the result of redistricting that was ordered after Parker scheduled his caucus.
Marion County Chairman Mike O’Connor determines which committeemen get cut out for slating.
That makes three Democratic candidates actively working the race. State Rep. David Orentlicher has already been calling committeepersons and organizing fundraisers. Marion Co. Treasurer Mike Rodman is also seeking support from committeepersons. City-County Councilor Joanne Sanders, also mentioned as a possible candidate, is spending part of this week in Iowa working the Democratic presidential caucus being held there tomorrow night. Perhaps that means she will not be a candidate after all.
Hypocritical Mahern Says Look Over Here
Instead of addressing why he and members of the Library Board refused to seat a duly-appointed member of the Board to fill a vacancy created when Peter Pizarro moved to the State of Ohio months earlier and why it allowed this nonresident to cast a vote for the Library's CEO position, Board chairman Louis Mahern patted himself on the back in a column in today's Star for resisting the pressures of patronage. Mahern writes:
On the point of Pizarro's residency issue, Mahern has the audacity to make him out to be the real hero. "Failing to get their way through political pressure and through an abortive attempt to replace a trustee, an attempt has been made to call into question the residency of one of the Library Trustees who had the temerity to defy the Ex Officio County Commissioners," Mahern
said. "Had this trustee been committed to their candidate, the commissioners would never have attempted to remove him nor would they now be questioning his residency."
If Mayor Ballard and the City-County Council don't demand Mahern's immediate resignation from the Board, they will have failed to demonstrate to at least this commentator that they are serious about the rule of law and a more open and honest government. Well, Mr. Mayor, we're waiting to hear from you on this important public matter. Should a Board chairman who so flagrantly flaunted the laws governing the administration of the Board be allowed to continue to serve?
UPDATE: A kind Advance Indiana reader forwarded me the archive of the old Matt Tully column chastising Louis Mahern for the political advice he had for then-CCC President Steve Talley. Here's some of what the column entitled, "Political favoristism has, well, a certain smell," said:
The American Heritage Dictionary defines patronage in the political sense as "The power to distribute or appoint people to governmental or political positions."I wish I had the quote handy, but I recall a column written by Star political columnist Matt Tully a few years back where he took Mahern to task for an e-mail he had written in which he actually touted the virtues of patronage in carrying out his role as the Board's chairman. [See update below] Now, it has become some evil device he has never practiced. Let's see, how many members of the Mahern family have obtained government jobs? And has any member of the Library's Board in any recent memory been appointed based upon their qualifications as opposed to their political connections? It seems to me a person's politics has been responsible for virtually every board appointment in recent memory.
In the nearly 135-year history of the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library, there is no recorded instance of partisan political office-holders attempting to influence the selection of the chief executive officer of the library.
That is, until about four months ago . . .
Before the application period had ended, board members began to receive phone calls from local elected officials and their staffs recommending a prominent partisan Democrat who is a qualified librarian (Jackie Nytes) and to whom I have made political contributions.
Three members of the Library Board of Trustees are appointed by the Ex Officio Marion County Commissioners who are in reality the county assessor, auditor and treasurer. Each of these trustees was contacted by each of the County Commissioners recommending this same political figure. I received a call from Mayor Bart Peterson's chief of staff recommending this same individual. Another trustee received a call from the mayor himself commending this same
individual again before the application period had even closed.
The Indiana statute is quite clear as to the selection criteria for CEO of the library: "The selection shall be made solely upon the basis of the candidate's training and proficiency in the science of library administration." I take that to mean not on the basis of the candidate's partisan political support.
Not only had the period of application not closed before these political recommendations began to roll in but after the application period closed, not one of these elected officials asked to sit in on the interviews of the applicants.
Not content with trying to unduly influence the selection of the nonpartisan CEO, the Ex Officio County Commissioners attempted on the day of the Library Board CEO selection vote to replace one of their trustees with a new appointee, presumably one who would be a bit more compliant.
The Ex Officio County Commissioners tried to appoint a replacement for a trustee whose term did not end for another five days. A motion to carry out this replacement by the Library Trustees failed for lack of a second. Apparently, their new appointee was prepared to vote without sitting in on candidate interviews.
The tustees then voted to make Laura Bramble the permanent CEO based largely on her successful stewardship during the interim.
