Hammond Election

freetime · **Posted:** Fri Jan 26, 2007 10:51 pm

Who do you think will win the mayor's office in HAmmond? Right now, only incumbent Democrat Tom McDermott has filed, or so I am told he has filed. I am striongly supporting Joe McCarthy for Republican at-large city council. He has promised to make sure more city information, such as budgets and revenue, will be made available to citizens online. Hammond has a pretty crappy website, gohammond.com, but it has NO city council information like agendas or pending legislation posted, and is mostly fluff. The city is already paying a guy $25,0000 annually to keep the site updated, but he never puts good, substantive new content on. So McCarthy's idea shouldn't cost all that much to implement, and I consider it a valuable public service for a change. The cost/benefit ratio pleases me. There are 3 at-large Council seatss in Hammond, all currently held by DEmocrats. McCarthy already served a couple of years in the office in the early 90's, but lost this bid in a general election to retain the seat.
He is definitely worthy of consideration for a vote by people who want to see more transparancy in Hammond government.

freetime · **Posted:** Mon Feb 19, 2007 12:52 pm

Here's a chance to ask Hammond Mayor McDermott his positions on issues facing the city, as he asks residents to grant him a second term in office.
His "Night Out" Q & A sesssion will be held THursday in Hammond's 5th District:

Mayor's Night Out - 5th District
Jefferson Elementary School
6940 Northcote Avenue
Hammond, IN 46324
It runs from 6 unti 9 PM> From what I am told, members of the audience submit their questions in written form, and allegedly most are answered. Former Hammond police officer Ruben Hinajosa says he was nearly arrested at one such "Night Out" when he carped about his question NOT being answered.
I guess the only way to find out is to go there and ask a question and see what happens. I have had bad luck with questions to the mayor, most notably and publicly on his now-defunct program on WJOB radio. He wenrt into a 10-minute rant when I asked him how much his father, former Mayor Tom McDermott Sr., was paid by Cabelas and what service did he perform for the money. For those who don't keep close tabs on Hammond news, sporting goods retailer Cabelas is building a huge store at Indianapolis Blvd. and the Borman, on the former Woodmar Country Cub site. The current mayor pushed very hard to get Cabelas here, including threatening the Country Club with condemnation and securing state and city tax incentives worth more than $30 million for it. I still think my question about his dad's fee, rumored to be $1 million, is of legitimate concern to Hammond residents abnd taxpayers.

Another issue that the mayor could be asked about is the city's self-insurance shortfall, which was more than $8 million last year and could be even more this year. Hammond had to take a loan of future revenue from Horseshoe Casino to bail out the insurance. And to top it off, the mayor says the loan also obligated the city to build a new private school in the downtown area. So the true cost of the bailout likely won't be known for a few years. Funny thing about the loan, the city's written contract with HOrseshoe in which the loan is mentioned made no mention of the school. The mayor says he made a "verbal agreement" with HOrseshoe to build the new school. I'd like to ask him why such an important loan condition was not put into writing, especially since he is an attorney by trade?
Coincidentally, the mayor's father also has a tie to this issue. A company in which he is a director had a contract with the city, awarded at the mayor's direction in what was supposed to be a cost-cutting move, to run the insurance program. It was canceled in less than a year when the company failed to live up to the contract. THat was a period of time in which a bona fide solution to the insurance problem was on hold. THe problem remains unsolved as of today.
See, there is no end to the interesting questions to be asked of the mayor, what with the election coming up. So far, he has no Democratic opposition for the office.

freetime · **Posted:** Mon Feb 19, 2007 1:39 pm

I forgot to mention that civil city employees are still only paying $25 a month for heath insurance for a single policy. The family plan costs them $50 a month. That kind of puts the current officials in a spot, as they don't want to anger the city workers just before an election by raising the premiums. So the money drain drags on and on.

Mirage · **Joined:** Mon Feb 14, 2005 10:08 am **Posts:** 4781

And not doing something will anger all other voters. That's assuming Saliga is a good campaigner.

OTOH maybe that's what Little Bobo wants to talk about and why he's runnin'. At this point that may actually be an excellent issue for him to take up.

freetime · **Posted:** Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:21 pm

It could get very interesting, couldn't it?

Mirage · **Joined:** Mon Feb 14, 2005 10:08 am **Posts:** 4781

I hate all dirty politics. At this point Little Bobo is looking good, at least on the Dem side.

You want dirty politics? Maybe all the Republicans should crossover to the Dem primary and vote for Little Bobo and we will see how important a straight party vote is in the Fall, since all the Dems are saying what a joke of a candidate he is. lol

freetime · **Posted:** Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:56 pm

Didn't Oracle post on the other board that Bob Jr,. withdrew?

Mirage · **Joined:** Mon Feb 14, 2005 10:08 am **Posts:** 4781

What other board?

No, I didn't see it. I'm taking a break from that mad house for a while.

I'm sorta sorry to hear it. Never understood why all the BS over his filing regardless of the reasons.

Hammond politics is becoming all childish games anymore anyways.

freetime · **Posted:** Mon Feb 26, 2007 6:52 pm

Cuz a spoiled brat is the ringleader! :twisted:

Mirage · **Joined:** Mon Feb 14, 2005 10:08 am **Posts:** 4781

freetime wrote:

Cuz a spoiled brat is the ringleader! :twisted:

I'm gonna have to agree. The way he went off on this kid for daring to file and his runnin' buds making wild claims like "it will ruin his life" really strikes a sour note.

Geez, you'd think he defiled the Holy Catholic church or something for daring to challenge the big boss in town. :roll:

freetime · **Posted:** Mon Feb 26, 2007 7:24 pm

It's crap like that.s keeping me soured on him too. I'd just as soon get over it. But he and his posse just keep it coming.

Mirage · **Joined:** Mon Feb 14, 2005 10:08 am **Posts:** 4781

It is quite sad. He could have taken the high road and breezed to victory while setting a good example. Paraphrasing his own words on his blog he has no real competition anyway, so why go negative right out of the gate?

Head to head with Dedlow I suppose I could at least understand the tactics. But I have to wonder if he's just getting bad advice or if this is just bad judgement on his own. I'm tempted to say something stronger but let's wait & see how the campaign progresses.

freetime · **Posted:** Mon Feb 26, 2007 7:47 pm

Yeah, there's plenty of time. I know what you mean about the other board. IT will be non-stop now. Don't want to burn out on it all too soon, know what I mean?

Mirage · **Joined:** Mon Feb 14, 2005 10:08 am **Posts:** 4781

As I changed my signiture over there I'm just away for a while. And the reason is in my signiture over here "Acting like a child is not limited to pre-teens."

Even some of the non-political threads are getting weird. I guess folks are suffering from cabin fever or something. I was getting cranky just reading some of that nonsense. :roll:

freetime · **Posted:** Mon Feb 26, 2007 8:15 pm

It's kind of nice here. If there is anyone else around, you can actually talk about topics if you want.

Northwest Indiana Discussion

Hammond Election

Who is online