10312007 - News Article - Questions remain over who's behind PAC - Chairman, tied to unsuccessful mayoral primary candidate, has history of legal trouble

Questions remain over who's behind PAC
Chairman, tied to unsuccessful mayoral primary candidate, has history of legal trouble
NWI Times
Oct 31, 2007
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/questions-remain-over-who-s-behind-pac/article_9b830216-5c89-51eb-bdba-295d8bfb4d2b.html
PORTAGE | Candidates on both sides of the Portage mayoral race say they have no idea who is behind the newly formed Democrats Against Lake County Politics political action committee.

Police, however, are more familiar with one of the men registered with the political action committee, Nathan Ritchie, who has convictions for invasion of privacy and dealing marijuana.

Ritchie, 25, is registered as chairman and Rudy Alfaro is registered as treasurer of the committee.

The committee, which formed Oct. 19, drew attention over the weekend by posting yard signs throughout the city urging voters not to vote for Olga Velazquez.

Ritchie has ties to Portage Street Department Superintendent Steve Charnetzky, who lost in the May Democratic primary to Velazquez and subsequently has been working for Republican James Snyder in his effort to gain the mayor's seat.

Ritchie was a supporter of Charnetzky's during the primary. He can be seen in a Times photograph at Charnetzky's headquarters the night of the primary wearing a Charnetzky T-shirt. The photograph ran in the newspaper May 9.

Among Ritchie's several run-ins with law enforcement were an invasion of privacy conviction in 2002, where he was fined and served 90 hours of community service, and a guilty plea on two counts of selling marijuana to an undercover police officer in 2004. Ritchie also has several traffic citations, ranging from speeding to driving on a suspended license.

Snyder said he does not know the two men involved in the political action committee nor does he have any knowledge of their activities.

Neither Ritchie, Alfaro nor Charnetzky returned messages Tuesday.

10302007 - News Article - Candidates end forum with political potshots - Opponents criticize each other for election tactics

Candidates end forum with political potshots
Opponents criticize each other for election tactics
NWI Times
Oct 30, 2007
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/candidates-end-forum-with-political-potshots/article_d0c4befa-3e54-5033-b496-1230ef55d48f.html
PORTAGE | For the most part, until the end of the two-hour candidates forum Monday night, mayoral candidates here took subtle potshots at each other.

Then, in their closing statements at the end, candidates for the mayoral and council races took their gloves off.

Republican mayoral candidate James Snyder struck at the Portage Democrats for letting the state representative 10th District seat slip from the city's hands this past weekend. During a caucus, the seat, long held by a Portage resident, was won by Center Township resident Greg Simms.

"Portage has no representation within its borders. Valparaiso has two state reps., and (the city isn't) near our size," Snyder said, adding that leaves the next mayor with a "tough time" in working with the state to improve the city.

Democratic candidate Olga Velazquez spoke her piece, too.

Answering a question on city development, Velazquez said Snyder has "waffled," telling firefighters he'd support a building inspection fee on businesses to boost their revenues, while leaving that information out while addressing the local chamber of commerce.

But it was candidates for the City Council who, during their closing statements, echoed what many have called one of the dirtiest elections in the city's history.

Brendan Clancy, a Democrat unopposed for the 2nd District council seat, was the first to bring up the yard signs placed throughout the city this weekend by the newly formed political action committee Democrats Against Lake County Politics.

He called the signs "cowardly, fear mongering," and said they hinted at racism.

"Instead of worrying about Lake County politics, let's keep Portage politics out of the gutter," Clancy said to a round of applause.

Snyder answered back by denying those involved in putting up the signs were his supporters.

"We have run a positive campaign focused on the issues. I can't be responsible for the other party," he said, calling himself the "best chance for unity in the city."

Unopposed at-large council candidate Steve Sonaty, also a Democrat, turned to a group of high school government students in the audience and told them to take a lesson away from this year's election.

"If you do lose, lick your wounds, get back to it and support your opponent," he said referring to Steve Charnetzky, who lost to Velazquez in the May primary and later endorsed Snyder.

