Comments on Advance Indiana™: Investigation Casts Doubt On Abduallah's Residency

Hooked on ebonics might work!

2007-08-10T14:15:00.000-05:00

Hooked on ebonics might work!

"He needs to walk around with a Mumbling Gibberish...

2007-08-09T21:50:00.000-05:00

"He needs to walk around with a Mumbling Gibberish-to-English translator."

You mean similar to the one "Sweet Pea" Gray needs?

About 15 years ago a major Black Republican preach...

2007-08-09T15:46:00.000-05:00

About 15 years ago a major Black Republican preacher filed to run in the IPS "non-partisan" board election. He used his church address to qualify to live in the district although his home was elsewhere. He was challenged at the GOP-controlled Marion County Election Board who actually accepted the candidate's assertion that he intended to move his family and himself into a house in the district IF he got elected. That was good enough - he was on the ballot!

Ugh...an Olgen Williams child? I heard one of the...

2007-08-09T15:34:00.000-05:00

Ugh...an Olgen Williams child? I heard one of them speak at an anti-violence rally last fall.

Let's jsut say: the acorn falls close to the tree. Mumbling gibberish that amounted to nothing.

I applaud Olgen's very admirable public service and job. But I'm over him already. He shows up anywhere there's a mike or a camera. I hahve spoken to him many times about school issues and each time it gives me a headache.

He needs to walk around with a Mumbling Gibberish-to-English translator.

An example of how hard it is to win residency disp...

2007-08-09T15:31:00.001-05:00

An example of how hard it is to win residency disputes - from a Fort Wayne Journal Gazette article in 2002.
--
After two hours of entertaining testimony Tuesday, the State Recount Commission unanimously found that a Brookston Republican recently elected as state representative meets the state residency requirements.

The decision was made despite the fact that Rep. Don Lehe's address on state documents - such as his driver's license, tax exemption records and corporate papers - is that of a home in White County but outside the district to which he was elected. Brookston is about 15 miles north of Lafayette.State law requires that a legislative candidate reside in the district for the year prior to the election.

The contest, filed by Democrat George Baranowski, alleged that Lehe lived at 2973 E. County Road 1100 S. - a home outside the northwest Indiana House District 15 - and not 12401 S. County Road 125 W. - a home inside the district where Lehe claims to reside.

Lehe took 64 percent of the vote in the Nov. 5 election.

Baranowski's attorneys called a UPS driver, several disgruntled neighbors and a private investigator to the stand. The neighbors - dressed in flannel and jeans amid the corporate suits - were gruff and decidedly angry, their answers often drawing laughter and smiles from commission members.

The main witness, though, was Jo Del List, who lives at 12401 S. County Road 125 W. with her husband and two children. She said the house is owned by Lehe Farms, a family business of Lehe's. Her husband, Paul List, works for Lehe Farms.

Jo Del List testified that Lehe spends "some" nights sleeping in the living room of her home, which is in the district, but that he "does not live there continuously."

Lehe's wife and family live elsewhere, at the 2973 E. County Road 1100 S. address.

The mailbox at that address clearly says Cathy and Don Lehe on it, and a UPS driver testified he has delivered packages to Don Lehe at that house for years.

The recount commission, though, was not swayed, citing a 1988 Indiana Supreme Court decision that said Evan Bayh could run for governor even though he hadn't lived in Indiana for the five years prior as required.

Bayh had been secretary of state for four years, but prior to that had lived in Washington, D.C., while his father served in the Senate, then moved to Virginia while attending law school, and then moved back to D.C. while working for a law firm.

According to the decision, Bayh could claim Indiana as his residence because he always had intended to return.

"The important factor is whether (Lehe) intended to make House District 15 his permanent residence," argued Lehe's attorney, William Bock III.

Commission member Gordon Durnil - a Republican - challenged Bayh's residency in the late 1980s, saying Bayh didn't even have a place to stay the night in Indiana and the courts let him run.

"I might not agree now and I might not have agreed then," Durnil said, but Baranowski didn't prove under the Bayh ruling that Lehe violated the law.

With the contest dismissed and two recounts officially ended, the Democrats still maintain a 51-49 edge in the House.

2007-08-09T15:31:00.000-05:00

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What happens if no candidates from a district run?...

2007-08-09T15:26:00.000-05:00

What happens if no candidates from a district run?

unless he is disqualified for some reason such as ...

2007-08-09T15:20:00.000-05:00

unless he is disqualified for some reason such as not meeting residency requirements. in that case, the party gets to appoint the replacement candidate.

the seat clearly won't change from dem to rep but there could be a more competent person in the seat.

July 3rd was the last date the GOP County Chair co...

2007-08-09T13:51:00.000-05:00

July 3rd was the last date the GOP County Chair could appoint a Republican opponent for Councilor Abduallah. He didnt. Neither did the Libertarians. Councilor Abduallah is as good as re-elected automatically.

Gary, this post is the reason I continue to read y...

2007-08-09T13:30:00.000-05:00

Gary, this post is the reason I continue to read your blog, despite your anti-Christian bigotry and shameless attacks on our public safety personnel.

Terrific work, you are to be strongly commended for this. If we had Pulitzer's for blogging, this would qualify for one.

one of olgen williams kids was talking about runni...

