Party Leaders Make Case For Council Control

Star political columnist Matt Tully gives the respective leaders of the Democratic and Republican Parties a crack at explaining to voters why electing a majority of their members to the council is the right/left thing to do. Mike O'Connor goes first, and here's what he had to say:

• "O'Connor said his party would more effectively focus on regional economic development and streamlining government because its council members work well with Mayor Bart Peterson, whom O'Connor expects to win a third term next month. Translated, O'Connor means there will be more tax increases, including a regional commuter tax so suburbanites can help fuel the Peterson spending machine.
• "O'Connor said his party would spend the next four years expanding opportunities for businesses owned by women and minorities and ensuring that rights for gay workers and residents are protected -- and perhaps expanded. That, he said, will put Indianapolis "on the forefront of creating a positive business atmosphere" and the kind of inclusive big-city environment many businesses seek." Translated, O'Connor means more ghost employment opportunities for council members, more contracts for shell companies fronting as MBEs/WBEs to funnel taxpayer dollars into the hands of council members (i.e., Monroe Gray) and campaign contributors and more city contracts for Printing Partners.

Tom John offers voters this choice if Republicans are handed council control:

• First, he said, a GOP majority would end Democratic Councilman Monroe Gray's controversial tenure as president. "If you want our city to move forward, you need to elect (candidates) who will stand up in a bipartisan way and welcome an open debate on the issues that are key to the city," John said. Do you need any other reason to ask for a GOP majority?
• "John said anti-crime measures would be a priority of a Republican-led council." It works for me as long as it doesn't mean higher taxes.
• "Republicans intend to focus on controlling tax rates and more intensely scrutinizing spending by city and county officeholders. He said Republicans would look for creative ways -- such as selling off "underutilized assets" -- that could finance improvements to streets, sidewalks and other infrastructure." It sounds good, but GOP members had better become more alert than they've been recently. Democrats have slipped some real doozies past them without so much as a whimper from anyone on the Republican side.