By KEVIN NEVERS

Smart money had always been on No—No to the question Should the Town of Chesterton change into a city?

In the wind-up to the referendum virtually no one publicly voiced support for city-status, at either of the two informational and educational workshops, from the floor at meetings of the Town Council, or letters to the Voice of the People. Then, late last week, the Board of Directors of the Chesterton/ Duneland Chamber of Commerce —an organization whose basic policy of economic development one might have expected to translate into some degree of enthusiasm for the Office of Mayor—unanimously voted to endorse No.

So it’s hardly surprising that the majority of Chesterton voters—the very large majority—want nothing to do with city-status: 2,475 or 73.22 percent cast No ballots on Tuesday; only 905 or 26.78 percent cast Yes ballots.

Not one of the 12 precincts which voted in the referendum—which is to say, not a single neighborhood, old or new, suburban or rural, on the west side of Ind. 49 or the east side, in mixed districts or in strictly residential ones—favored city-status. Voters in Liberty-5 cast the greatest percentage of Yes ballots: 37.36 percent. Voters in Westchester-15 cast the smallest percentage of Yes ballots: 20.27 percent.

If there is anything at all surprising about the results of the referendum, it would be this: city-status did not apparently affect voter turnout materially, as Chesterton voters casting ballots in the referendum did not go to the polls in much greater numbers than their counterparts did in the rest of Duneland. Turnout in the nine precincts of Duneland comprised solely of Chesterton voters—with a total of 5,714 registered voters—averaged 55.79 percent. Turnout in the 16 precincts of Duneland where the referendum was not included on the ballot—with a total of 10,869 voters—averaged 53.62 percent, just two points lower.

For what it’s worth, the anecdotal report received by the Chesterton Tribune late Tuesday morning of a voter who resides in an unincorporated portion of J-1 receiving a ballot with the referendum question on it appears to be exactly what Jane Pecor of Porter County Voter Registration said it was: an isolated mistake, rather than a systemic problem, and one which was quickly resolved. In each of the precincts which include large swaths of unincorporated voters—J-1, L-1, and L-5—the total turnout was far greater than the number of ballots cast in the referendum by Chesterton voters who reside in that precinct: in J-1 a total of 707 ballots was cast but only 53 in the referendum; in L-1 a total of 333 ballots was cast but only 102 in the referendum; and in L-5 a total of 533 ballots was cast but only 182 in the referendum.

Town Manager?

Probably some of those who cast No ballots—although it’s impossible to say how many—did so in the belief, or with the hope, that the Town Council would pursue the hiring of a Town Manager should the city-status referendum fail. “That’s what I’m hearing,” President Sharon Darnell, D-4th, told the Tribune today, in acknowledgment of a rapidly increasing interest among some Chesterton residents in the position of Town Manager. That interest appeared to hit critical mass during the final informational and education workshop on Oct. 30, when Town of Munster Manager Tom DeGiulio spoke highly of the merits of a municipal manager.

In fact Darnell thinks that a Town Manager is precisely what the municipality needs. “I think we’re at a point where Chesterton, like it or not, is going to need the services of a position full-time to direct this town,” she said. “I personally feel that it has to happen sooner rather than later.”

A candidate for that position, Darnell said, would need “experience with management, experience with budgets and funding, experience with personnel issues.” A candidate would also need to understand that “the best solution to a problem isn’t always the most popular one,” she added. “The best person is someone who can offend people in this community and just plod along.”

But the best candidate, Darnell also said, is not necessarily the one with a degree in municipal management. “Just because you’ve taken Town Manager 101 doesn’t mean that you’re the best person for the job. That’s my opinion.”

Darnell did say that, under the right circumstances—given the right qualifications—she could envision the possibility of hiring a Town Manager from within Chesterton government, a current employee or official of the town. “If,” Darnell emphasized, “they have the proper experience of handling management, budgets, personnel. But I haven’t thought that far. The right person must have a proven ability to negotiate between two opposing sides, so that both sides can walk away with their heads held up. Then you know you’ve got the right guy.”

For his part Member Dave Cincoski, R-3rd—who organized both informational and educational workshops—said that he is satisfied with the result of the referendum. “Obviously the voters have spoken,” he said. “The voters believe the town council form of government is an effective form of government. It may need to be tweaked a little bit with the hiring of a Town Manager, which is on the council’s agenda.”

Any candidate for the position, however, would need to satisfy “any professional standards the council may set,” Cincoski said. “They would have to have the professional training and expertise for town managers. If it happens to be a current town employee, that’s fine.”

Town vs. City Precinct Totals

become a city?

Westchester

Township Yes No

W-1 66 176

W-3 113 348

W-4 91 228

W-8 90 283

W-10 133 360

W-12 52 194

W-14 131 286

W-15 61 240

W-18 57 134

Liberty Twp.

L-1 28 74

L-5 68 114

Jackson Twp.

J-1 15 38

Total 905 2,475

Posted 11/8/2006