Chairman Parke,
Hopefully this email finds you well. My interest has been piqued in a few topics that you are discussing in your latest email and other events recently.
I appreciate this last email regarding the hotel, however, I’d really enjoy hearing your reason for supporting the hotel project. My understanding is that it has come to light that some $37 Million in taxpayer assistance has been devoted to this project. Please correct me if I have that figure wrong or that you recall no government funding is involved, but I’d like to know more about your support and why you have chosen to do so publicly. Are my taxes going to be increased as a result? If so, I have to be honest that I’d be particularly interested in why the Republican Party Chairman is getting involved in this issue. If the past is any indicator, I anticipate that I will receive questions from neighbors and fellow Republicans in my area regarding your involvement in this issue, because my understanding is that you have made your support public knowledge. My recollection is that the Republican Party platform includes planks for both 1) lower taxes and 2) smaller government. I know the “I’m a Republican because…” placards that are available at the Vanderburgh GOP office include those criteria, so I’d like to know how supporting the hotel does either of those.
And while we’re talking about controversies, I was already planning to email you as it was regarding the leaked audio from Brenda Bergwitz’ answering machine. It made it onto the City-County Observer website where it sounds like you effectively demanded she remove the ‘missing’ photo that is floating around Facebook. Is there a reason why you felt compelled to demand she remove that post as per her duties as a precinct committeeman? It also sounds like you did not see it yourself but referenced someone else seeing it and telling you. Are you not on Facebook that you could see this for yourself? From what I have found out, it appears that she did not even author the image. Can you also explain why this constitutes a breach that would warrant a county chairman calling and leaving her a voicemail and two emails? Some are claiming that you should be instead spending time to have Representative Bucshon make the rounds to have a public town hall appearance to address the concerns voters have. Could you speak to this as well? This would be a great opportunity for Congressman Bucshon to explain what he will be doing to stop Obamacare between now and next year’s election. Have you spoken with him and what is the reason he stated for not appearing to answer these questions from his constituents?
Of course we all recall when you made that comment to me in an email in 2012 that Kristi Risk should not be running and that you knew of not one Republican who supported her doing so, despite many that told you they would support that challenge (including myself in the email). A lot of people are scratching their heads asking if you are simply unwilling to hear other legitimate voices despite the process that is set up to do so. And at a time where Republicans hold many offices, is this the way to add to those gains?
Lastly, are all these controversies causing you to seriously consider Brenda’s recommendation that you step down from your position? Please excuse my deep inquiry into these topics, but thanks in advance for your thoughts and consideration.
Sincerely,
Sean Selby
Sean–
You already know the the answers to most if not all of your questions from the email I previously sent you. To pretend otherwise is not being honest and that is both sad and disturbing. I am responding here because others may not know the answers.
This convention hotel project is a unique situation. I am supporting the convention hotel because it is the right thing to do for Evansville. We need to bring in outside convention dollars and provide jobs to people in our great City. There is over whelming public support for this project. Without big financial support from the City, a convention hotel will not be built in Evansville.
As Republican Party Chairman, people have ask for my opinion and I think it is important that Republicans and other voters understand what I believe/support. I believe it is part of my job to keep voters informed of my position on important issues.
No your property taxes and no one else’s property taxes are going up because of this hotel project. This hotel project does not increase your taxes and it does not increase the size of government.
You know full well the information regarding Brenda’s anti-Congressman Bucshon posting was on her Facebook page. As indicated before (because I believe this to be an internal Republican matter) I will not comment publically on my Republican Party issues with Brenda Bergwitz, a Republican Precinct Committeeman. She has
in my judgment failed to act in the best interest of the Republican Party. As Republican Party Chairman, I stand by my stated position to her on this situation. She decided to make some of my comments to her public.
Because of time restraints with other important issues, I am not active on Facebook.
Congressman Buchson is very active meeting with voters within the District #8. Brenda has known for sometime that Congressman Buchson is scheduled to have another town hall meeting in Vanderburgh County the latter part of September.
I and all Republican Party elected officials and the Republican officeholders support Congressman Buchson. He is a good conservative Republican and the voters are very lucky to have him representing us in Congress.
No I will not be stepping down as Chairman. I was was elected Chairman by a 10 to 1 majority. Most Republicans think I am doing a good.
If you desire, I offer to meet with you to discuss any matter you want to discuss.
Wayne Parke
Chairman Vanderburgh County Republican Party
wparke@wowway.com
What would you say of the first bond payment for the Ford Center was made by taxpayer dollars because the downtown TIF did not collect enough money to make the payment? Having looked at the 2012 report on the downtown TIF that only collected $7 Million but spent $8.5 Million not counting the $10 Million payment on the Ford Center lease that is due in 2013. Those outside dollars needed are indeed taxpayer funds but the last mayor promised “we won’t use tax money on ford center”. This hotel will be no different. A good example is to treat the TIF like a family that makes $70,000 per year but has fixed payments of $210,000 to make. The numbers don’t work Wayne. The hotel while not the culprit will just make the titanic sink faster. Your stance is financially reckless and fiscally irresponsible.
Everyone knows that you could not peddle these proposed bonds anywhere if it was not for the inclusion of the County Option Income Tax (COIT) in the list of revenue sources available to service the bonds.
I can not believe that intelligent people are even discussing taxing a person’s income in order to pay for a cash gift to a privately held business.
If this is not the poster child for “transfer of wealth” I do not know what is!
This goes against the stated platform and beliefs of the GOP, so one must ask them self if that platform is sincere, or if it is designed to deceive.
Perhaps Chairman Parke can tell us which one it is.
__
I think this best states what I am feeling:
“I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong.â€
(Abraham Lincoln)
I wonder if a vote was held today if Parke would see the same support he always brings up? I do not think so as Parke has become more of a tax and spend crony!!!!
rk812–
What are some examples where I become “more of a tax and spend crony”?
I do not recall any?
Wayne Parke
1. The John
2. The Hotel give away
3.The ballparks in a flood plane
4. Earthcare Energy
5. A Dogpark
6. Roberts stadium fiasco
In Mr. Parker’s defense, he has clearly stated he thought Earthcare was, I believe he used the term “idiotic” in his remarks to me.
Excuse me I kind of combined Winnecke and Park in the list of big money spending! You know DERP+DERP= our local Republican leadership! Evan when was voted in 10-1 oh my!
Chairman Parke and other Vanderburgh Republican Leadership,
Please explain to myself and the voters of Vanderburgh County how government intervention is going to accomplish what the free market and private investors have already deemed not profitable. Do you really believe this is possible? Didn’t you spend an entire career in the private sector? I can’t believe what I just heard. So much for the “conservative” portion of the Republican brand. I can’t see one iota of difference between your ideas about government and those of the blue team. Very disheartening.
“Keep your Eye on the Goal”
For Evansville the Goal has been defined apparently by the likes of the ERBC for some years now. Their “vision” has been a costly failure at every turn, and yet their “Cannot be wrong Egos” demand a continuing mantra that, if more money were to be BET, sooner, or later we all would be “winners” in the long term, while they could enjoy being “winners” in the short term, all the way, even to “Skyboxes” at The John. They continue throwing their weight around pushing the hotel “Gift” of $37+Million, but, the Elephant in the room today is an ever growing belief by the voters that the wrong goals have been pursued far too long. The Looming $800 Million Sewer Mandate is a “hay bale” that’s going to take the “Elephant” a long, long time to “Eat”, that’s stoking a consciousness, that Infrastructure, and it’s cost,– is the TOP CONCERN when thinking of the “Goal line” of a better tomorrow for Evansville.
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