I think it's time this matter is cleared up. I've been told for the past year by at least one CCC member and other political activists that my CCC member, Patrice Abduallah (D), does not live in my district. At tonight's CCC meeting, a demonstrator stood up and called attention to the issue. The unidentified protester claims that he has two CCC members living in his district and asked Abduallah why he doesn't live in the district he claims to represent. If Abduallah is falsely claiming a voting residence in my district, then I think it is incumbent upon the Marion County Democratic Party to demand his removal from the ballot so that he can be replaced by a person who actually lives in the district. Abduallah claims his residence is 937 N. Sheffield Avenue, which is in my district according to the CCC's district finder. A member of the CCC, however, has told me Abduallah uses another address as his actual address for CCC matters. I don't think it's going to make a whole lot of difference in my particular case. When I attempted to address Councilor Abduallah face to face on the issue of the HRO, he refused to discuss it with me and said he would make a decision on how to vote based on what "my people" advise me. I wasn't sure whether "my people" meant "African-Americans" or "Islamic-Americans." It was clear, however, it didn't include me.
Four years ago, one of Abduallah's CCC opponents documented brazen campaign finance violations by Abduallah. He misrepresented campaign contributions from individuals with Muslim surnames as a contribution from the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee, which is actually a nonprofit arm of the City of Indianapolis and cannot make political contributions. Eventually, the Marion Co. Election Board simply slapped Abduallah on the hand with a $100 fine. If the board had any respect for our campaign finance laws, it would have referred the matter to the county prosecutor for prosecution.
20 comments:
He lives in Monroe Gray's district, not the run-down rental he claims over on Sheffield.
8:41 is absolutely right. I've seen him coming out of the home many, many times. Patrice is one of the biggest Democratic embarrassments we have.
As for the campaign finance violations, it's news to me, but it's sickening.
And, as a lawyer, you should know...the prosecutor doesn't need to wait on a referral from the Election Board. He can go boldly where no one has ever gone before, completely on his own. I haven't checked--does he have a strong Republican opopnent?
I am mystified why Brizzi refuses to go after Center Township nonsense. Over and over again, he's turned a blind eye.
If he is operating out of fear, or under the mistaken impression that he won his narrow re-election in Center Township, he'd best do a Wilson and look at the public records.
He won because he picked up more of Washington and Lawrence than the Dems thought he would.
Center voted overwhelmingly against him in 02 and again by almost exactly equal numbers in 06.
Just sayin'.
Ya know, one of the most frustrating things about living in Patrice's district was the lack of contact I could have with someone that's supposed to represent me. When you're in a public office, you should be available to your constituency.
He disabled his e-mail account, and he refused to return phone messages. I had to stop him outside the Public Assembly room prior to a CCC meeting in order to talk to him. He could not have treated me more rudely when I finally spoke to him.
As a Democrat who lives in the district, I was very upset the party did not challenge him in the primary. I was told by a number of prominent Democrats they were going to find someone to challenge him because he is such an embarrassment and completely useless as a CCC member. At one point, someone told me Gordon Hendry was planning to run against him. Anyone know why Patrice didn't have an opponent this year?
Anon 9:38, I heard a similar rumor. I suspect Mike O'Connor discouraged a primary challenge out of fear it would upset the African-American CCC members. You have to take into account the demographics of the district. It includes some very upscale neighborhoods in the downtown and near northside areas; however, the bulk of the district is very poor and overwhelmingly black. You would probably have to run a prominent African-American against Abduallah to defeat him in the current district.
I'm not surprised.
In a previous job, I lobbied the council for a piece of legislation.
I could never reach Patrice on his email and would send him information in the mail and I doubted if he ever got it. His phone number never worked.
Not even the other councillors could reach him.
He was always very nice to me. Of course, that's probably because he became one of the co-sponsors of the legislation for which I was lobbying.
I, and my coworker, quickly learned that council was nothing more than a circus sideshow.
Although I must admit there are some bright people on there who represent their constituents well. Why they stay on that council, I'll never know. Several of them admitted they found it impossible to work with such stupid people on such important issues.
"You have to take into account the demographics of the district. It includes some very upscale neighborhoods in the downtown and near northside areas; however, the bulk of the district is very poor and overwhelmingly black. You would probably have to run a prominent African-American against Abduallah to defeat him in the current district."
Ya know, I've heard that reasoning before, but I don't buy it. I'd be curious to know where the percentages of registered voters actually live. According to this:
http://imcwwa2k3.indygov.org/elecnight/2007/summary.htm
He won the primary by 1k votes. The 2003 election total vote was 4873.
I wonder what the percentages of votes come from the higher income areas?
Would someone PLEASE just give the address where Abdullah actually lives.
Nothing can be done until it is known where he actually lives.
I understand that Patrice Abduallah is part of the Nation of Islam (Black Muslim). Can anyone confirm this.
Gary, Most of the minority neighborhoods in Patrice Abduallah's district are not "poor". They are working class with median incomes in the low $20k's.
Marti, come out of your downtown/near north enclave, get a map of the district and you'll understand that the MAJORITY of voters in the district live West of I-65. Finally none of you have answered the real question. The Councilman is UNOPPOSED on the ballot. No Republican, no Libertarian filed by the August 1st deadline. No write in candidate either. You can't have a campaign if there is no one to campaign with.
(Oh, and write in's on election day are illegal. You have to have pre-filed as a write-in candidate).
Is there anything in the law that prevents a CCC member from living outside his district.
Congressionally, typically you just have to live in the state, not actually the district...
7:48 - by state law and county ordinance you must live WITHIN THE DISTRICT for one year prior to taking office. For At-Large you must live within the county for 1 year prior. Same for State Representative or State Senator. If you move outside your district you must resign.
For Mayor you must live in the city/county for FIVE years prior to taking office.
Congress has different rules, because its a Federal entity. For example you can be a convicted felon an be a Representative. Felonies disqualify one from local and state office.
The telling thing is that no one is on here defending this worthless councilman.
Including you-know-who.
The district is overwhelmingly black, but, as with most of Center Township, more voters than not are unregistered. Citizens aren't voters unless they're registered.
Evidently one's race trumps brains these days.
Geeeeesh.
anonymous said...
"Gary, Most of the minority neighborhoods in Patrice Abduallah's district are not "poor". They are working class with median incomes in the low $20k's."
Um... depending on the household size, 11k to 17k is the poverty line. I'd say if you're a family of four, 20k IS poor.
"Marti, come out of your downtown/near north enclave, get a map of the district and you'll understand that the MAJORITY of voters in the district live West of I-65."
A map of the district doesn't show me anything (i have one, btw). Hell, many precincts in 2003 had less than 100 votes cast total, so it doesn't really matter how much of his district is African American, but who votes.
FYI: racial percentages by precinct are available from the 2000 Census data.
Patrice M Abduallah. 937 N Sheffield Ave, Indianapolis, IN,(317) 262-8943
PATRICE, ABDUALLAH, birthdate: 1946-08-06
Spouse: Muumba
Patrice Abduallah
1144 Warman Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46222
Phone: 317-262-8943
Democrat
"At one point, someone told me Gordon Hendry was planning to run against him."
Gotta correct the record on this one, Gary. Gordon was never approached and never planned to run against Patrice.
I'm not sure who started that specific rumor, but it isn't true. I had heard a rumor that someone was going to challenge him, but I can assure you that it was not the man to whom I'm married.
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