IS IT TRUE? February 12, 2012

40
The Mole #??

IS IT TRUE? February 12, 2012

IS IT TRUE

that the more things change the more they never will should be the theme for this week in the City of Evansville?…that the Mole Nation is unanimous that the City County Observer should be the first to publish that an inside deal has been cut to make Jack McNeely, the long time President of the Central Labor Council to replace the recently departed Mark Owen as the Chairman of the Vanderburgh County Democrat Central Committee?…that while we respect Mr. McNeely we do have some concerns that his status as the President of the Central Labor Council may have some negative effect on job attraction efforts for Vanderburgh County in particular?…that if one pretends to be the President and CEO of a big manufacturing operation looking to expand and the name of Evansville is placed on the consideration list, that the fact that the Democrat Party have dominated local politics for well over half a decade will get your attention?…that as far as Vanderburgh County is concerned, whatever advantages that the State of Indiana may realize from the recently passed Right to Work law may be squandered by making a union president the most powerful Democrat official in the county?

IS IT TRUE that we encourage Mr. McNeely to get in front of this potential deal killer as soon as possible with a position paper on job creation and an explicit statement that a non-union organization that moves to town that pays fair living wages with respectable benefits that they will be welcomed with open arms?…that whether some people like it or not, Right to Work is the wave of the future in America and the stable balance to overzealous employers who really would engage in exploitative practice will be cooperative unions that assure a drug free, well trained workforce that adds value to the business?…that this whole RTW can be a long term win-win proposition if both sides get together and make good things happen?…that we have faith that Jack CAN do this and hope to see a future where Jack WILL do this?

IS IT TRUE that in another CAN DO BUT WILL SHE DO opportunity, the Winnecke Administration has appointed former Weinzapfel Chief of Staff Rose Young to be the Duchess of Red Tape Removal?…that as we have been positive on the idea of using Mrs. Young’s considerable knowledge of local government workings, there is real potential that people will see this as a “MORE OF THE SAME” appointment and maybe it is?…that Rose was certainly a loyal and effective Chief of Staff for former Mayor Weinzapfel and often was seen as tending to his career much better than he ever did?…that sometimes the best person to clean the skeletons out of the closets really can be someone who was on the team that put the skeletons there in the first case?…that the CCO sees this new appointment as having good potential to do some quick fixes as only Rose knows where and how some of the skeletons are?…that with her effervescent personality and accomplishment driven zeal some people may be surprised how much Rose can do?…that balancing this new appointment with her responsibilities of serving the Weinzapfel for Indiana Political Action Committee may be a bit too much of a case of competing interests?…that a good gesture right out of the box before the skeleton eradication starts would be to resign from any and all positions that require personal loyalty to the ex-mayor?

IS IT TRUE that tomorrow is the big day for the vote on a comprehensive smoking ban in the City of Evansville?…that both sides have been putting their best efforts forward to cajole the members of the City Council to do what they want them to?…that during last year’s campaign a full seven of the nine members of the council expressed support for a fully comprehensive smoking ban?…that only Missy Mosby consistently opposed it and Jonathan Weaver has never really tossed his egg into either basket?…that for this ordinance not to pass a full three of the other members of council will literally have to “reverse strongly and widely stated positions”?…that the CCO is making no predictions with respect to the smoking ban and do not even agree among ourselves on this issue but will be featuring a point-counterpoint pair of editorials on the subject tomorrow?…that of course the pro-ban position will be taken by long time contributor to the CCO and former publisher Joe Wallace with the editorial supporting an exemption for Aztar Gaming Boat taken by the new publisher Mr. Tim Eckels?

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40 COMMENTS

  1. Don’t be too sure Jack McNeeley is a done deal, I talked to more than one person who is interested in running against him yesterday

  2. I would like to throw out a name for the new Democratic Central Committee chairman: Troy Tornatta. BAM!

  3. Does anyone else find it simply amusing that the reason we got stuck with Owen – and the reason the Demo Party is a complete mess – is because NO ONE ELSE would step up and run for the position?
    Yet, today, people are coming out of the woodwork saying they’re interested?
    What’s that about?

