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Winnecke’s Waffling Points To Lack of Leadership
Evansville, IN – Gail Riecken released a statement regarding the 2016 Evansville Municipal Budget. Leadership begins and ends with action.
When it comes to the 2016 City Budget, Mayor Winnecke did not act.
If anyone is to blame for the budgetary cuts the City Council made, it’s Mayor Winnecke.
I spoke about our city finances and the difficulties the city faces quite a bit over the last 9 months. We have more money going out than coming in, rising debt, and a Mayor who thinks neither of those things are a problem.
At the same time, Mayor Winnecke was told about how the 2016 Budget needed to be both cut and balanced. He knew the budget process would be a difficult one. He could have spent the time finding ways to trim the budget in a way the City Council would approve, ensuring that his priorities were included.
Instead, the Mayor punted.
Mayor Winnecke refused to make the cuts necessary, and made a deeply political decision. He let the City Council make the budgetary cuts for him, refusing to be the leader Evansville deserves and make the budgetary cuts himself.
He did so in order to blame someone else for the cuts he knows must be made. Anyone who looks at the budgets, looks at the city finances, and understands how government can and should function, can easily see that budgetary cuts must be made.
Mayor Winnecke wants to let someone else do his dirty work so he can keep his hands clean, and avoid having to take any responsibility for the budgetary cuts other leaders MUST now make to keep our city financially solvent.
Mayor Winnecke refused to act, so other leaders had a duty to do so.
Its unfortunate the Mayor would not make the hard choices. I do not agree with all the budgetary cuts that were made, but what is most disappointing is that the Finance Chair of the City Council, and not the Mayor, had to be the one proposing the cuts to the budget.
At his 3pm press conference today, Mayor Winnecke said “Politics has gotten in the way of good public policyâ€.
Frankly, I couldn’t agree more.
Winnecke has refused to put forth a realistic budget, playing politics and pushing the hard choices off to other leaders. His choice to play politics is the budget we now have for 2016.
A city without leadership is a ship without a captain.
As Mayor, I will take the leadership role, with open meetings and discussion about budget issues longer before the eleventh hour.
Together, we can make Evansville better.
Sincerely,
Gail Riecken
Candidate For Mayor of Evansville
Gail Riecken is running for Mayor of Evansville and is a former Evansville City Council-woman, Evansville Parks Director, and a current member of the Indiana State House of Representatives. She is a lifelong Evansville resident, has been married for 47 years, and has 2 children and 3 grandchildren.
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EDITORS NOTE:  Attached is a copy of an e-mail sent today to all City  of Evansville department heads and non-profit organizations that receive funding from the City.  We consider this called meeting to be political nature to order to rally the Pro-Winnecke forces to show up next Tuesday to vote for him for re-election.  We predict that the Mayor will take this opportunity to tell those in attendence  that last nights City Council budget cuts will have a negative impact on the services they provide.
It’s important to point out that the 2016 City budget doesn’t come into effect until January 2016. Â Get ready to hear the doom and gloom spin generated by this soon to be politically motivated gathering. We think that the timing of this called meeting is suspect.
Subject: Mtg Request from Mayor Winnecke – 3:00 pm today
All –
Mayor Winnecke requests your presence today at 3:00 PM in Room 301 of the Civic Center to discuss the impacts of the 2016 budget cuts.
Your attendance is very important as these cuts will impact the delivery of city services and the organizations supported by city government. If you cannot attend, please send a representative in your place. For the non-profit organizations, please feel free to invite your board chairman or other leadership.
Thanks in advance.
Steve
Steve Schaefer
Chief of Staff
Office of Mayor Lloyd Winnecke
 Two men who were on trial in Vanderburgh County this week decided at the last minute to plead guilty to their charges against them.
On Monday, Michael A. Negovan, 34, of Evansville, pleaded guilty to a Level 4 felony of burglary just before his trial could get under way. Negovan is accused of burglarizing a home on Nov. 10, 2014.
Today, Victor R. Thomas, 46, of Henderson, decided on the second day of his trial to plead guilty as charged to multiple drug counts – one that could put him in prison for more than 20 years.
Thomas pleaded guilty to an A felony of dealing cocaine and a C felony of dealing marijuana more than 10 pounds. He also pleaded guilty to resisting law enforcement, a D felony, and conspiracy to commit dealing in marijuana more than 10 pounds, a C felony. In addition, he pleaded guilty to a gang enhancement that was added on for the dealing cocaine charge.
Prosecutors believe Thomas made the decision to plead guilty due to the overwhelming amount of evidence against him including video and audio recordings admitted during the first day of the trial.
Thomas faces 20 to 50 years in prison for the A felony, which occurred on Jan. 24, 2014. He will be sentenced at 1 p.m. on Nov. 19.
Negovan’s sentencing date is at 9 a.m. on Nov. 24.
Below is a list of felony cases that were filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office on Monday, Oct. 26, 2015.
