Advance Indiana has discussed previously a generous, no-bid contract Attorney General Greg Zoeller awarded to his predecessor, Steve Carter, that allows him to earn more money for part-time work than he made as Attorney General. The Journal-Gazette's Niki Kelly had an item in her
Political Notebook the other day reminding the state's voters of this as Carter announced he will seek to re-claim the office he gave up to his chief deputy, who has instead chosen to seek election to Indiana's open 9th congressional district.
Current Attorney General Greg Zoeller has decided to run for Congress in the 9th District. Logistically, if he would lose in the May primary he could possibly still meet the deadline to sign up to run for attorney general in the 2016 Republican nominating convention.
Carter recently sent an email to potential GOP supporters to gauge support, but said he doesn't have a timeline for making a decision.
Since he left office, he has been working privately. Much of that work has been for the Indiana Attorney General's Office -- via contracts to help with a case affecting payments Indiana gets from the tobacco master settlement.
According to the Indiana Auditor's Office, Carter was paid $146,600 in 2014, $107,078 in 2013 and $150,900 in 2012. Altogether in the last five years, he has earned more than $500,000 from the state. He has had no payments this year.
In comparison, Zoeller's current annual salary is $92,503.
Kelly makes a good point about the possibility Carter is only seeking the AG's office as a placeholder for Zoeller in the event Zoeller loses the 9th congressional district primary race. He could step aside and allow Zoeller to run for re-election as Attorney General since the filing deadline for the state convention does not occur until after next year's May primary election. Political observers will recall that Carter pretended to be running for re-election as Attorney General in 2008 before
bowing out less than three months before the state convention and throwing his support to Zoeller. History tells us these two men cannot be trusted.
4 comments:
"The purpose of government is for those who run it to plunder those who do not." Thomas DiLorenzo
Eerie. Extraordinary similarities to the power sharing dance being done by Russian Presidents Putin and Medvedev. Because they were subject to term limits which did not permit more than two non-consecutive terms as President, President Putin stepped aside after two terms and let Medvedev assume the Presidency while Putin settled for a term as Prime Minister. Now Putin is back. And Medvedev has stepped down to become Russia’s tenth Prime Minister. This back door power sharing scheme that clearly smacked of collaboration was not without controversy with the Russian people. Medvedev's stepping aside for Putin's return was seen by many in Russia as anti-democratic and played a part in the rare protests that erupted in cities around Russia following Putin's election. Carter and Zoeller should understand that their similar dance of power sharing will not sit well with voters, who may register their dissatisfaction by voting Democrat. When a practice is so ugly that it sends people violently protesting into the streets, even in a repressive place like Russia, then that practice is pretty bad. I’ve always thought Zoeller was a fool. One ridiculous legal position after another. Probably the worst AG Indiana has ever had. But I’m surprised Carter would participate in such shenanigans. This isn’t a fiefdom Steve.
Preference? Appoint or elect the AG?
Politics here in Indiana is like a political Merry-Go-Round. However, only certain connected people are allowed on it. They can step off and still collect a check one way or another from the State. Mitch Daniels is a good example.
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