The Valparaiso Republican Party has run out of ways to inflate the resume of Nancy Adams so they have resorted to spreading misinformation about Commissioner Bob Harper.
A recent mailer sent out by the Valparaiso Republicans falsely claims that "Higher Taxes and Bigger Government are the Bob Harper Way" and that "Barack Obama and Bob Harper are two peas in a pod."
Commissioner Bob Harper has a long track record of supporting property tax CAPS. Way back in 2006, Commissioner Harper was cited in the NWI Times as supporting property tax caps to the point of sending "out 1,800 letters asking members of the Association of Indiana Counties to rethink the association's anti-tax cap action stance."
In addition, Harper has clearly proven he is against "Bigger Government" by not supporting the Regional District Authority (RDA) or the Regional Transit District (RTD).
The Valparaiso Republicans also claim that Bob Harper "supports President Obama's government takeover of healthcare" and cited the October 23, 2009 Chesterton Tribune as their source for this claim. The problem is that the article Valparaiso Republican Party is referring to NEVER MENTIONS BOB HARPER!
Anyways, anyone that knows the difference between local and federal politics is aware that Bob Harper cannot vote in the Senate or the House so the health insurance reform bill is not an issue in the Porter County Commissioner's race.
Maybe the Valparaiso Republicans are hoping that the residents of Porter County haven't read any local newspapers in the last several years so they won't be able to point out the blatant errors in the mailer...
Out of curiosity, why do you, as a liberal, support the property tax caps? Maybe I'm reading too much into the fact that a few of your posts comment favorably on Bob Harper's pro-tax-cap stance, but it seems that you also favor this. I don't know too many self-identified "liberals" who agree with tax caps, so I'd like to know your reasoning. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI admit that this is one reason why I, as a liberal Democrat, have not yet decided whether I am voting for Bob Harper in this election.
I do not support property tax caps.
ReplyDeleteHowever, Bob Harper and I agree on much more than Nancy Adams and I ever will. For example, I am in full support of the green space ordinance and the no kill animal shelter. Harper is much more of a Democrat than Nancy Adams ever will be.
In addition, Harper has proven that he is capable of running the county and I strongly believe that Nancy Adams does not have qualifications or the ability to be a productive commissioner in Porter County.
Thanks, Bex. I appreciate hearing your opinion. I guess I was confused by the fact that you seem to stress his support of property tax caps as a reason to support him. That seems odd if you personally don't support the caps.
ReplyDelete(Also, it's good to know who the author of this blog was -- you weren't listed anywhere as author, so I always wondered what other liberals were out there in Porter County...) :)
The only reason I stressed the support of tax caps in the Harper/Adams race is because Harper's opponent is running on a talking point that she "led the fight" for property tax caps when Harper is the only candidate with proof that he "led the fight". I can't help but point out that Harper is better at acheiving this talking point than she is.
ReplyDeleteYeah, which also means he is better at "leading the fight" FOR something that I am very much AGAINST. Every time I get a piece of mail reminding me to vote because "tax caps are on the ballot," I am reminded that, instead of stressing the quality and true value of our public services, our local Democratic leadership is diligently fighting FOR the caps and limiting public services. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteFour years ago, I had a Harper sign in my lawn. This year, I still can't decide whether I'll be voting for him...
I hope that you look at several issues in the commissioners race and that you don't base your vote on one or two issues. Please don't vote Republican in a race that matters so much for Porter County. Harper has done quite a bit on green issues and these issues will not receive the same level of support under Adams.
ReplyDeleteDo you really think the county is better off with Nancy Adams as commissioner instead of Bob Harper?
Harper seems to be running on the "more-conservative-than-you" platform, based on the mailings and the online discussions I've been reading. Why should a liberal support someone running like that?
ReplyDeleteYes, I've weighed several issues in the commissioner's race and, I'm sorry, but I really can't tell that Harper truly stands for liberal/progressive causes. In fact, his stances on many issues ARE more conservative than what it looks like Adams' stances would be if she was in office. No, Bex, I won't be basing my vote on "one or two issues." I'll be voting based on a review of a track record that shows very little results for liberal/progressive causes. I'll be voting keeping in mind that Harper himself chose to lead the charge for property tax caps this year. I'll be voting keeping in mind that many of Harper's supporters gladly call him a conservative, and he's got a voting record to back that claim up. I'll be voting keeping in mind that Harper staunchly opposes the RDA (wasn't it the RDA funds that made possible a new public park on the lake in Portage? That will invest in regional public transportation? Talk about "being green"...).
No, I don't necessarily think Adams will do a better job, but it's hard to do much worse, in my opinion. I haven't made up my mind yet, but I have yet to be convinced that Harper stands for liberal or progressive values. I won't vote for a Democrat just because that person is a Democrat.
I guess I better write a post on his liberal attributes next : -)
ReplyDeleteI'll look forward to reading it, Bex! I hope to be proven wrong... :)
ReplyDeleteIt is true that Bob Harper is progressive to the extent that he wants to continue the ordinances that provide for more green spaces, keeping the rural feel that developers are against for obvious $$$ reasons. Bob is the Democrat and Nancy Adams is the Republican who we can only assume is working closely with Mayor Costas of Valparaiso. It is also true that Harper is conservative about remaining, continuing or exacerbating an economic relationship with the county to the West that is fraught with corruption.
ReplyDeleteNot voting for Bob or Nancy is a vote for Nancy, and for Mayor Costas. If one wants Mayor Costas of Valparaiso to have more influence over Porter County decision making then vote for Nancy or don't vote for either because your wish will come true.
I like the Porter County Animal Shelter being a 'No Kill' shelter too. That could be reversed for savings and efficiency. That WAS Bob Harper, and progressive.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the issue of the tax caps go and Bob's support of it, I disagree and voted against making it permanent and encourage others to do so. Funding of our schools may need to be changed back to the property tax. It's the law, I don't agree with making it permanent and more difficult to reverse.
ReplyDeleteBut that being said, I wasn't paying close attention. Bob fought hard for this for reasons that are not unreasonable. I was not out here making the argument against it or weighing in, joining progressive groups fighting against tax caps, so I can't fault him for fighting for what he believes was the right thing from his perspective. I didn't do anything to counter it.