Unopposed at-large Democratic council candidate Sue Lynch said recent developments "appall me," adding that if those involved in the election don't set aside their hard feelings, Portage will not get the respect it deserves from surrounding communities.

10302007 - News Article - Signs stir dirty politics charge - Founders of PAC are unknown to either side in Portage mayoral race

Signs stir dirty politics charge
Founders of PAC are unknown to either side in Portage mayoral race
NWI Times
Oct 30, 2007
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/signs-stir-dirty-politics-charge/article_a2d44204-0631-50a0-a413-a25f4a17aa58.html
PORTAGE | Signs protesting Lake County politics in the Portage mayoral election popped up across the city this weekend.

The signs, which display Democratic mayoral candidate Olga Velazquez's first name in a circle with a slash through it and the phrase "Democrats Against Lake County Politics," are sponsored by a newly formed political action committee, Democrats Against Lake County Politics.

The PAC was formed Oct. 19, said Kathy Kozuszek, of the Porter County Voters Registration office. Its purpose, according to the filing papers, is to "promote responsible government and city issues."

The two officers listed are chairman Nathan Ritchie, of 6622 Fairview Ave., Portage, and treasurer Rudy Alfaro, of 6091 Lute Road, Portage. Kozuszek said voting records indicate Ritchie is inactive and will be removed from voter rolls if he does not vote in next month's election and Alfaro registered to vote in Porter County on April 5, but did not vote in the primary a month later.

Neither Ritchie nor Alfaro returned messages Monday.

"It is not a representation of the Porter County Democrat Party, which fully supports me. These individuals that formed the PAC have never voted, so how can they call themselves Democrats," Velazquez said. "This ploy and this type of political antics is more indicative of Lake County politics. Portage has never seen this type of smear. Their strategy is to try to instill fear over logic, experience and credentials."

Mayor Doug Olson also condemned the tactic.

"If this group is saying that Olga is Lake County politics, they should also be saying it about (Clerk-Treasurer) Donna Pappas, the other City Council members and myself because we have all worked together as a team and Olga will continue with that process. I just think it is a shame that people are trying to change the focus of this election away from the real issues," Olson said.

Porter County Democratic Party Chairman Jeff Chidester was equally critical.

"For the record, the Portage Democratic precinct organization is 100 percent behind Olga Velazquez for mayor. The Portage Township Democratic Club, which I am president, is also 100 percent behind Olga's candidacy. If any political tactic reeks of Lake County politics, it is the forming of this PAC and the placement of these signs," said Chidester, adding that since the PAC only formed last week, it won't be forced to reveal its contributors until after the Nov. 6 election.

Velazquez said she believes her opponent, Republican James Snyder, may be involved.

"My opponent told me early on when I first met him that campaigns can get dirty. I never thought they would get this dirty," she said.

Snyder said he does not know Ritchie or Alfaro, and neither is involved in his campaign.

"I have been running a positive campaign about the hard working people of Portage. I've worked very hard to steer clear of this," he said. Snyder said after the May primary and before he launched his campaign in July, he said he "wasn't going to fuel the fire" of what appeared to be a split Democratic Party in the city.

He and Velazquez agreed that talk about the signs is taking away from discussion on the real issues facing the city.

10272007 - News Article - Clerk-treasurer questions mayoral campaign promises - Velazquez, Olson say Pappas comments not totally factual

Clerk-treasurer questions mayoral campaign promises
Velazquez, Olson say Pappas comments not totally factual
NWI Times
Oct 27, 2007
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/clerk-treasurer-questions-mayoral-campaign-promises/article_00be852f-9a6e-5108-b95e-39240cc38258.html
PORTAGE | With less than two weeks to go before Northwest Indiana's third largest city elects its next mayor, Clerk Treasurer Donna Pappas is rebuking the campaign of her own party's nominee .

"My concern is people are being promised things that we can't pay for," Pappas said. "They may be making them with good intentions, but I don't see them making them happen. Sometimes the enthusiasm to get elected will outweigh the common sense portion of it."

