Democratic members of the Indianapolis City-County Council on a party-line vote blocked a proposal by council Republicans to conduct a probe of City-County Council President Monroe Gray and his ties to a leading city contractor, James Trotter. Gray neglected to report his ties to Trotter on his statement of economic interest he filed with the Indianapolis-Marion County Board of Ethics. Gray says he relied on the advice of his counsel, Aaron Haith, in making the decision not to disclose the relationship. Haith's representation of Gray presents a conflict of interest in and of itself. Haith serves as the council's attorney.
The Star's Brendan O'Shaughnessy reports Gray is calling for an investigation by the ethics board instead. This would be the same ethics board which ignored a written request I submitted back in December for a copy of Gray's statement of economic interest, along with that of several other council members and city officials. The ethics board has ignored my request for three months in clear violation of Indiana's open records law. The Board of Ethics is comprised of five members, three of whom are appointed by the mayor, and two of whom are appointed by the council. In other words, it's stacked with Democrats.
This is what one-party rule by the Democrats in Marion County means--unchecked corruption. Sadly, the Marion Co. Prosecutor, the one person who could easily conduct a meaningful investigation of Gray's ties to Trotter, appears to be missing in action. And what about the feds? They are nowhere to be found when it comes to corruption by public officials in Indianapolis. Enjoy it folks as we became more and more like a third world banana republic.
14 comments:
This was an interesting night at the City County Council from Conley reporting that he was an Eagle Scout (what the hell happened to him) to the CCC admitting publicly that they have no influence on leadership in Indianapolis law enforcement.
Tonight Indy’s CCC turned its head on responsible leadership. The City County Council voting along party lines refused to vote for an investigation of Monroe Gray.
Every Republican supported the investigation except Randolph who was absent. Every Democrat supported Gray including Vern Brown who is by his own admission a good friend of Gray. I quote a comment made by Brown a month ago, “I find it hard to vote against him we are good friends”.
Well Mr. Brown or should I say Chief Brown as Gray calls you because of your brotherhood on the Indianapolis Fire Department, you should recluse yourself from any vote for or against Gray.
The Indianapolis Fire Department is well represented on the Council. One would think that firefighters and Eagle Scouts (Conley) would know this simple fact. Where there is smoke there is fire.
To the honest (blue-collar) businessmen who showed up with court documents showing the judgments against Gray, don’t give up. Hang in there. Sooner or later Indy will wake up. You may never collect what is owed to you but maybe you will get satisfaction from knowing that this crook was outed.
The ethics committee will do nothing about Gray, the Mayor and the Democrat CCC control it. An investigation by Brizzi is the only chance Indianapolis has to get to the bottom of this mess.
We need an investigation of Gray before the term CCC means Crooked City Council or Corrupt City Council
My Grandfather once told me that sooner or later every skunk will show his stripes. Gray, Brown and every Democrat on the CCC stank tonight.
As a fellow Eagle Scout, I may turn in my badges. Conley is a disgrace. Finally, he shows us, that his voice really IS bigger than his character.
Like it or not, the Ethics Board exists...ths timing of this sucks. If any Dem council member opposes this, especially a couple who already have primary opponents, Gray will unleash a racial Jihad against them in May. They knew it, and so does he.
Let this go to the Ethics Board. Whatever they decide, that is the process. Then, after that's finished, and after May, bring this issue up again.
I think you might see a different result.
It was a sorry performance. But the Republicans fired their guns three months too early, politically. They can fire again in June.
AI,
I can't say that I always agree with what you post, but that's the beauty of a free country. Right on in this case though. It would appear that the Republicans can't field a good candidate and look desperate, the Democrats are drunk on their own power and the citizens got left behind. If there was any time a good third party or independant candidate should show up, it should be now. It would have been fun to see Jim Rutherford (a Libertarian attorney) run against Monroe Gray (barely intelligible) for the 8th district.
During Fox 59 coverage (not the best source, but we take what we get), Gray was stammering and stuttering regarding allegations which gave the appearance of guilt. This of course after he was cementing his relationship with the Fire Chief by telling some funnies.
Grand-pappys might talk of skunks eventually showing stripes but here the skunks post anonymously, not even showing names, faces or stripes. Lots of namecalling and allegations made while hiding and skulking without responsibility.
The debacle of the War on Iraq and the lying Justice Department are indeed making America look like a third world banana republic.
Wilson, honey, try to focus: this post is NOT about the insane Bush war. It's about the insane council president.
The Emporer is not wearing any clothes.
...neither is The Emperor!
Wilson46201 said...
"Grand-pappys might talk of skunks eventually showing stripes but here the skunks post anonymously, not even showing names, faces or stripes. Lots of namecalling and allegations made while hiding and skulking without responsibility."
Not all who use their name express responsibility. You prove this daily. Changing topic and slinging slander has become your (Wilson‘s) trademark.
The ethics board, by statute, can have no more than 3 members of one party.
I'm not aware of the current membership, but I'm guessing it is three Democrats and three Republicans.
"The ethics board, by statute, can have no more than 3 members of one party."
As I understand it, three are appointed by the Mayor and two by the CCC. That is five members with three democrats. Nothing will come from and hearings.
Remember Kris Kiser, the fellow that ran for the 7th District Democratic nomination for Congress in 2006? It seems that the Federal Election Commission has fined the Kiser for Congress campaign $2,700 for failure to fine the campaign committee’s 2006 quarterly report. Wasn’t that the campaign chaired by our good friend Rick Sutton, Word columnist?
It was such a beautiful day out today, I wore my bright yellow "Re-Elect Monroe Gray" T-shirt downtown - I figured Democrats would appreciate it and Republicans would have conniptions and hissy fits. It's an old-fashioned Hoosier activity: we call it "agitating" ...
"It was such a beautiful day out today, I wore my bright yellow "Re-Elect Monroe Gray" T-shirt downtown"
Thats nice but have you taken a bath?
Do us a favor, will ya?
Another feeble ad hominem attack on a commenter by an anonymous nobody ... pitiful !
A government agency cannot just deny you records that are validly open to the public. What exception have they cited? If you believe the records are being wrongfully withheld the Indiana Access to Public Records Law provides a mechanism for challenging the agency that even includes a fee shifting provision. You have not exhausted all administrative remedies and therefore your complaint is premature.
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