By Former State Representative Gail Riecken
MARCH 13, 2024
Recently 2 of the 3 members of the Vanderburgh County Commissioners voted to approve the E-Rep $300,000 “annual agreement” to support their work in attracting industry and jobs, an agreement that will fund or will have the appearance of funding a political action arm of E-Rep. I hope that E-Rep will choose not to start the political advocacy group, J-PAC.
E-Rep is receiving taxpayer monies and taxpayer-awarded monies cannot be used for political lobbying or supporting political candidates. I feel that even the appearance that E-Rep might use public taxpayers’ money to promote political activities should be avoided at all costs.
At the most recent County Commission meeting E-REP attorney Micheal Schopmeyer attempted to assure County Commissioners that J-PAC and E-Rep missions are entirely separate but there is no way to avoid co-mingling of monies or at least the appearance of such.
There was also a statement made at the meeting by their attorney that I think is very curious and convinces me that adopting an advocacy group is the wrong direction for E-Rep.
E-Rep’s attorney Michael Schopmeyer said that the advocacy group is to be bipartisan, which, of course, is as it should be. However, the fact that their attorney thought he had to make such a point about a bipartisan group makes me think E-Rep realizes there would be a negative response among some members if they thought there was partisanship in the advocacy group. These members know business and industry would look negatively at any appearance of partisanship in E-Rep or in this new advocacy group.
If E-Rep wants political advocacy for some concern, members have the freedom now to talk to individuals and organizations outside their organization, not directly affiliated with E-Rep. Certainly, that would include elected officials, those representatives whom taxpayers already pay to devote their time and effort to helping our region grow.
E-Rep should change course. There is a lot at stake. E-Rep initiating a political advocacy arm, even if E-Rep says funding is separate from taxpayer monies, is not worth the risk of misinterpretation or unintentional co-mingling.
Evansville has lost its population over the last few years. The estimated population in 2022 is recorded at 115,749. The population in 2020 was 117,291 (census.gov)-about the same as 10 years preceding. Evansville must grow. We need everyone working together for economic growth, and working above board, and that means staying above any appearance of being involved in the political process.
Finally, just a note I don’t want to forget. I was very offended at the attitude of Michael Schopmeyer in his approach to Commissioner Musgrave. Even more, I was disappointed that fellow Commissioners didn’t stand up for her.
In all the years of serving the public, I never heard such disrespect from a presenter, and believe me, I have been in more than one emotional public meeting.
FOOTNOTE: THE CITY COUNTY OBSERVER POSTED THIS LETTER WITHOUT BIAS OR EDITING.
