IS IT TRUE we watched with amazement the give and take conversation between the Mayor and City Council  concerning the proposed downtown Hotel at last night Council meeting?  …we thought the Mayor handled himself well?  …Although, It appeared the cost has again gone up and the city will be contributing more to the project than the City Council had allowed?

IS IT TRUE we commend the City, Evansville Sports Group and Convention & Visitor’s Bureau for a tremendous NCAA Elite Tournament at FORD CENTER?  …the hospitality and professionalism at FORD CENTER was unsurpassed and a shining example of how Venue Works operates this wonderful facility?

IS IT TRUE the political drama shall continue as the ERC meets tomorrow morning when the final contractual issues concerning the proposed Hotel comes before the board?  …we expect the “taxpayers watchdog” Cheryl Musgrave to ask the pointed questions while other less than involved Board Members look at the ceiling or tweet on their cell phones?  …Cheryl was truly a very good City Council appointee?

IS IT TRUE we were extremely impressed with Old National Bank President Bob Jones presentation concerning the Hotel project at last night City Council meeting?  …in  our opinion,  Mr. Jones presentation to the City Council was the turning point that garnered the much needed City Council support for the Hotel project?  …we were also surprised and impressed when Mr. Jones indicated the contribution from Old National Bank would exceed $10 million dollars?

IS IT TRUE we were not impressed that several City Council members failed to ask any questions, nor participate in the hotel discussion.  …we had to wonder if the 2^nd Ward City Council Missy Mosby member and At-Large member Mr. Weaver was even present at last night City Council meeting?

IS IT TRUE that last week Missy Mosby not only refused to participate in the recent 2^nd Ward Discussion on CCO and Woods and Woods Tri-State Voices TV Show, then misrepresented that she had only been given 48 hour notice when there is proof that she was notified ONE FULL WEEK in advance, given alternate dates and even offered her choice of dates for the taping?  …once, again, Missy failed to be honest with the public and voters of the 2nd Ward and showed her fear of her opponent and her unwillingness to discuss the important issues of the 2^nd Ward in the only televised appearance of the campaign?

IS IT TRUE that the race for the 2^nd Ward City Council seat has officially begun?  …that this race pits two member of prominent, Westside political families against each other to represent residents of the City’s Southeast side?

IS IT TRUE that this race has garnered some interesting endorsements?  …that Missy Mosby, an incumbent Democratic City Council member, has been publicly endorsed by Republican Party Chairman Wayne Parke and the Fraternal Order of Police?  …that Democrat challenger, Steve Davis, has received the endorsement of the Coalition of Inner City Neighborhoods?  …that we expect many other groups and organizations to make endorsements in this race?

IS IT TRUE that seemly one the most interesting public commenters in this race so far may be from Public Information Officer Sergeant Jason Cullum of the Evansville Police Department?

IS IT TRUE that we expect elected and appointed officials and their subordinates to perform their duties on behalf of all citizens and not to use their tax-payer funded positions to influence political races?  …that Sgt. Cullum’s current assignment within the police department not only puts him in front of the cameras but could possibly give him the ability to craft a message to further a political cause?  …that some fellow officers, CCO readers hope that Sgt. Cullum’s official duties will not be influenced by the political leanings of his bosses?

IS IT TRUE that a possible example of our concerns appeared in yesterday’s article in the local newspaper?  …that the article lays out different views of the individuals seeking the democrat nomination for the 2^nd Ward City Council seat?  …that it is a rather well-written article that contrasts the two candidates?  …that the interesting part of the article is that while it gives statements from Mr. Davis and Ms. Mosby, each time there was a disagreement, Sgt. Cullum comments was inserted into the article that bolster Ms. Mosby’s positions?

IS IT TRUE that we at the CCO believe in everyone’s right to participate in the political process?  …that we regularly invite our readers to critically look at issues, to participate in political meetings, and to vote?  …that we have no problem with any individual using their personal time, resources, and voice to support or oppose any political candidate or idea?  …that we do have serious reservations with any individual who actively uses his taxpayer funded position, his taxpayer funded resources (cell phone, internet, and departmental Facebook page) to interject his personal views into a political campaign?  …we hope that the publicly funded Public Information Officer for the police department personal opinions will not be appearing in any future political articles?  …if Mr. Cullum wishes to participate actively in the political process, perhaps he should ask to be reassigned or take a leave of absence until after the election to remove any perception that he is using taxpayer funded resources to possibly influence the electorate?

IS IT TRUE that yesterday’s newspaper article highlighted Mr. Cullum’s positive views on SpotShotter, Community Policing, and use of the Guardian?  …however, we are most interested in why a department with a $33,000,000 budget is unwilling to equip its officers with the life-saving opiate overdose antidote, Narcan, at a cost of around $6,000 per year?  …that Sgt. Aaron Bennett of the Warrick County Sheriff’s Department received a Silver Life Saving Award for saving a man’s life using Narcan?