IS IT TRUE? November 8, 2011 (Mayoral Antics: Two Good Men and One Messed up Situation)

IS IT TRUE that the race for Mayor of Evansville really started at the 2010 Fall Festival in what would come to be known as the first of many gaffs within the Vanderburgh County Democratic Party?…that BoothGate started it all when it comes to foul-ups, bleeps, and blunders to have their source within the Vanderburgh County Central Committee?…that what BoothGate really came down to is a sense of entitlement on the part of the Central Committee and its de-facto leader Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel?…that the sheer uncontrolled audacity to think that one is entitled to first dibs on an elected position is the source of all of the Vanderburgh County Democrat Parties maladies?

IS IT TRUE that the hubris really started in the Office of Mayor Weinzapfel on April 1, 2008 when a secret meeting was held to allow the lapsing of the Homestead Tax Credit for the homeowners of Vanderburgh County?…that that king complex that lead to the conclusion that such an act would have no consequences was the genesis of the downfall of the Vanderburgh Democrat Party and became the central focus and rallying cry of the Davis for Mayor campaign?…that County Commissioner Lloyd Winnecke the current Republican candidate for Mayor of Evansville as it turns out has taken the most lashes for the secret meeting that Mayor Weinzapfel’s memo told the people of Evansville the details of?

IS IT TRUE that the campaigns for Mayor of Evansville both were guided in a negative direction that may not have happened if the secret meeting referenced above had never happened?…that if that secret meeting had never occurred that Mayor Weinzapfel may be a serious candidate for Governor of Indiana right now and that there would have been no reports of BOOS during his Dukakis like ride on a Zamboni at the Evansville Icemen’s game on Saturday night?…that the secret meeting has been nothing but an albatross and a burden for everyone associated with it in any way and that starting tomorrow we hope that we bury it in the past and move forward in a positive manner no matter who is elected Mayor of Evansville?…that Troy Tornatta was strong armed by Mayor Weinzapfel and the Democrat Party into not using a “secret meeting” commercial in his race against Marsha Abell for County Commissioner last year?…that his proclamation to “keep on Mayor Weinzapfel’s plan” was his undoing in the primary that made Rick Davis the Democrat nominee for Mayor by a wide margin?

IS IT TRUE that from the arrogance that came with a decisive win over a straw man opponent that Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel may have sown the seeds of destruction of “the Machine” that put him in the Mayor’s office?…that if Rick Davis is elected today that “the Machine” as we have know it will be dismantled from inside and outside?…that if Lloyd Winnecke is elected that his core republican supporters are going to motivate him to keep the “machine” tactics that he himself has strongly criticized from playing a part in his administration?…that it is the wish of the City County Observer that whether there is a Mayor Davis or a Mayor Winnecke that the so called “Machine” is dismantled and never heard from again?

IS IT TRUE that we have been lead to believe that regardless of the outcome that the State of Indiana Democrat Party will force long needed changes in the Vanderburgh County Democrat Central Committee?…that if they can clean the mess in Evansville that they can take on Lake County next as it is even worse?…that perhaps our bloodless revolution started with a feeling of superiority?…that from that maybe just maybe Evansville can launch a march to end the perpetual mediocrity that has enveloped us for 50 years?

IS IT TRUE that we wish good people, good planning, and prosperity to tonight’s winner?…that we wish the same for the person who does not prevail tonight?…that Evansville needs educated and ambitious people and that both candidates fit that description?…that after reading the article about how losing candidates have left town or resigned to positions that are less than their talents should merit we must admonish Evansville to STOP WASTING AND DRIVING OFF TALENT?…that we strongly suspect that this was MACHINE ACTIVITY as well?…that to the Machine we say REST, but do not REST IN PEACE for you have brought no peace nor have you brought prosperity? Good Riddance to the Machine!

IS IT TRUE? November 8, 2011 (At-Large and Lawlessness)

IS IT TRUE that there was a 16 page EPD Activity Report for yesterday?…that is just abit too much in our opinion?…that it is not because the EPD is catching too many lawbreakers that bothers us, quite the contrary the CCO thinks the EPD does a great job?…that Evansville simply has too many lawbreakers?…that between drugs and stealing we are as a community really become a tax on ourselves and degrading our own way of life?…that as we stated on Sunday that healing starts from within and that we hope that the drugs and stealing will at least keep it down to 10 pages per day or less?…that if Evansville wants to be attractive to outsiders with money to invest that these outsiders will need to believe that their money will not be stolen to pay for drugs?…that the people of Evansville are the ones that have to fix this crime problem?

