Portage officials ask for indicted mayor's resignation
Post-Tribune
January 31, 2017
Portage City Council President Mark Oprisko has joined a growing list of city officials calling for Mayor James Snyder to resign in light of his federal indictment in November on public corruption charges.
Oprisko also said the council may consider ordinances to neutralize Snyder as chairman of the Portage Utility Services Board.
"It's in the best interests of every official and every resident for (Snyder) to step aside," Oprisko said Monday. "We have great department heads. Let the city run. Let us run it so we don't have to keep hearing about the indictment."
In an e-mailed statement, Snyder remained defiant, citing his "American Civil Rights" and the presumption of innocence, while acknowledging the indictment "is weighing heavily on Portage."
"No Resigning!" Snyder responded when asked if was going to resign. He also said Portage residents continue "receiving the great services they have come to expect, and those services will continue because of the hard work of the public servants working."
Oprisko, D-at large, and Councilman John Cannon, R-4th, met with Snyder in City Hall. Oprisko also said he is "considering different options" to remove Snyder from his position as chairman of the Portage Utility Services Board or weaken him in that spot.
Cannon, who described the discussion with Snyder as "spirited," said he is a longtime friend of Snyder's, but the November indictment may be a factor in where the city goes from here. Cannon said he did not "directly ask the mayor" to step down.
"I think Council President Oprisko and myself, we have real concerns about our city and if there's something holding our city back from growing and holding back all of the wonderful things this mayor has done, then we have to address that," Cannon said. "(Snyder) may not be able to continue to do the wonderful things he's done if there's a cloud hanging over him."
In November, Snyder and John Cortina, owner of a towing company in the city, were indicted. Snyder was charged with one count of tax evasion and two counts of bribery.
In a final 2016 annual campaign finance report, Citizens for Snyder, the mayor's campaign committee, reported receiving $2,000 in direct support from Cortina and a $10,000 loan from the businessman.
On the Hammond courthouse steps Nov. 18, the day he was indicted, Snyder's attorney, Thomas Kirsch, indicated they could prove Snyder received a loan from Cortina, not a bribe.
The campaign finance report also showed Citizens for Snyder gave $6,300 to the Committee to Elect John Cannon between March and August last year for Cannon's failed run for county commissioner.
Cannon defended the contribution as part of his efforts and Snyder's efforts to give Portage residents more say at the county level.
"I'm assuming at some point in time I'll be put in same light as mayor because of that relationship and our party," Cannon said. "The perception may be we're connected at the hip, and that's the farthest thing from the truth.
"Campaigns are not about the person running. It's about what we're going to do to better the citizens of Portage."
The City Council agreed on asking Snyder to resign, Oprisko said, and one member, Collin Czilli, D-5th, in a separate statement, said Snyder is innocent until proven guilty, but "if Mayor Snyder truly believes in Portage's future success, it is incumbent on him to resign his office, effective immediately."
Clerk-Treasurer Chris Stidham called for Snyder's resignation earlier in January.
"I think it's a powerful message the president of the City Council has joined my previous call for Mayor Snyder to step down," Stidham said Monday. "My call was based on the fact this indictment was an enormous distraction."
Snyder seemed to shock city officials last September when he asked the utility board to pay for his more than $90,000 in legal fees, to that point, related to the federal investigation.
Oprisko, who is the vice chairman of the board, said he immediately sought to stop the board from paying the expenses,.
The council president said he is exploring ordinances to remove the mayor's office from the utility board seat or deny Snyder compensation.
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