    • Patty Avery is up for a posistion in the Obama administration. I dont think she cares to mess with us poor little church mice anymore

  5. Parties were not created to create jobs. Parties were created to cultivate qualified, caring, serving people to run for public offices and then support them to the fullest once they are elected or nominated. At least that’s the way it’s supposed to happen. I don’t care if Jack McNeely or anyone else running for party leadershiop has a job creation position paper printed in this space. I only care that Jack McNeely or whomever the next party chair is gets the most qualified people possible in these positions of power to run an efficient and caring local government as possible. And if jobs are created or saved or if taxpayer dollars are saved as a result of his work then so be it.

    Regarding Rose Young. HA! Did Weinzapfel keep Russ Lloyd’s Chief of Staff after the 2003 election? Nope. Because that lady was loyal to Russ Lloyd and the GOP. So why is he keeping Rose Young? She’s entrenched in Democrat Party politics. Bad, bad, bad, bad, bad decision by the new mayor. How can he expect loyalty from people who have proven themselves disloyal? Once a cheater always a cheater. He’ll ultimately pay for that bad decision before his one and only 4 year term is up.

  6. The appointment of former Weinzapfel Chief of Staff and Chief Cheerleader is the first real head scratcher by Mayor Winnecke. This is as logical as appointing former Democratic Chairman Owen or his Floatgate side-kick Justin Jarvis. I sincerely hope Mayor Winnecke knows what he is doing here.

  7. All I know is that I would love to send a real audit team, not one that overlooked $300. million in revenue, into Winnecke’s office and have them look at the downtown arena project from beginning to end, before too much disappears.

    __

  8. Something I can’t believe the CCO and it’s moles have overlooked is the highly possible conflict of interest between Mr McNeeley’s dual roles as the president of the Central Labor Council and his ambitions to become chairman of the Democratic party. Consider this: The Central Labor council will almost surely endorse Republicans Vanetta Becker and Ron Bacon, because they voted against right to work. I’ve already heard that Democratic challengers Terry White and Kevin Derr have been pretty much shut out of local union monetary contributions. So if McNeeley in his union hat leads a group that endorses the Republicans, could he then put on a Democrat Hat and endorse White and Derr? Wouldn’t this just be a replay of the Connie Robinson/Mark Owen situation?

    • I heard that Terry White hired the Floatgate guy, Mr. Unlicensed Driver to head his campaign.
      If that’s true, he’s doomed because it appears with Owen and Robinson resigning that the party is finally trying to heal. The new party leadership will want nothing to do with Javis.
      My brother has lived in Boonville for the last 20 years. He said the Derr guy is legit and has tons of community support similar to the way Jim Tomes ran his campaign in Posey County. The Derr family is well liked in Warrick County and it’s a household name.

      • Kevin Derr (Democrat) is running for Indiana House District 75. Terry White is running for Indiana Senate District 50.

        What are you implying by trying to link the Democrat candidates for two entirely different offices in this one post about Jarvis?

      • Terry is the Warrick County Chairman and his hiring of Mr Jarvis really has nothing to do with the party in Vanderburgh County except to guarntee that I won’t donate any more to his campaign than I already have. Kevin Derr is indeed the real thing and deserves the consideration of all who vote in his district.

        • Chuck a brief check of opensecrets doesnt show your name on any of our area candidates reports.

          • Candidates do not have to show individual “small” donations of #100 or less on their finance reports, unless the donor makes multiple small donations that total greater than $100 in sum.

    • Henry, excellent conflict of interest analysis that seems to end consideration of Mr. McNeely. I hear that Attorney Robert Faulkner ‘s name keeps on coming up among many Demos on their short list for Chairman.