IS IT TRUE that Google Analytics Real Time tracking is a real hoot to watch?…that this very minute we are watching our traffic as it comes in?…that this instant there are 30 people from 9 American cities reading 8 different articles that we have posted?…that if November ended today that the traffic on the CCO would exceed every entire month prior to May of 2011?…that today we shall cross a major milestone?

IS IT TRUE that we suspect a little mischief was made with the CCO Mayoral Poll last night?…that a series of just over 50 sequential votes from random IP addresses with the same text identifier were cast for the same candidate?…that we shall leave it up to our readers to decide whether this was mischief or reality?…that we shall also leave it up to our readers to decide which candidate has digital sophistication on his side in case this was really mischief?

IS IT TRUE that the at-large race for the three available at-large Evansville City Council seats are not as easy to figure out or project as the Ward based seats are?…that every poll and every opinion expressed anticipates that incumbent Democrat Dr. H. Dan Adams will be one of the winners tonight?…that after that it gets pretty hard to pick?…that many polls have put Pete Swaim, Bill Kramer, and Michelle Mercer in the second position but each has also been picked to finish 6th so that brings up another enigma?…that Jonathan Weaver was the top vote getter in the Democrat primary which should have made him the favorite but only one Mole has Weaver in the winner’s circle and that Mole is a well known Republican?…that if Weaver and Rick Davis win their respective races tonight that Weaver’s statements have indicated that he “can’t work with Davis” and that “Davis is not a part of HIS team”?…that a Mayor Davis with a Councilman Weaver would be the most “oil and water” combination possible?…that Conor O’Daniel was being projected by many people for the third slot until his signature was placed on an incorrect campaign finance report for the Vanderburgh County Democrat Party?…that if Mr. O’Daniel who seems to be a deliberative and thoughtful candidate loses tonight he can attribute that loss to being the Treasurer of the Vanderburgh County Democrat Party at a time that it was running wild?…that if he wins it will be in spite of his party?

IS IT TRUE that the two candidates for Evansville City Clerk are also to be commended for keeping it clean and frugal?…that both are excellent people and that the CCO has no worries either way this race turns out?

IS IT TRUE that our IndyMole tells us that former Vanderburgh County Sheriff, United States Congressman, and current Vectren President of Something Brad Ellsworth was overheard making a statement about two Evansville politicians?…that Ellsworth was overheard saying that “there is a guy down in Evansville by the name of Friend that is giving me heartburn”?…that we assume that former Congressman Ellsworth was speaking of Evansville City Councilman John Friend, CPA?…that the IndyMole says that the name of Indiana House of Representatives member Gail Riecken was mentioned in the heartburn conversation too?…that the Republican 2nd Ward candidate for Evansville City Council E. Lon Walters must not be making Ellsworth’s heart burn?…that even though he was not mentioned in the conversation that Walters really was the first candidate to start collecting signatures on a petition to reign in future rate increases by Vectren?

IS IT TRUE that as heartburn and Lon Walters goes we hear from reliable people on the ground that his door knocking efforts are giving his opponent Democratic incumbent City Councilwoman from the 2nd Ward some serious heartburn and sleepless nights?…that after word of a Democratic poll leaked out last week that Mosby was only hanging on to a 2 point lead and that this traditionally Democrat seat was actually in play followed by Walters win in the CCO online poll that both heartburn and anxiety became motivating factors for Councilwoman Mosby?…that we know Missy will keep her game face up and will not show the pressure though, because game on is just the way she is?…that it is positive to see a real contest for the 2nd Ward seat and that the contest will make the winner stronger?

IS IT TRUE that the CCO would like to congratulate the 3rd Ward Candidates for running what has appeared to be one of the cleanest and most competent pairs of campaigns in Evansville’s history?…that we are confident that either Stephanie Brinkerhoff- Riley or Alan Leibundguth will meet our hope for all members of the Evansville City Council of conducting OUR BUSINESS in a transparent, honest, deliberative manner?…that both seem to have the depth and diversity of thought to do an admirable job?…that the campaign for the 3rd Ward was conducted as all should be?

IS IT TRUE that the 5th Ward campaign that finished the CCO poll in an exact tie is also expected to be down to the wire?…that things got a little nasty on both sides at the end with negative mailers hitting the mailboxes of the northside on behalf of both Brent Grafton and John Friend?…that one of the mailers for John Friend according to Councilman Friend was done without his knowledge or authority by the Vanderburgh County Democrat Central Committee?…that this particular mailer was cited by CCO Publisher Joe Wallace for using a picture that HE OWNS without paying for the rights to do so?…that Mr. Wallace has been legally advised that his case is rock solid but that his $3,500 bill is too high?…that today he will be sending a bill of $350 that reflects what other such pictures have brought for political uses in Vanderburgh County Indiana?…that another mailer being done on behalf of Councilman Friend of an even more negative nature was aborted on Friday after wise counsel advised the printer and the Vanderburgh County Democrat Central Committee that some things are just off limits?

