Mike Baird and Bob Taylor "Nightmare" Mailer Weak on Facts

Apparently city council candidates Mike Baird and Bob Taylor failed to research a claim on his mailer that "the prescription drug drop off program" was "started by Mayor Costas." The NWI Times wrote that "fire Chief David Nondorf and Police Chief Michael Brickner had applied to the DEA to set up a drop-off program, but it was turned down." and that the DAUGHTER of Mayor Costas was the person that aided the fire and police chief in composing the second request. The daughter of the mayor was even quoted saying, "Chief Brickner and Chief Nondorf had done a lot of work, and I just drafted the letter."

To top it off, Baird's mailer mentions that residents should "re-elect" Baird when he was never elected in the first place unless you count the 7 Republican committee persons that picked him after Kelly Ward resigned in August of 2010 as an election.

Yes, prescription drugs in the wrong hands are wrong but are Baird and Taylor making it a campaign issue when both Republican and Democrats agree that the prescription drug drop off program is a good idea?

Early Afternoon Porter County Commissioner's Meetings

The Porter  county council has done more to increase accessibility while the county commissioner's have decreased accessibility to their public meetings.

Not a single Commissioners meeting has been held after 4:00pm since Republicans have had the majority of seats on the Porter County board of Commissioners. The majority of meetings held since January 1, 2010 have begun at 2pm. Does this increase accessibility or transparency of government when most working Americans are at their jobs until 5:00pm? 

When Democrats held the majority of seats on the board in 2010 meetings were held at 6pm at night. In fact, the Porter County Council has begun holding evening meetings at MULTIPLE locations throughout the county. 

Nancy Adams' Mailer Raises Questions

In the past week I received a mailer from the Nancy Adams campaign that has motivated me to do a bit of research. Although the mailer reads that Nancy Adams "led the fight for permanent property tax reform" I can't think of a time I have read about her leading any such fight. In fact, I can't find any news article documenting Nancy Adams leading "the fight". When I search her name in the NWI Times archive I find ONE letter to the editor from Nancy Adams expressing her support for the RDA. The only other article mentioning Nancy Adams, before she filed for candidacy, and taxes is September 13, 2009 in regards to her property tax repayments being spread out and "what concerns her is that her payments are not reaching taxing units in the area." Being concerned is not the same as leading! (Keep in mind the County Treasurer was a Republican at the time) I find her HUSBAND, Russ Adams, in the local papers since he held a meeting at his restaurant at 10:00 am on Friday March 13, 2009 about tax bills for BUSINESS OWNERS. This meeting was also mentioned in the Chesterton Tribune yet Nancy Adams was NEVER MENTIONED. RUSS Adams, alongside several business owners, convinced the DLGF to review Porter County's tax and assessment data and the DLGF decided that the 2008 tax bills were correct.

On the other side, Bob Harper has fought for property tax reform and it is well documented. For instance, in the Indianapolis Star on Feb 13, 2008, an article states the following:

The committee also heard from one county official who said homeowners need help more than governments need money, Bob Harper president of the Porter County commissioners, told the legislatures that though they'd heard from dozens of officials and lobbyists griping about the cuts, "I'm tellin' ya," Harper said, "We need a break."

In addition, Harper has been created a Facebook page called "CAP Indiana's Property TAX!" back in November of 2009. Commissioner Harper has proof of his efforts toward ensuring property tax reform.

Even though Nancy says that "she and her husband Russ own Strongbow Inn" on her campaign web site, her mailer describes Nancy "as owner of the Strongbow Inn." I hardly think the Adams campaign can claim in her mailer that she "creates jobs" and "employs over 150 people" when Strongbow Inn already employed between 40 and 60 people by 1980, well over a decade before Russ and his wife became owners. In addition, Nancy Adams shouldn't take credit for building a business that her husband's parents and grandparents built. Nancy wasn't alive in 1937 when the turkey farm was started by Walter and Bess Russell Thrun.

There is little worse than having to spend time researching claims in a political mailer that misrepresent the facts. Whether it is called stretching the truth or telling half truths, I want NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH!