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.
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