IS IT TRUE that the 6th Ward campaigns must have set a record for low budget politics and for never saying a bad word about each other?…that even in the debates that Shaun Short and Al Lindsey treated each other with the respect of a couple of Reitz fans at a football game?…that we would not be surprised if these two voted for each other as there is really mutual respect between them?…that while Shaun Short is a person that appears to be a rising star in Evansville politics, Mr. Lindsey would not have even made it to the ballot without the courage that he exhibited to take on the Royal Family of West Evansville politics and prevail in lawsuit after lawsuit that challenged his residence?…that it seems as though the 6th Ward seat on the Evansville City Council will be in good hands whichever way it goes in today’s election?

IS IT TRUE that the weather this morning is the most favorable that any of us here at the CCO can remember for an election day in Evansville?…that Mother Nature wants you all to vote but that the CCO wants you all to THINK BEFORE VOTING and DO AS MUCH DAMAGE TO THE MACHINE AS YOU CAN?

IS IT TRUE? November 7, 2011 Breaking the Machine

IS IT TRUE that regardless of the outcome at the top of the ticket tomorrow that the City County Observer wishes to be the first to congratulate the winner and to cross our fingers for four years of getting the City of Evansville on track for a 50 year run toward prosperity and relevance?…that whether we are governed by a Mayor Davis or a Mayor Winnecke that we know that this is a difficult job and that the more people that are pulling in the right directions the better our probability for success will be?…that regardless of who wins the Office of Mayor we hope very much that by the time that the oath of office is administered that every last vestige of the old boy network that has been derided by both candidates for mayor as “the machine” is rendered incapable of keeping the new mayor and council from doing positive things?

IS IT TRUE that as many articles have stated this year there is something very wrong with local government and there has been for many years?…that by many years we mean longer than many people who are on the ballot this year have been alive?…that “the machine” is so much a part of Evansville that people who are affected by it are unaware because they have never known life in any other way?…that for the first time ever in the words of one local attorney this election and the lame duck period from tomorrow to New Year’s Day has the potential to reset the clock and to remove the machine from power?…that the last thing our next Mayor needs is to have the albatross of a political machine around his neck from day one?

IS IT TRUE that we want to reiterate what we wrote yesterday that when each person is considering who to vote for to please make it a point to think about whether either candidate is a tool or a puppet for “the machine”?…that when there is a machine candidate against a candidate with no machine history we encourage you to choose the candidate that seems to be the least likely to succumb to the temptations that “the machine” offers?…that if both candidates in your mind are machine tools please consider leaving that contest with no vote to send a solid message that the candidates are not acceptable?…that we see no contests that fit that description but your vote is your vote?

IS IT TRUE that “Breaking the Machine” really just starts with tomorrow’s election?…that during the period leading up to the inauguration there will be transition teams formed and that much of the core principles of the next administration will be put in place during that time?…that the best people to be on any transition team or to be brought into senior positions is even somewhat dependent on the outcome of the City Council elections?…that there are four potential partisan make-ups that can happen with the Mayor-Council relationships and each combination will carry with it a different optimization criteria?…that the key will be for the new Mayor and Council to be the best that they can for the people of Evansville as opposed to the best for themselves?…that this has not seemed to have been the case for many years now?

IS IT TRUE that with Mole #7 replacing Mole #3 and with a new administration that will be more transparent by virtue of both candidates campaign promises we do not expect there to be nearly as many “closed door eruptions” as there have been with the Weinzapfel Administration, especially in the 2nd term?…that we understand that the next mayor will be in clean up mode both figuratively and literally for at least the first year?…that the CCO will continue to be diligent in calling out things in need of improvement and holding our new government’s nose to the grindstone?…that most of all we hope for wisdom, knowledge, honesty, fidelity, and positive action from the next administration?

IS IT TRUE that with that positive message that we urge all of our readers to do their part tomorrow to help our next Mayor launch from as solid of a platform as possible by making the personal choice to do as much damage to “the machine” as you can possibly do within the confines of the voting booth?…that if we do not do so, there may not be another chance for another 50 years?…that this would be a good memory to tell our grandchildren about the day “when all the king’s horses and all the king’s men could not put the machine back together again”?