On the point of Pizarro's residency issue, Mahern has the audacity to make him out to be the real hero. "Failing to get their way through political pressure and through an abortive attempt to replace a trustee, an attempt has been made to call into question the residency of one of the Library Trustees who had the temerity to defy the Ex Officio County Commissioners," Mahern
said. "Had this trustee been committed to their candidate, the commissioners would never have attempted to remove him nor would they now be questioning his residency."
If Mayor Ballard and the City-County Council don't demand Mahern's immediate resignation from the Board, they will have failed to demonstrate to at least this commentator that they are serious about the rule of law and a more open and honest government. Well, Mr. Mayor, we're waiting to hear from you on this important public matter. Should a Board chairman who so flagrantly flaunted the laws governing the administration of the Board be allowed to continue to serve?
UPDATE: A kind Advance Indiana reader forwarded me the archive of the old Matt Tully column chastising Louis Mahern for the political advice he had for then-CCC President Steve Talley. Here's some of what the column entitled, "Political favoristism has, well, a certain smell," said:
Even for political junkies like me, the stink of politics can sometimes be too much.
For such a story, let's start at the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library's Web site, where visitors find the words "Using tax dollars wisely.
"Click on those words and you're taken to an opinion piece by Louis Mahern, the library Board's politically appointed president. It offers a defense of how the library spends property taxes, and comes as the board has sought a tax increase and as concerns about the messy Downtown library expansion continue.
Now, let's move away from the library for another view of how Mahern thinks tax dollars should be used. This view comes from a private memo Mahern wrote earlier this year to City-County Council President Steve Talley, a fellow Democrat.The memo talks of protecting two Democratic council members narrowly elected in 2003.
"There should be priority given to constituent requests from these districts," Mahern wrote. "Curb replacement, street repair, sewer cleaning, heavy trash pickup, code enforcement and all of those services that benefit neighborhoods should be given the highest priority in these two districts.
"Politicized sewer cleaning? Now that stinks.
I called Mahern this week to ask if he stands by his words.
"Am I advocating political favoritism? Well, I suppose I am," he said. "When Mitch Daniels was running for governor, he emphasized his close ties with the president,
implying he might be able to get things out of the White House.
"He went on."To suggest that political favoritism is not a reality and is not part of the American political process is naive."
Mahern should know. He served 16 years in the state Senate and ran for mayor in 1991. He is now a lobbyist. Reading Mahern's memo inspires two thoughts. First: With old-school views like that, it's a good thing he lost his race for mayor. Second: Is he the best guy to help oversee a beleaguered and big-spending library system?
Mahern joined the Library Board last year, long after the Downtown expansion project exploded into an overbudget, overdue mess. And there's no hint he's playing politics with his position. GOP board member Greg Jordan said Mahern has "done everything on the up and up."
Still, Mahern's view on how the city should direct its tax dollars certainly raises questions. He mocked me for saying that.
"This may resonate with the public, but every politician in town is going to be laughing at you," Mahern said. "This is not unusual." I do like the man's honesty.
Talley said basing such decisions on politics would be"totally inappropriate." Let's hope he means that.
By the way, the council seats Mahern suggests helping with "favoritism" are held by Democrats Sherron Franklin and -- note this name -- Dane Mahern.
That's his nephew.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Linda Pence Plans Run For Attorney General
Fellow blogger Ruth Holladay has the big political scoop of the day. She's reporting that prominent Indianapolis attorney Linda Pence is planning to run for Attorney General this year as a Democrat. Pence, a shareholder and director of Sommer Barnard, P.C., is one of the state's most accomplished female attorneys. Former Gov. Frank O'Bannon hired Pence, a former Justice Department attorney, to lead an investigation of the 1999 fish kill in the White River caused by the release of a toxic chemical by the Guide Corp. in Anderson. If Pence is slated by Democrats at their state convention this year, she will presumably face Attorney General Steve Carter in the November election, who would be seeking re-election to a third term.
Ballard Inaugural Address
Here is the text of the speech Mayor Greg Ballard delivered at his swearing-in ceremony at the Indiana War Memorial today:
GOOD AFTERNOON, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE ON THIS NEW YEAR’S DAY. I’M ESPECIALLY GLAD TO HAVE MY FAMILY HERE – MY WIFE WINNIE, OUR CHILDREN, MY MOM, MY BROTHERS AND SISTER AND OTHER RELATIVES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT.
