Hamilton Co. GOP Chairman Pete Emigh has come under attack from some Republicans for his past role running Shamrock PAC, a political action committee that has been heavily involved in making large donations to Republican candidates involved in primary races such as Carmel Mayor James Brainard, Fisher's Mayor Scott Fadness and Westfield's Mayor Andy Cook. After The Star published a news story earlier this year discussing the controversy, Emigh stepped down as Shamrock PAC's chairman.. Mayor Cook's son, Brian Cook, assumed the role of chairman and last Thursday the PAC dumped a $99,000 campaign contribution into his father's re-election campaign, eclipsing the $10,851 Cook's re-election campaign reported raising on its own in its pre-primary campaign finance report.
The Star reports that his primary opponent, Jeff Harpe, who has declined to accept any PAC money, is crying foul. "For me," Harpe said, "I think that opens the door to a conflict of interest. Someone can buy the election." Whether by contributions from PACs or by direct donation, that's exactly what is happening in Indiana's mayoral elections. Virtually all of Shamrock's money came from engineering executives, construction companies, law firms and other businesses and individuals who rely on sweetheart, no-bid contracts from local governments for their livelihood. Average folks simply don't participate in political-giving anymore. Campaign contributions have simply become a legalized form of bribery to buy contracts and other favors from crooked elected officials.
For the life of me, I don't understand why the media has ignored the serious issues involving a trucking company, Hoosier Tradewinds, which is owned by Mayor Cook and his son. Advance Indiana reported on hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax liens the IRS has filed against the company. The Internet is filled with commentary from former truck drivers for the company complaining about how they were mistreated by the company. The company has been the subject of numerous lawsuits that are a matter of public record. Yet nobody in the news media seems to care to report on any of those matters.
5 comments:
No wonder GOP hatchet man
crooked attorney David Brooks and his attorney wife Susan Brooks [BFF with the reviled John Boehner] relocated to Hamilton County where they join the all male Wabash College alum and establishment GOP political marionette master attorney Bob Grand.
Having ruined Indianapolis and turned it into a suburb of Detroit and South Chicago, the same will be done of Carmel, Fishers, and Westfield.
The Mega-Media likes the system the way it is. The Mega-Media makes billions of dollars countrywide when they air or print political ads or the infomercials by the PACs.
The idea that political contributions is Free Speech is joke. There is nothing "Free" about TV ads, Radio Ads or mailers. The bottom line is who can buy more Free Speech - Bill Gates, the Koch Bros, or John Smith who makes $50,000 a year??
Political Contributions have become the entry drug for Political Corruption and Crony-Capitalism.
The role of the Mega-Media is to make certain and reassure the people one way or another the System Works. This propaganda effort can take several forms - Do not report on corruption or Crony-Capitalism, or report only a part of the story.
Wow. Cook is as crooked as it gets. thank you for reporting the real news, Gary.
With almost $100K, Andy Cook can really tear up some roads in front of polling places with that kind of cash
All of Westfield isn't worth that much! Something fishy going on.
DOJ: It's time for your Public Integrity Task Force to take a peek. If that kind of money is going into a small city election campaign, then I think you'll find some very interesting activity behind that motivation.
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