      • Isn’t Rob Faulkner the current Secretary? I heard that he was asked for his resignation at the same time Connie and Mark were asked for theirs. I doubt that they will promote him after they demote him.

        • “I doubt that they will promote him after they demote him.”

          They who? Exactly who? Don’t just say something generic like “the Democrats.”

          • Rob is actually the current acting chairman of the party due to being the ranking person left. After a new chair is elected I’d imagine that he will be asked for his resignation unless a deal has been cut.

          • I know that it is an elected position. I was using generic terminology but referring to the pc’s a group.

        • Well, I guess that answers half the question. But who’s the “they” that is going to “demote” Faulkner? And what position actually would constitute a demotion from secretary?

          • Wow you’re really stripping down my statement huh? “They” the state democrat party, represented by Tony Long, “demoting” Faulkner by requesting his resignation. And I guess “no position” would be considered a step down from secretary. I guess I should apologize for my lack of use of political terms. I assumed everyone would understand the very simple point I was making without using all of the proper terminology. Apparently it would have been quicker since I have now come back with two more posts just to explain myself to you.Are we done now or do you still feel the need to make me look less intelligent than you?

          • Okay, thanks for naming the person doing the “demoting.” Now, do you know WHY Tony Long asked for Rob Faulkner’s removal? Clue: It had nothing to do with the reasons Long gave regarding Owen and Robinson. And as a lawyer, Long should’ve known the reasons given are totally bogus.

          • By the way, I am sorry if you interpreted me to belittle your intelligence. That was not my intent at all. I made more grammar mistakes in my two posts than you have in all your recent posts. You seem very intelligent to me.

            My objection is to all the unsubstantiated and generalized BS that’s tossed around in here by many posters. If it’s not simply misinformed on the part of the writer, then it’s intended by the writer to misdirect the reader

            In this particular case, I don’t think Rob Faulkner was at the meeting where the Robinson resolution was discussed, and I don’t think he signed the resolution. And I know he did not endorse the Republican mayoral candidate or come out against the Democrat candidate. So, what was his offense to which Tony Long or the IDP attaches their call for his resignation from the central committee?

            That’s my question. There has to be a cause stated in accordance with the party rules. Besides, I don’t think the rules specifically enable the IDP or 8th District chair to order the removal of a county central committee secretary.

            However, I think there was a cause stated by Tony Long, and I think it is a bogus cause that has no basis in the party rules. Rather I think someone simply continues to beat the drum of a lost cause. JMO

        • In my opinion, noone in his right mind would want it. The party is split, there is way more debt than the $3500 owed for greeasy fried chicken, and the appointment is only for 13 months, after which whomever gets the job will be judged and have to stand for reelection. What we need is a coalition representing all of the various factions to put the party back together, led by a chairman who would step down after the 13 months of rebuilding. I’d like to see Phil Hoy take it on, but I’m sure he won’t.

        • Steve Melcher served as Chairman a for few years when Mr. Owen has stepped down and Owen later reassumed the Chairmanship after serving as the Weinzapfel for Mayor campaign chairman. Mr. Melcher is well respected and supported the Democratic primary winning mayoral candidate. He’d be a very solid pick.

          • And didnt melcher preside over a rather large string of losses. I think you judge a county chairman on the races they win in that county during there tenure.Not sure about Owens other years but he did lead a party to win 9 of the 10 races they contested this year.

  10. Dennis Avery is only name I can think of that could command the respect of both the Davis and Weinzapfel factions.

    He knows all the personalities within the Vanderburgh Democratic party and has the admiration of the general public as well.

    Further, he knows how to run a campaign and would be a great mentor for aspiring candidates. He would bring integrity, objectivity and independence to the position.

  11. Dennis Avery and his wife Patty could put the Democrat Party back on their feet!! We need leadership from those that have been in the battle field for a while and have given their time and energy to help the party! What a pair they would make!! We could again hold our heads high!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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