IT IS A GREAT HONOR TO HAVE THE MARINE CORPS COLOR GUARD TAKE PART IN THIS CEREMONY, AND I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO THEM.LET ME ALSO TAKE A MOMENT ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE IN INDIANAPOLIS TO OFFER SINCERE THANKS TO MAYOR BART PETERSON FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE TO OUR CITY OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.
AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO HIS WIFE, AMY AND THEIR DAUGHTER, MEG, FOR THE MANY SACRIFICES THEY HAVE MADE.
THERE ARE MANY MEMBERS OF THE CITY-COUNTY COUNCIL HERE AS WELL. PRESIDENT BOB COCKRUM, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND THE OTHER COUNCILORS OF BOTH PARTIES TO CARRY OUT THE WILL OF THE CITIZENS OF OUR GREAT CITY. AND I THANK MY FELLOW CITIZENS OF INDIANAPOLIS FOR GIVING ME THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS YOUR MAYOR.
I PLEDGE MY VERY BEST EFFORT TO LIVE UP TO THE TRUST YOU’VE PLACED IN ME.I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN INDIANAPOLIS, AND WHEN I COMPLETED MY SERVICE IN THE MARINE CORPS, I BROUGHT MY FAMILY BACK. NO MATTER WHERE I WAS STATIONED, I WAS ALWAYS PROUD TO CALL INDIANAPOLIS “HOME.” I CAN SENSE THAT MOST PEOPLE IN OUR CITY FEEL THAT SAME PRIDE.
INDIANAPOLIS IS A GREAT CITY. WE ARE A CITY THAT’S USED TO SUCCESS. BUT SKYROCKETING TAXES AND VIOLENT CRIME HAVE SHAKEN THE CONFIDENCE OF OUR CITIZENS AND HAVE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY. WE FACE A LOT OF CHALLENGES AND THAT ARE GOING TO TAKE HARD WORK AND TOUGH DECISIONS.
MY GOVERNING PRIORITIES WILL BE THE SAME AS THOSE I TALKED ABOUT AT NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. WE NEED TO INTENSIFY OUR EFFORTS TO FIGHT CRIME, PUT OUR FISCAL HOUSE IN ORDER, REINVEST IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, BRING MORE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY INTO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND HELP THOSE WHO ARE IMPROVING EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
MY TOP PRIORITY AS MAYOR IS PUBLIC SAFETY. WE MUST REVERSE THE RISE IN CRIME AND PROVIDE SAFETY TO THE CITIZENS OF INDIANAPOLIS.THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY SHOULD REST WITH THE MAYOR – THAT’S WHAT CITIZENS EXPECT. TO THAT END, ALL PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES MUST BE UNDER THE MAYOR’S CHAIN OF COMMAND.
I WILL BE HONEST WITH THE CITIZENS OF OUR CITY ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO GET CRIME UNDER CONTROL. THE INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT IS FULL OF EXTREMELY HARD-WORKING, COMPETENT, CIVIC-MINDED POLICEMEN AND WOMEN WHO DO AN EXCELLENT JOB. I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO SEE TO IT THAT THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES THEY NEED. IN PARTICULAR, WE MUST PUT POLICE BACK INTO THE COMMUNITIES, ALLOWING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO GET TO KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE PEOPLE IN THEM SO THAT THEY CAN HELP PREVENT CRIME, RATHER THAN MERELY REACT.
ADDITIONALLY, THIS CITY MUST ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF EX-OFFENDERS RETURNING TO SOCIETY. I WILL PUT IN PLACE PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE JOB SKILLS AND SOCIAL SUPPORT SO THAT EX-OFFENDERS HAVE A USEFUL SKILL THAT WILL BENEFIT SOCIETY AND THE STRENGTH TO STAY AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE AND SCENARIOS THAT GOT THEM IN TROUBLE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
ANOTHER TOP PRIORITY IS TO REDUCE CITY GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND RELIEVE THE GROWING BURDEN ON MARION COUNTY TAXPAYERS. WE WILL EXAMINE EVERY BUDGET ITEM AND FIND WAYS TO CUT COSTS.AS THE CHIEF ELECTED OFFICIAL IN MARION COUNTY, THE MAYOR OF INDIANAPOLIS SHOULD LEAD ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES IN CONTROLLING SPENDING. THE MAYOR DOES NOT HAVE DIRECT CONTROL OVER MANY PUBLIC ENTITIES THAT HAVE SEPARATE AUTHORITY TO TAX OR SPEND PUBLIC FUNDS, BUT I WILL USE MY LEADERSHIP POSITION TO MAKE SURE GOVERNMENT WORKS TOGETHER IN MARION COUNTY TO BENEFIT THE TAXPAYERS.
