More Peon Chamber Forum Thoughts: Commissioner's Race - Adams v Harper

My big deal of going to the Valparaiso Chamber forum on Thursday, October 21, 2010 was not to listen to the county council candidates, (although I'm very glad I got to hear what they had to say), but my keen interest was in the contentious race to unseat Commissioner Bob Harper, and in particular what his opponent, Nancy Adams, had to say.

UPDATE:  Here are the sanitary reports on the forum.

Northwest Indiana Times
Post-Tribune

ridiculous, nonsensical and expensive attack ad mailer

Bob Harper started out his opening remarks, by showing one of the ridiculous, nonsensical and expensive attack ad mailers that have been sent out to Porter County residents by the Valparaiso Republicans.
 
The NWIL blog covered this mailer, quoting Harper's statement from the minutes of an April 26, 2005 Porter County Council Meeting.

"I didn’t vote for the CEDIT tax, and in fact, I opposed putting an income tax on the people of Porter County, and I was very vocal about that. And further, I am vocal about putting any further income taxes on the people of Porter County."

In addition, Harper was present at the May 2005 commissioners and county council meetings so I am not sure exactly what meeting Harper missed when "the vote was taken."

Throw something and see if it will stick seems to be the modus operandi of the Valparaiso Republicans.  It doesn't have to be true.  It can also mislead, and it should be flatly false if at all possible. Scaring people is efficient and effective and as Harper indicated at the forum, reminiscent of 'Chicago Style' politics transplanted right here in Porter County.

Nancy Adams emphatically disavowed the negative attack mailers, saying she had nothing to do with it.  It's really hard for me to believe that she had no knowledge of these mailers, and the substance.  She is a Valparaiso resident.  She is a Republican.  She is a Valparaiso Republican.  The mailers were sent out by the Valparaiso Republicans.  Very curious.

UPDATE:  Click here

In her concluding remarks, Adams referred to a 'nightmare' that puzzled not only me, but others who remarked to having a similar impression.  My first thought was that Adams was referring to county government in general as a 'nightmare', which would have been a slam to incumbents sitting on the panel beside her, as well as other governmental leaders in the audience or not in attendance.

If it was not that, then perhaps a direct attempt to deride Commissioner Bob Harper as a 'nightmare'.  At any rate, it was startling, and seemed like language that could have been taken right off of a Valparaiso Republican mailer.

Adams denied that new taxes were being talked about, but the argument Bob Harper has made and continues to make is that once the ball gets rolling if we let it, the ability to tax is there, it seems likely, nay near certainty that more taxes will come as regional development expands in partnership with Lake County, if the challenge to this entanglement which is working through the courts does not allow Porter County to withdraw from the RDA.

From a previous post:

In 2009, there was a big state budget crisis, a show down in the capitol. Indianapolis, Indiana. Lots of State Senators were none too happy at the end of that session. Here's what happened as it affect(ed)(s) Porter County:

Among the prizes secured for Northwest Indiana is a local income tax-backed transit district for Lake, Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph counties that won't become a reality unless voters in at least two of those counties sign off on referenda scheduled for Nov. 3. source: NWI Times

Then with the the Council's objections to the RDA, Republican State Rep Ed Soliday, sought to sneak in an 'RDA Overide' into legislation that took power and control away from elected county governmental leadership, giving it to the municipalities.  Oh what folks we send to Indianapolis can do for us or to us, depending on your point-of-view.

     Earlier this session, State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, proposed legislation that sought to allow Porter County municipalities to stay in the RDA despite the county’s withdrawal, with a possible new income tax funding their dues.

A version of that proposal made it into the final bill, but one that would use the existing countywide income tax for the cities or towns that wish to stay in the RDA.

“Even if you’re in favor of the RDA, this is un-American, ' Blaney  [lLaura Shurr Blaney] said in response. Blaney was one of four council members who opted to withdraw the county from the RDA.   source:  The Chesterton Tribune

UPDATE:  In a personal note, Blaney clarified to the Peon that what she meant as 'un-American' in the above quote, was taxation without representation.

 Harper got a dig in his closing remarks, that included a chuckle from the audience courtesy of (or at the expense of) Republican State Rep. Ed Soliday.  Harper thanked Soliday for acknowledging the good job that Porter County Democrats have done for the county in reference to Soliday's recent remarks at the Republican Ronald Reagan Dinner.

'Probably the most shocking thing I hear is when good Republicans tell me  that Bob Harper and his crowd have done a good job and deserve to be  re-elected.  I have but one question for them, “Good job at what?'

 I chuckled, and smiled.

Comments are welcome.