Concerning the current issue of rat problems in certain areas of the city, if elected Mayor, I will immediately appoint a Blue Ribbon Task Force of professionals that will create a plan for cleaning up trash around the areas that attract rats by holding Republic Services accountable to their contract with the city that will ensure that all trash city behind homes are picked up. I will also appoint a Blue Ribbon Commission of professionals to create a plan to eradicate the rats and provide a budget that will be sufficient to proactively address current and future infestations.

During a recent meet the candidate’s forum, a current city council member answered the question regarding what would be the ideal Mayor. She began to describe my experience to a tee. The description talked about business leadership with experience as a CEO, as well as financial background tied with business experience. As the CEO and President of Abstract Technology Group for 14 years, coupled with an MBA, I agreed with the assessment of the ideal mayoral candidate.

As your newly elected mayor on day one, I will request a full forensic audit from the State Board of Accounts. It is extremely evident to me as a business person, that there are serious financial disparities with the Ford Center.  After analyzing my “Public Records Requests” sent to me by the City the FORD CENTER is projected to make less than a $50,000 profit this year.

If you are making less than $50,000 per year, would anyone loan you $9 million to do upgrades at the FORD CENTER?  Are you aware that the city Evansville City Council just approved a 9 million dollar bond issue using our city streets as collateral to upgrade the Ford Center’s scoreboard and concession stands on behalf of the Winnecke administration?  We have many more important capital improvement projects that could use the 9 million dollars on, such as ensuring that each police car is equipped with life-saving equipment, improving our city parks, and making our roads more drivable to reduce the major deficit of our City Employees Healthcare program.

If elected mayor, I will put appointed positions and department heads on notice so that all people in my administration will realize that they work for the taxpayers, not the other way around. E is supposed to be for Everyone, but if you walk through the halls of the Civic Center you will see very little diversity that shall change under my watch.

I would also like to announce that all appointed boards and/or commission members will not receive any salary or paid health insurance under my administration. Also, these positions will be filled with hard-working citizens of Evansville, not country club buddies who live outside of the city limits.

I will appoint a Blue Ribbon Committee comprised of unbiased non-partisan citizens of Evansville, that will assist in recommending the best qualified candidates for Department Head positions, regardless of their political affiliation.

I have made a point that the hard-working employees in the Civic Center have received a mere 1% raise increase while our CITY COUNCIL member’s increase Mayor’s 2024 salary was increased to $35k increase and the City Clerk’s salary was increased by whooping 28.33% this coming year.

As your Mayor, i will lead by example. I will treat every employee with respect and always remember that, like them, I am an employee of the citizens of Evansville.

It is with pride and great pleasure that I announce that I will not take any campaign donations from corporations, PACs, or Lobbyists, so when I enter the office of Mayor I will have NO POLITICAL FAVORS OWED or BEHOLDEN to no one.

It is important to point out that I was the only elected official or candidate to show up to the IURC meeting for public input and oppose Centerpoint being approved to increase customer bills to cover a $477M infrastructure improvement project.

To put into perspective, as of October 1, 2023, I have only spent $13,780.00 a year to date compared to the hundreds of thousands of my competitors that have been paid in by special interest groups and out-of-town influence peddlers. If I can be run for Mayor with this kind of budget, imagine how frugal I can be with taxpayer dollars.

That is the basis of my campaign, “PEOPLE OVER POLITICS”!   It is common knowledge that local politics have been for sale in Evansville for a long time, and I pledge that will stop with my administration.

Bottom line. When the people fear the government, we have TYRANNY. When the government fears the people, we have LIBERTY!

RESUME:

Born and raised in Evansville, Michael attended North High School. I graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Electrical Engineering. I worked as Vice President of a company for 7 years. I then taught as an Adjunct Instructor at Ivy Tech teaching Computer classes for 2 years. I returned to Purdue University, graduating with a Master In Business Administration(MBA). I then founded a Technology company, Abstract Technology Group, working as CEO and President for 14 years. I sold this business and retired in 2022.

I have served on multiple non-profit boards, from President to secretary every year since 2008. With a passion to serving those in need, I have served on the finance committee and developed the budget for the past 5 years for Almost Home Humane Society. I have always enjoyed serving my community and being a great public servant and looking forward to serving the public as your next mayor.

FOOTNOTE:  The City-County Observer posted Mr. DAUGHERTY’s article without bias, opinion, or editing.