I ALSO INTEND TO WORK WITH GOVERNOR DANIELS AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AS THEY WRESTLE WITH OUR ANTIQUATED PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM. NEXT, WE NEED TO PUT A PRIORITY ON STRONG NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE’RE ALL PROUD OF OUR CITY, BUT WHAT MATTERS MOST IN OUR DAILY LIFE IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. DO I FEEL SAFE FROM CRIME? IS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM PROVIDING FOR MY CHILDREN? ARE MY STREETS CLEAN? DOES THE CITY CARE ABOUT MY NEIGHBORHOOD? A GREAT CITY IS A COLLECTION OF GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS. WE NEED STRONG NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE CITY WITH GOOD SCHOOLS AND REDUCED CRIME. WE NEED THE MAYOR’S OFFICE CONNECTED TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS. ONLY THEN WILL PEOPLE BE PROUD OF THEIR CITY AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WILL RESTORE THE FRONT PORCH ALLIANCE TO REESTABLISH NECESSARY TIES BETWEEN THE MAYOR AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF INDIANAPOLIS.
I WILL APPLY THE “BROKEN WINDOWS” THEORY, WHICH HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY USED IN OTHER CITIES TO PROMOTE SAFETY BY CLEANING UP BLIGHTED NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS INCLUDES SHORTENING THE TIME FRAME WITH WHICH TO DEAL WITH ABANDONED HOMES. OTHER CITIES HAVE FOUND TAKING SUCH STEPS CAN REDUCE CRIME, IMPROVE PROPERTY VALUES, AND MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER.
A FOURTH PRIORITY, TO WHICH I’M FIRMLY COMMITTED, IS TO ESTABLISH PRINCIPLES OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. CITIZENS HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THEIR CITY GOVERNMENT.OUR CITIZENS DESERVE AN ELECTED LEADERSHIP THAT IS RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR TAX DOLLARS. TAXPAYERS DESERVE TO SEE HOW THEIR MONEY IS BEING SPENT. FORMER MAYOR STEVE GOLDSMITH TOLD ME THAT THE MAYOR OF INDIANAPOLIS MUST REPRESENT THOSE NOT SEATED AT THE TABLE. I WILL DO JUST THAT.
IN MY ROLE AS MAYOR, I WILL ENSURE THAT ALL THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS KNOW THEY SERVE THE CITIZENS AND ARE NOT BEHOLDEN TO ANY ORGANIZATION OR POWER STRUCTURE. WE MUST REMEMBER THAT WE ARE EMPLOYED BY THE PEOPLE. THIS CITY DOES NOT BELONG TO THE GOVERNMENT. IT’S BEEN BUILT BY ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO PAY THEIR TAXES, KEEP UP THEIR PROPERTY, RAISE THEIR KIDS, LOOK OUT FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS – WHO DO THE BEST WITH WHAT THEY HAVE AND HELP THOSE WHO HAVE LESS. AND THEY HAVE
THE RIGHT TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE FOR HOW WE SERVE THEM.
THE LAST AREA WE MUST ADDRESS IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY. IT WILL REDUCE CRIME, LOWER HEALTHCARE AND SOCIAL SERVICE COSTS, AND EXPAND OUR ECONOMIC BASE BY BRINGING IN TOP-FLIGHT JOBS —THAT IS EDUCATION. THE MAYOR MAY CONTROL FEW OF THE LEVERS OF EDUCATION IN THIS COUNTY, BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, EDUCATION WILL BE A TOP PRIORITY IN MY ADMINISTRATION. WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE EDUCATION IN THIS COUNTY. OUR KIDS DESERVE IT AND OUR CITY DEMANDS IT.
