Northwest Indiana Discussion

That the mayor had his "old" hummer at the shop to get the radio taken out so that it could be installed in his "new" hummer. Seems he got a brand new one that's the same color as the old just so people wouldn't figure it out... does he really think that the citizens are that stupid?

All politicians KNOW the average citizen IS that stupid.

Case in point, the November elections.

They had a chance to vote out the idiots, yet they re-elected most of them

Clay: Auctioning Hummer ‘right thing to do’

By Carole Carlson ccarlson@post-trib.com December 30, 2011 3:50PM



Updated: December 31, 2011 2:01AM


GARY — Outgoing Mayor Rudy Clay said Friday his city-owned black Hummer H3 sport utility vehicle should be auctioned off because of the “worldwide attention” it captured.

“I am in support of auctioning off the Hummer because it is a wise financial move; to return the proceeds to the city following the sale of the vehicle is the right thing to do,” Clay said in a statement.

Saturday marks Clay’s final day in office. His successor, Democrat Karen Freeman-Wilson, takes office Sunday.

Clay said Freeman-Wilson supported the auction idea, but she couldn’t be reached for comment.

Clay spent most of his tenure at City Hall driving around the city in a Hummer and defending it.

In 2006, the city took over a $420 monthly lease on a black Hummer H3 for Clay, replacing former mayor Scott King’s Ford Expedition. Clay also stepped up his security detail, saying he had received death threats.

In 2008, Clay said he paid for gas for the Hummer out of his own pocket as the city pondered laying off workers.

In 2009, with the city seeking relief from the state to raise taxes to shore up a $30 million budget deficit, Clay began driving around town in a new Hummer H3 that cost the city $29,900 over three years.

“I’ve got one of the cheapest SUVs on the highway,” Clay said, “and it’s like the world is coming to an end.”

Clay announced in January, while gearing up for a primary run, he’d give up the Hummer in favor of one of the city’s new fuel-efficient vehicles purchased with federal stimulus money.

However, observers said Clay still could be seen riding around the city in the banished Hummer.