While Pappas, a Democrat, said both Democrat Olga Velazquez and Republican James Snyder should study the financial facts before making any campaign promises, she specifically attacked Velazquez's plans.

"She's the only one I've seen," Pappas said.

Improving sidewalks and the safety of the city's residents are among Velazquez's priorities. Pappas said with the city's current and projected financial situation, new sidewalks and hiring additional police officers won't be on the horizon for the city.

Mayor Doug Olson, also a Democrat, said it's Pappas who isn't putting forward all the facts.

"We have a sidewalk fund. People pay into that fund. Last I checked, we still had $150,000," he said. "And, Olga never said anything about hiring more people."

Pappas said she's received about a dozen phone calls from residents asking how some of Velazquez's campaign priorities are going to become reality. With that in mind, she called Velazquez and said she was given a cold shoulder.

Velazquez said that's not the full story. A brief phone call Wednesday while she was at work was the first she's heard from Pappas on campaign matters.

"I have a large responsibility in caring for many patients and I didn't have the time (to talk)," Velazquez said. "I said if people have questions, they can call my home or they can call my campaign headquarters and I would gladly talk to them. I said, if elected, I would sit down with her and talk at length."

Pappas said she asked Snyder about his plans for sidewalks and public safety and he admitted he didn't have specific information and would have to look at the city's budget. The Times could not reach Snyder on Friday for comment.

"Snyder, whatever he promises he needs to tell them where it's coming from," Pappas said.

Without property tax draws, the city has had to borrow twice this year. Because of that, Portage will be paying more than $200,000 in interest, and Pappas said, the state is only projecting a 3.7 percent increase in the city's budget next year. The city will have to go into maintenance mode, she said.

Olson said Pappas isn't looking at the big picture.

"Times are not going to be that tough all the time," he said. "I just think it's a shame that Donna and her people are trying to get the focus away from the message this close to the election. It's a shame that that's happening."

10202007 - News Article - Contenders race to pack coffers - Dem raises, spends more than GOP rival in Portage mayoral run

Contenders race to pack coffers
Dem raises, spends more than GOP rival in Portage mayoral run
NWI Times
Oct 20, 2007
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/contenders-race-to-pack-coffers/article_14cf2c3e-8ef8-5bfc-aa4e-7fe79ba1c83f.html
PORTAGE | Democrat mayoral hopeful Olga Velazquez raised double what her opponent Republican James Snyder collected, according to pre-election campaign finance reports released Friday.

Since April 14, Velazquez has raised $56,267 to Snyder's $26,118. The reporting period ended Oct. 12.

Velazquez had an edge coming into the reporting period by carrying over $15,182 cash on hand from the primary election. In total, since the beginning of the year, Velazquez has raised $95,207 for her mayoral campaign.

Snyder got a late start in the campaign, not announcing his intentions to seek the mayor's seat until June 30. Councilman Dave Highlands had been the Republicans' candidate for the Nov. 6 election but died just before the May primary.

Mayor Doug Olson endorsed Velazquez for the seat last December when he announced he would not seek a third term. Olson also has been Velazquez's largest financial supporter, contributing $6,000 to her campaign since the beginning of the year.

Velazquez also has outspent Snyder. Her financial report indicates she has spent $45,614 since April and $69,372 since the beginning of the year. She finished the reporting period with $25,835 cash on hand.

Snyder has spent $18,491 so far and had $7,627 left in his campaign coffers on Oct. 12.

Snyder's biggest contributor has been the Porter County Republican Party with a donation of $4,025.

"I truly believe that the people who believe in my experience, believe in my message, believe in my candidacy are those who are supporting me," Velazquez said.

"I'm not surprised at all," Snyder said about the difference in contribution totals. "This election can't be bought no matter how much money Mrs. Velazquez raises."

Snyder said the difference is not indicative of the final vote. Recent polling, he said, indicates he and Velazquez are "dead even" and "the undecideds are learning our way."