THIS IS MY VISION: MAKING OUR CITY SAFER, IMPROVING ITS FISCAL CONDITION, REINVIGORATING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, ESTABLISHING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND IMPROVING EDUCATION.AS YOUR FELLOW CITIZEN, I AM HONORED TO SERVE AS MAYOR OF INDIANAPOLIS, AND I WILL WORK HARD TO BUILD ON THE SUCCESS OF OUR PAST CITY LEADERS. OVER THE PAST YEAR, I’VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF MEETING MANY CITIZENS WHO ARE WILLING TO TAKE ACTION TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF OUR CITY.
RONALD REAGAN SAID, “ALL GREAT CHANGE IN AMERICA BEGINS AT THE DINNER TABLE.” I BELIEVE THAT – NOW MORE THAN EVER. BUT WE NEED EVERYONE TO STAY INVOLVED IN FIGHTING CRIME, STRENGTHENING NEIGHBORHOODS, MENTORING YOUNG PEOPLE, AND PRESSING FOR BETTER GOVERNMENT.WE WILL MEET THE CHALLENGES WE FACE TOGETHER, WE WILL CARRY ON OUR CITY’S TRADITION OF SUCCESS, AND WE WILL LEAVE TO THE NEXT GENERATION A CITY OF WHICH THEY CAN BE PROUD.
THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE ON THIS NEW YEAR’S DAY. I’M ESPECIALLY GLAD TO HAVE MY FAMILY HERE – MY WIFE WINNIE, OUR CHILDREN, MY MOM, MY BROTHERS AND SISTER AND OTHER RELATIVES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT.
IT IS A GREAT HONOR TO HAVE THE MARINE CORPS COLOR GUARD TAKE PART IN THIS CEREMONY, AND I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO THEM.LET ME ALSO TAKE A MOMENT ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE IN INDIANAPOLIS TO OFFER SINCERE THANKS TO MAYOR BART PETERSON FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE TO OUR CITY OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.
AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO HIS WIFE, AMY AND THEIR DAUGHTER, MEG, FOR THE MANY SACRIFICES THEY HAVE MADE.
THERE ARE MANY MEMBERS OF THE CITY-COUNTY COUNCIL HERE AS WELL. PRESIDENT BOB COCKRUM, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND THE OTHER COUNCILORS OF BOTH PARTIES TO CARRY OUT THE WILL OF THE CITIZENS OF OUR GREAT CITY. AND I THANK MY FELLOW CITIZENS OF INDIANAPOLIS FOR GIVING ME THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS YOUR MAYOR.
I PLEDGE MY VERY BEST EFFORT TO LIVE UP TO THE TRUST YOU’VE PLACED IN ME.I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN INDIANAPOLIS, AND WHEN I COMPLETED MY SERVICE IN THE MARINE CORPS, I BROUGHT MY FAMILY BACK. NO MATTER WHERE I WAS STATIONED, I WAS ALWAYS PROUD TO CALL INDIANAPOLIS “HOME.” I CAN SENSE THAT MOST PEOPLE IN OUR CITY FEEL THAT SAME PRIDE.
INDIANAPOLIS IS A GREAT CITY. WE ARE A CITY THAT’S USED TO SUCCESS. BUT SKYROCKETING TAXES AND VIOLENT CRIME HAVE SHAKEN THE CONFIDENCE OF OUR CITIZENS AND HAVE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY. WE FACE A LOT OF CHALLENGES AND THAT ARE GOING TO TAKE HARD WORK AND TOUGH DECISIONS.
MY GOVERNING PRIORITIES WILL BE THE SAME AS THOSE I TALKED ABOUT AT NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. WE NEED TO INTENSIFY OUR EFFORTS TO FIGHT CRIME, PUT OUR FISCAL HOUSE IN ORDER, REINVEST IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, BRING MORE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY INTO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND HELP THOSE WHO ARE IMPROVING EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
MY TOP PRIORITY AS MAYOR IS PUBLIC SAFETY. WE MUST REVERSE THE RISE IN CRIME AND PROVIDE SAFETY TO THE CITIZENS OF INDIANAPOLIS.THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY SHOULD REST WITH THE MAYOR – THAT’S WHAT CITIZENS EXPECT. TO THAT END, ALL PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES MUST BE UNDER THE MAYOR’S CHAIN OF COMMAND.
