IS IT TRUE as the City County Observer predicted yesterday, members of Evansville Professional Firefighter’s Local 357 PAC announced their candidate endorsements for the City of Evansville 2015 upcoming General Elections?

IS IT TRUE the Evansville Professional Firefighters Local 357 PAC has endorsed the following candidates in the upcoming City election?

Mayor Gail Riecken (D).
City Council At-Large Dr. H. Dan Adams. (D).
City Council At-large Michelle Mercer (R).
City Council 3rd Ward Anna Hargis (R).
City Council 5th Ward Tom Shoulders (D).

IS IT TRUE that the above political endorsements by Local 357 Pac is considered to be a crushing blow political blow to Mayor Winnecke’s re-election campaign?

IS IT TRUE it’s also a major insult to the re-election efforts of 2nd Ward Councilwoman Missy Mosby and At- Large City Councilman Jonathon Weaver, since both are the City Council Representatives to the Fire Department?

IS IT TRUE members of Evansville Professional Firefighter’s Local 357 PAC recognize that public safety is one of the primary responsibilities of local government. Based on the results of our recent candidate’s night, and based on historical support of public safety concerns, they believe the above noted candidates are particularly aware of this responsibility, and have a stated willingness to provide our local first responders with the tools and funding they need to ensure continued excellence in service?  …they encourage the citizens of Evansville to consider these endorsements when they go to the polls this Fall to decide the candidates who want to vote for in the upcoming Fall election?

IS IT TRUE we asked President and At-Large City Councilman Dr. Dan Adams to expand on his announcement that he wants to give City employees a 2% pay raise for 2016? …posted below is Dr. Adams unedited response to our request?

DR. DAN ADAMS UNEDITED RESPONSE TO OUR REQUEST

The Mayor has recently suggested that there will be no salary increases for city employees next year. This on the heels of his administration’s inept ability to accurately project revenues and expenses for the city budget.

I will not support that position. I will support giving city workers a 2% pay raise in the coming year. This increase will maintain wage parity with other public employees in our area. This increase should not apply to the city council. I will not support a pay raise for the council.

I believe diligent budget review can result in identifying sources and adjustments that will yield the approximately $1.5 million needed to make this happen.

There is a disconnect between the needs of the city’s residents and the administration’s primary goals. The administration has tilted its priorities away from the core services that government is mandated to provide and that benefit all of the city’s residents toward aesthetics and eye-catching projects, often in a hurried process where lack of planning and rush timetables result in misspent funds. We are holding more public discussion meetings and repaving fewer streets.

The fire fighters, police and other city workers are essential for maintaining the core public safety, infrastructure and services for our city’s residents.
We know that the city’s workforce is one of our greatest resources. Keeping qualified, experienced workers must be a top priority.

In order to meet this objective and to move the city’s finances further down the path to solvency, this year’s budget review process must involve a critical look at every departmental proposal, not just to identify and probe increases, but to determine realistic funding needs. I will ask the tough questions so we have a true picture of how much it really costs to run each city department.

In addition, I will demand that the administration provide accurate budget revenue and expense projections for the coming year.

I have often said that my three budget priorities are to assure that public safety is maintained while providing tax payer value with a truly balance budget and building Evansville’s economic base with the Indiana University Medical School’s downtown facility.

There is no better way to assure that public safety is maintained than by preserving our professional and qualified fire fighter, police and city employee workforce.

There is little doubt that providing a modest 2% pay increase to these vital public servants will deliver value to our entire city.

IS IT TRUE it has been a long week and we hope you have enjoyable weekend?

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. New addition to the CCO is the Cause of Death reports generated by the Vanderburgh County Health Department.

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