EDITORIAL - ELECTION 2011 ENDORSEMENT: We pick Velazquez in close call
NWI Times
Nov 06, 2011
The slugfest between Portage mayoral candidates Olga Velazquez and Jim Snyder has given validity to the term "grudge match" for a second contest between political candidates. The bitter campaigns made our decision in this race difficult — much more so than any other mayoral race in Northwest Indiana.
Democrat Velazquez, the incumbent, has made campaign fundraising blunders that caused us to question her judgment. When the first fundraising controversy arose, she should have immediately addressed it by saying she was returning the money inappropriately given by the nonprofit donor — on whose board she sits — and that she was giving extra scrutiny to other donations to make sure any other money given inappropriately was returned to the donors. Instead, the public endured waves of criticism against her.
But we have to give Velazquez credit, too, for results. It is under her watch that Fronius announced it would relocate to Portage, bringing vital jobs with it.
And while the Stone Avenue reconstruction project was rocky, she brought not just repaving but entirely new infrastructure to a part of the city that needed it most.
Republican Snyder, who was narrowly defeated four years ago, promises department heads will not campaign or raise money on his behalf. He also said the right things about supporting regional efforts involving other communities.
Snyder has a strong focus on making Portage a business-friendly environment. At the same time, he is sensitive to Portage's union-heavy population and has bucked his party in opposing right-to-work legislation in Indianapolis.
But then he seems to undermine the leadership of the city's highly respected Police Chief Mark Becker by siding with rank-and-file police officers from whom he is getting support.
Snyder raised the possibility of undoing the 911 dispatch consolidation Velazquez accomplished. Despite the state law that forces consolidation, Snyder said Portage could serve as a backup to the county and vice versa. But Porter County already has backup, in a neighboring county.
That stance on 911 consolidation is a red flag. But Snyder's position on patrolling apartment complexes and mobile home parks, which have private roads but high population density, is appalling.
Velazquez's administration has made arrangements for police to patrol two of those private areas. That effort should continue.
Snyder wants those developments to hire private security to patrol those areas. Portage police still would respond to reports of emergencies.
Since when does the Portage Police Department not serve and protect apartment dwellers and mobile home residents, often low-income areas, as well as as it does residents in single-family homes?
What is that saying to the drug dealers and other criminals? Come here. That's the wrong message.
Embracing the police union's desires and going against Becker's leadership is a fatal flaw.
If Snyder is elected, we hope he reconsiders his position on this issue.
It is a close call, but we endorse Velazquez. Snyder's position on the police issues was the tipping point for us.
We urge the voters to re-elect Velazquez.
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