I WILL BE HONEST WITH THE CITIZENS OF OUR CITY ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO GET CRIME UNDER CONTROL. THE INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT IS FULL OF EXTREMELY HARD-WORKING, COMPETENT, CIVIC-MINDED POLICEMEN AND WOMEN WHO DO AN EXCELLENT JOB. I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO SEE TO IT THAT THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES THEY NEED. IN PARTICULAR, WE MUST PUT POLICE BACK INTO THE COMMUNITIES, ALLOWING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO GET TO KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE PEOPLE IN THEM SO THAT THEY CAN HELP PREVENT CRIME, RATHER THAN MERELY REACT.
ADDITIONALLY, THIS CITY MUST ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF EX-OFFENDERS RETURNING TO SOCIETY. I WILL PUT IN PLACE PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE JOB SKILLS AND SOCIAL SUPPORT SO THAT EX-OFFENDERS HAVE A USEFUL SKILL THAT WILL BENEFIT SOCIETY AND THE STRENGTH TO STAY AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE AND SCENARIOS THAT GOT THEM IN TROUBLE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
ANOTHER TOP PRIORITY IS TO REDUCE CITY GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND RELIEVE THE GROWING BURDEN ON MARION COUNTY TAXPAYERS. WE WILL EXAMINE EVERY BUDGET ITEM AND FIND WAYS TO CUT COSTS.AS THE CHIEF ELECTED OFFICIAL IN MARION COUNTY, THE MAYOR OF INDIANAPOLIS SHOULD LEAD ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES IN CONTROLLING SPENDING. THE MAYOR DOES NOT HAVE DIRECT CONTROL OVER MANY PUBLIC ENTITIES THAT HAVE SEPARATE AUTHORITY TO TAX OR SPEND PUBLIC FUNDS, BUT I WILL USE MY LEADERSHIP POSITION TO MAKE SURE GOVERNMENT WORKS TOGETHER IN MARION COUNTY TO BENEFIT THE TAXPAYERS.
I ALSO INTEND TO WORK WITH GOVERNOR DANIELS AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AS THEY WRESTLE WITH OUR ANTIQUATED PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM. NEXT, WE NEED TO PUT A PRIORITY ON STRONG NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE’RE ALL PROUD OF OUR CITY, BUT WHAT MATTERS MOST IN OUR DAILY LIFE IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. DO I FEEL SAFE FROM CRIME? IS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM PROVIDING FOR MY CHILDREN? ARE MY STREETS CLEAN? DOES THE CITY CARE ABOUT MY NEIGHBORHOOD? A GREAT CITY IS A COLLECTION OF GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS. WE NEED STRONG NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE CITY WITH GOOD SCHOOLS AND REDUCED CRIME. WE NEED THE MAYOR’S OFFICE CONNECTED TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS. ONLY THEN WILL PEOPLE BE PROUD OF THEIR CITY AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WILL RESTORE THE FRONT PORCH ALLIANCE TO REESTABLISH NECESSARY TIES BETWEEN THE MAYOR AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF INDIANAPOLIS.
I WILL APPLY THE “BROKEN WINDOWS” THEORY, WHICH HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY USED IN OTHER CITIES TO PROMOTE SAFETY BY CLEANING UP BLIGHTED NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS INCLUDES SHORTENING THE TIME FRAME WITH WHICH TO DEAL WITH ABANDONED HOMES. OTHER CITIES HAVE FOUND TAKING SUCH STEPS CAN REDUCE CRIME, IMPROVE PROPERTY VALUES, AND MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER.
A FOURTH PRIORITY, TO WHICH I’M FIRMLY COMMITTED, IS TO ESTABLISH PRINCIPLES OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. CITIZENS HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THEIR CITY GOVERNMENT.OUR CITIZENS DESERVE AN ELECTED LEADERSHIP THAT IS RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR TAX DOLLARS. TAXPAYERS DESERVE TO SEE HOW THEIR MONEY IS BEING SPENT. FORMER MAYOR STEVE GOLDSMITH TOLD ME THAT THE MAYOR OF INDIANAPOLIS MUST REPRESENT THOSE NOT SEATED AT THE TABLE. I WILL DO JUST THAT.
