Voice of the People

William Cantrell bemoans the suggestion by the Local Government Reform Commission that recommends elimination of some elected officials with appointees. While I agree that voters can and do exert the most direct control of local government officeholders, recent events illustrate that some elected politicians are not performing up to acceptable standards.

1) The Lake County Surveyor allows his son to misuse a government-owned vehicle, and pumps county gasoline into his private vehicle. Does he resign or get fired? No.

2) A Lake County Councilman convicted of tax fraud refuses to step down from his position, so that he can vote to support an unpopular income tax. Why does he do so? Because he can.

3) A clerical employee of the Lake County Treasurer's Office is accused of stealing up to $70,000 of taxpayers' money. Another employee of the same office allegedly authorizes illegal removal of tax-delinquent properties from county tax-sale lists. The elected Treasurer claims that the problems were inherited from his predecessor. A clerk working in the Treasurer's previous elected office in Merrillville is suspected of stealing $300,000. Where is the official oversight and supervision? What control does the voter have over these situations? Wait until the next election? Then what?

The Reform Commission is simply trying to save the voters from themselves. When citizens mindlessly vote for officials based strictly by political affiliation, party bosses can arrange for unqualified candidates to gain office. One reason given by apathetic, would-be voters for not exercising their rights, is that the present system of revolving-door politics produces the same dismal results, election after election. I think it is time for a change.

George Mrak

Porter

Posted 1/3/2008