John Paul Wolk Jr. Dealing in a Schedule III controlled substance, Level 2 felony
Dealing in methamphetamine, Level 4 felony
Dealing in a Schedule I controlled substance, Level 5 felony
Maintaining a common nuisance, Level 6 felony
Unlawful possession of a syringe, Level 6 felony
Possession of paraphernalia, Class A misdemeanor
Dealing in a synthetic drug or synthetic drug look-alike substance, Class A misdemeanor
Michael Wayne Meece Theft, Level 6 felony
Aleem Ivrahim Rae Unlawful possession of a syringe, Level 6 felony
Melanie Ann Akers Battery against a public safety official, Level 6 felony
Resisting law enforcement, Class A misdemeanor
Disorderly conduct, Class B misdemeanor
For further information on the cases listed above, or any pending case, please contact Whitney Riggs at 812.435.5688 or via email at wriggs@vanderburghgov.org.
SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.
DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.
http://www.vanderburghsheriff.com/recent-booking-records.aspx
IS IT TRUE at last nights City Council budget meeting was extremely interesting?  …we wish someone would tell Missy Mosby that her continued use of the word constituents has finally lost its appeal with the media, her fellow City Council members and her alleged constituents?  …we wonder if Ms. Mosby has such a strong political base of constitutes then why did she only win by a mere 14 votes in the Democratic primary against a little known opponent?
 IS IT TRUE at last night City Council budget hearing Councilman Dan McGinn admitted that he wants to increase the County Option Income tax by 25%?  …we hear that Missy Mosby and Jonathan Weaver are extremely interested in talking with Mr. McGinn about this issues after the Fall election? …this is a good example why we need contested races in every Council City Ward to hold these tax and spend liberals accountable?
IS IT TRUE at last nights chaotic budget meeting City Council abruptly took a break to leave the Council Chambers go out in hallways and discuss the proposed 2016 budget in private?  …this move was seemly  a breach of the “Indiana Sunshine” law?
IS IT TRUE when Council returned they quickly approved the back room political compromise they cut in private concerning the 2016 budget?
IS IT TRUE we like to remind you that 1st Ward Councilman Dan McGinn and At-Large Councilman Jonathan Weaver both have political opponents in  thier races?  …if the Mayor and the local GOP Chairman didn’t cut a political back room deal with Missy Mosby she would had a Republican opponent in the Fall election?
IS IT TRUE we find it interesting that Mayor Winnecke’s called the 2016 budget cuts “outrageous”? Â …what we call “outrageous” is that the Mayor allowed his 2015 budget to be over spent by a whooping $8 million dollars and had to get an emergency loan to make payroll and pay bills? Â …we also call it “outrageous” that the Mayor spearheaded the effort to give Earthcare Energy a $200,000 unsecured loan that eventually went in to default?
IS IT TRUE all we can say that during the last 4 years the Mayor, his staff members and City Council conduct have been “outrageous”?
IS IT TRUE that yesterday City County Observer annual awards luncheon was a big success? Â …the effort of GOP Chairmen Wayne Parke to discourage some of the award winners to boycott this effect failed ? Â …Mr Parkes attempt to sway people not to attend this sold out event because the CCO is Anti-Republican is extremely laughable? Â … that 8 out of 10 Â 2015 award winner were Republicans?
Please take time and vote in today’s “Readers Poll”. Don’t miss reading today’s Feature articles because they are always an interesting read. Please scroll at the bottom of our paper so you can enjoy our creative political cartoons. Copyright 2015 City County Observer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without our permission.
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University of Southern Indiana sophomore outside hitter Shelbi Morris (Brazil, Indiana) was named the Baden/Great Lakes Valley Conference Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week for her efforts in the Screaming Eagles’ wins this past weekend.
Morris averaged 3.71 kills and 3.29 digs as the Eagles posted GLVC wins over East Division foes University of Indianapolis and Saint Joseph’s College.
In USI’s three-set win over Indianapolis Friday night, Morris racked up 10 kills, 12 digs, a .308 attacking percentage, and two blocks. Her effort helped the Eagles record their first win over the Greyhounds since 2011.
Morris returned to the court Saturday to tally 16 kills in USI’s four-set win over Saint Joseph’s. She added 11 digs, two blocks, and a .394 attacking percentage as USI won for the first time this season when dropping the opening frame.
For the week, Morris finished with 26 kills, 23 digs, and a .356 attacking percentage. She also finished with 4.21 points and 0.57 blocks as the Eagles improved to 16-7 overall and 6-5 in GLVC play.
On the year, Morris leads USI with 3.00 kills per set and is third on the team with 2.49 digs per frame.
USI returns to action Tuesday at 6 p.m. when it hosts Midwest Region foe Trevecca Nazarene University at the Physical Activities Center. The Eagles also visit GLVC foes Drury University Friday at 7 p.m. and Missouri University of Science & Technology Saturday at 3 p.m.
The Eagles enter the week in a tie for fourth in the GLVC East Division standings and in a four-way tie for sixth overall. USI has a chance to improve its post-season odds as it takes on a Drury squad that enters the week with a 16-8 overall mark and a 6-5 GLVC record. Missouri S&T is 17-8 overall and 8-3 in GLVC play entering the week.
Trevecca Nazarene enters the PAC Tuesday with a 12-9 overall record and a 2-2 mark in Great Midwest Athletic Conference play.
GLVC Sports Network coverage, including live stats and video, for all three matches can be accessed at GoUSIEagles.com.