IN MY ROLE AS MAYOR, I WILL ENSURE THAT ALL THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS KNOW THEY SERVE THE CITIZENS AND ARE NOT BEHOLDEN TO ANY ORGANIZATION OR POWER STRUCTURE. WE MUST REMEMBER THAT WE ARE EMPLOYED BY THE PEOPLE. THIS CITY DOES NOT BELONG TO THE GOVERNMENT. IT’S BEEN BUILT BY ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO PAY THEIR TAXES, KEEP UP THEIR PROPERTY, RAISE THEIR KIDS, LOOK OUT FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS – WHO DO THE BEST WITH WHAT THEY HAVE AND HELP THOSE WHO HAVE LESS. AND THEY HAVE
THE RIGHT TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE FOR HOW WE SERVE THEM.
THE LAST AREA WE MUST ADDRESS IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY. IT WILL REDUCE CRIME, LOWER HEALTHCARE AND SOCIAL SERVICE COSTS, AND EXPAND OUR ECONOMIC BASE BY BRINGING IN TOP-FLIGHT JOBS —THAT IS EDUCATION. THE MAYOR MAY CONTROL FEW OF THE LEVERS OF EDUCATION IN THIS COUNTY, BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, EDUCATION WILL BE A TOP PRIORITY IN MY ADMINISTRATION. WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE EDUCATION IN THIS COUNTY. OUR KIDS DESERVE IT AND OUR CITY DEMANDS IT.
THIS IS MY VISION: MAKING OUR CITY SAFER, IMPROVING ITS FISCAL CONDITION, REINVIGORATING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, ESTABLISHING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND IMPROVING EDUCATION.AS YOUR FELLOW CITIZEN, I AM HONORED TO SERVE AS MAYOR OF INDIANAPOLIS, AND I WILL WORK HARD TO BUILD ON THE SUCCESS OF OUR PAST CITY LEADERS. OVER THE PAST YEAR, I’VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF MEETING MANY CITIZENS WHO ARE WILLING TO TAKE ACTION TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF OUR CITY.
RONALD REAGAN SAID, “ALL GREAT CHANGE IN AMERICA BEGINS AT THE DINNER TABLE.” I BELIEVE THAT – NOW MORE THAN EVER. BUT WE NEED EVERYONE TO STAY INVOLVED IN FIGHTING CRIME, STRENGTHENING NEIGHBORHOODS, MENTORING YOUNG PEOPLE, AND PRESSING FOR BETTER GOVERNMENT.WE WILL MEET THE CHALLENGES WE FACE TOGETHER, WE WILL CARRY ON OUR CITY’S TRADITION OF SUCCESS, AND WE WILL LEAVE TO THE NEXT GENERATION A CITY OF WHICH THEY CAN BE PROUD.
THANK YOU.
IMPD Spokesman Busted For DUI
He worked for many years as the chief spokesman for the Indianapolis police department, but he now finds himself the subject of a news story. Sheridan police arrested Sgt. Steven Staletovich early this morning on charges of driving while intoxicated. The Star's Robert King writes:
About the same time Sheridan police were hauling Staletovich into custody, a gunman was shooting up a parking lot outside Durty Nelly's Pub on the city's northeastside, killing one and injuring four others. The shooter remains at large. Hopefully, this isn't a sign of times to come in the new year.
An Indianapolis police sergeant was arrested in Hamilton County early Tuesday and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
Stephen P. Staletovich, 46, was arrested by Sheridan town police just after 3 a.m. Tuesday and taken to the Hamilton County jail, according to jail booking officer William Dailey. His bond was set at $2,500.
Staletovich, who has served as a public spokesperson for Indianapolis police, has been in law enforcement for more than 22 years. He was arrested by Sheridan police at the Westfield Police Department, Bailey said. Details of the arrest weren’t immediately available. Sheridan Police Chief Jeff Weir could not be reached for comment.
IMPD said Sgt. Staletovich was operating his own personal vehicle at the time of his arrest. The department will conduct an independent internal investigation and Sgt. Staletovich will be reassigned to administrative desk duties until that investigation concludes.
Aside from his police work, Staletovich last year made a short fictional film screened locally that depicted the final hours of a convicted serial child murderer on death row.
About the same time Sheridan police were hauling Staletovich into custody, a gunman was shooting up a parking lot outside Durty Nelly's Pub on the city's northeastside, killing one and injuring four others. The shooter remains at large. Hopefully, this isn't a sign of times to come in the new year.
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