2007-08-09T13:15:00.000-05:00

one of olgen williams kids was talking about running republican against patrice. I'm not sure there would be any difference in representation with that though.

Okay 12:23, then let's just scrap the residency re...

2007-08-09T13:04:00.000-05:00

Okay 12:23, then let's just scrap the residency requirement altogether. And while were at it, let's just throw out the campaign finance laws. Where does it stop? Our system of government is based on the rule of law. If we get to pick and choose which ones we're going to enforce, then the entire legal system breaks down and people lose confidence in their government. Does the law require you to live in your district? Does the law require you to disclose the source of all your campaign contributions and expenses? Does the law require a government official to enter into a formal lease agreement to lease out government property? Does the law allow a bar to be operated in a government office building? May a law enforcement officer own an interest in a liquor license? I know what the law says, but it doesn't seem to make any difference. Why should I have any confidence in my government?

Your story is great reporting Gary but if I own a ...

2007-08-09T12:23:00.000-05:00

Your story is great reporting Gary but if I own a vacant lot, pitch a tent on it for a year I can vote in that district and hold office in that district. The fact that I own another property on the other side of town and want my correspondence, phone or otherwise to go there makes no difference. I prefer to live in the tent on my lot.

Patrice's code violations are however, a different issue, just as my tent on a vacant lot would be.

Hummm...this story may be the reason he voted agai...

2007-08-09T12:02:00.000-05:00

Hummm...this story may be the reason he voted against the ordinance involving inoperatable vehicles last Monday. Conflict of interest, anyone? Self-serving at least.

You can e-mail me at gwelsh@indy.rr.com.

2007-08-09T11:50:00.000-05:00

You can e-mail me at gwelsh@indy.rr.com.

I also took pics of the back yard which is one of ...

2007-08-09T11:26:00.000-05:00

I also took pics of the back yard which is one of the worst looking junk yards i have seen in a long time.

Gary,What is your email address. I stopped by Abdu...

2007-08-09T11:25:00.000-05:00

Gary,
What is your email address. I stopped
by Abdullah's residence this morning and took some more pictures. One is of the gas meter which is turned off from outside. Kinda hard to live in a house with no gas for cooking or water heater.

Wilson, we all know Republicans aren't saints eith...

2007-08-09T10:26:00.000-05:00

Wilson, we all know Republicans aren't saints either. Pointing to bad behavior as a means to justify bad behavior just makes it look like you're admitting that they're both wrong. Which they are sometimes, and this time it's Abduallah.

anon 10:10, I'm relying on the Council's district ...

2007-08-09T10:15:00.000-05:00

anon 10:10, I'm relying on the Council's district finder on the IndyGov website. I've provided a link to it. When you type in the address, it tells you the address is located in Pfisterer's district.

am i correct that he is just on the wrong side of ...

2007-08-09T10:10:00.000-05:00

am i correct that he is just on the wrong side of warman? it appears that the district line runs through the middle of the street. this does not mitigate the issue, just checking facts.

i would like to add to the kudos for the initiative taken here and the thoroughness of the work. i am stunned that the main stream media did not and still has not followed up on this.

Thanks, anon 10:05. It was during the lunch hour y...

2007-08-09T10:07:00.000-05:00

Thanks, anon 10:05. It was during the lunch hour yesterday when I took the photo.

Residency is not difficult to prove. Skilled lawy...

2007-08-09T10:05:00.000-05:00

Residency is not difficult to prove. Skilled lawyers can depose anyone and get to the bottom of the residency question lickety split.

The art dealer example is a bad one, though...the business where he "lived" was zoned C-3. Commercial. Which specifically prohibits residential. In any form. All under Goldsmith's watch, and all ignored.

Which doesn't make it right. Patrice in no way lives in his district. He has to go. Period.

Gary, I just re-read your post. It is one of the single-best pieces of writing I've seen anywhere in the last year. Your personal account of bumping into Patrice is priceless. I'd have stood on the sidewalk or street and snapped away.

(You picked a time to photograph at random--was it normal working hours? Just asking)

Proof of residency is always dicey under Indiana l...

2007-08-09T09:59:00.000-05:00

Proof of residency is always dicey under Indiana law. Unless Abduallah actually claims to be living at and registers to vote at an address outside the district, it's damn difficult to prove otherwise. I suspect he will simply say he is living temporarily elsewhere while his primary residence is being renovated. It'd be difficult to prove otherwise.

A few year ago there was a Republican city councilor who lived in Broad Ripple but owned an art dealership elsewhere. He ran and won in that district. He registered to vote at his business, saying he slept in a cot in the back room. That story stood some determined attacks!

I thought he really lives in Duke Oliver's distric...

2007-08-09T09:14:00.000-05:00

I thought he really lives in Duke Oliver's district. Whatever...he is not an honest man.

anon 7:42, It's an argument I would certainly cons...

2007-08-09T07:48:00.000-05:00

anon 7:42, It's an argument I would certainly consider making if I were bringing a lawsuit to challenge the approved county option income tax. I understand others have considered a similar argument in the context of challenging the vote based on law fire fighters participating in the vote. My hunch is, without researching the matter, is that a court would be reluctant to overturn ordinances on that basis.