Jack,

I was very disappointed to learn of the news today regarding your inappropriate relations with one of your students. Even though at this point, as a candidate, you may not “voluntarily” withdraw from the ballot, as County Chairman, I believe it is in the best interest of all concerned that you end your campaign immediately.

As such, the Central Committee will immediately withdraw all assistance and end any communications or coordination with you and your election team.

Wayne Parke

VCRP Chairma

Mayoral candidate Gail Riecken today released her economic development plan.  She offers a number of solutions to fix economic problems, beginning with ordinances that will safeguard taxpayers.

“As Mayor I will create a city that is vital and attract more businesses and residents to live and work here,” said Riecken.  “There are a number of approaches we could use to ease the financial issues the Winnecke administration has put the city in.  I want to offer practical solutions to fix our economic problems, starting with ordinances that would protect the taxpayers’ interests in public spending.”

Check out her full plan at www.gailrieckenformayor.com

Economic Development

We have discussed many of the plans that the Riecken administration has for making the entire City of Evansville a more livable, vital city that will attract more business and residents.  There are a number of approaches to take to easing the financial stress we find ourselves under.  Even Mayor Winnecke, with his continued big spending, big borrowing plans for the taxpayers, has admitted that we are in a “tight” situation, financially speaking.  We believe that our current “financial fix” is not just tight, it is unsustainable, and we have several belt-tightening plans aimed at strengthening the local economy and boosting the tax base.

We are offering a number of practical solutions to our economic problems and will start with ordinances that should be passed in order to safeguard the taxpayers’ interests in public spending.

The Riecken Administration will:

• Create an ordinance modeled after other cities that creates a preference for local businesses. The ordinance for the city contracts for construction and services where all other factors related to the qualifications of the businesses are equal.
• Publicize the qualifications and standards used to approve economic development loans and grants.  The policies would be promoted through the Evansville Bond Bank, Evansville Economic Development Commission, Department of Metropolitan Development and Evansville Redevelopment Commission by holding forums for local businesses and entrepreneurs in conjunction with organizations who have a role in economic development or redevelopment for the City of Evansville. All programs and applications with the city would be available on the City’s website.
• Create an ordinance modeled after other cities that outlines a reasonable vetting process for the investment of City funds in private or public entities.Midland, Michigan has a process in which a committee of relevant experts are engaged for evaluating and determining the worthiness of public investment in a timely fashion that does not interfere with the ability of the economic development agency’s ability to close deals that are important to the future of Evansville.
• Add the requirement for the approval of tax abatements for any business that the largest job category for any new employer or existing employer workforce expansion be paid a living wage of at least $15.00 an hour.  The unemployment rate has decreased and at the same time, tax collections are decreasing or stagnating. The citizens of Evansville should not take up the slack for a new employer unless the pay for the bulk of its employees is a living wage.
• Create an Employment Roundtable made up of representatives from agencies involved in both helping residents find jobs and helping them overcome barriers to remaining employed.  There is so much more to stable employment than applying for or accepting a job offer. Many residents of Evansville to gain and keep employment depend on public transportation, GED classes or other job training, reliable child care, affordable housing, rental assistance, utility assistance, emergency car repairs, etc. We must take a holistic approach to our workforce, and help them help themselves to economic independence.
• Work with the Convention & Visitors Bureau for Evansville to capitalize on what Evansville does well in the services and retail industries.  Many people come from 50-75 miles away for shopping, entertainment, professional services and medical care. We are truly a destination location in part of Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois. We need to do a better job of promoting what a visitor can typically get on any given day.
• Bring evaluation of compliance with tax abatement agreements back into a City department.  Examples are the Department of Metropolitan Development, the Controller’s office or the Mayor’s office. The organization that cultivates and gains approval for a tax incentive package should not be the same organization that monitors business compliance.
• Institute a moratorium on tax increment finance spending in the downtown zone until the tax revenue of the area pays its bond obligations.  The current annual bond obligations for the arena, hotel and medical school surpass the property tax revenue taken in by at least $2 million. The Economic Redevelopment Commission should not take on any new short or long term financial obligations until the books for the downtown TIF zone balance. The riverboat revenue that must pay annual bond payments for these projects is sorely needed in public safety and other infrastructure investments.
• Institute a moratorium on the Riverboat fund not to spend more that 90% in any one year.  The city needs to be protected in any downturn in Riverboat funds.