I’ve been observing local elections in Indiana (off & on)  for about 45 years.  In almost every local election I’ve watched, there are allegations of one side stealing the other side’s campaign signs.

In this year’s Hamilton County Council Republican primary election, incumbent Councilman Rick McKinney is running for reelection, and has leveled some serious sign theft charges that resulted in the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department opening an investigation.

McKinney says he had signs missing in the area of Cumberland Road and 116th Street in Fishers.  The Sheriff’s Department says the cell phone of a county council candidate, Jeff Hern, was found near the area of where the signs were located. According the the Sheriff’s office, Hern, currently the Fall Creek Township Trustee, has been interviewed about the incident.

No charges have been filed.

Hern is out of town and not available for comment.

There are three at-large county council seats up for grabs in the May 3rd primary. McKinney and Brad Beaver are incumbents.  Hern, George Kehl and Bill Dennis are also candidates.  The top 3 vote-getters among the 5 hopefuls will end up on the November general election ballot.  No Democrats filed for county council seats.

The May 3rd primary election is coming, and the political action committee urging a yes vote on the HSE school referendum, Advance HSE, is reminding local voters of two important events coming up.

School officials will be on hand to explain the referendum, requesting a property tax increase from local voters.  Two public information sessions are set to happen soon.

The first is Wednesday, April 20th, 6pm, at the Delaware Township Community Room on 131st Street.  The second event is scheduled on Tuesday, April 26th, at the same time and location.

It’s an opportunity for you to learn more about the referendum and to ask questions.

You can listen to a Podcast I recorded March 16th with Sneha Shah, Chairperson of the Advance HSE PAC, at this link.

HSE School Superintendent Allen Bourff also discussed the referendum, along with a number of other issues, in a Podcast recorded April 5th.  You can hear that Podcast at this link.

Reporter Chris Sikich of the Indianapolis Star has taken a deep look into the divisions with the Hamilton County Republican Party.  He summarizes some facts already known and gets some interesting quotes from local politicos on the state of the GOP in what may be the most Republican county in Indiana.

You can read the story at this link. (NOTE: If you are not a Star subscriber, you may be limited on the number of stories you may access each month)

Baron Hill is a busy man, traveling the state of Indiana, preparing to face the winner of the Todd Young vs. Marlin Stutzman Republican primary, in the November General election.  Hill had spoken in Clay County just before his appearance at the Hamilton County Jefferson Jackson Day Democrat Party Dinner event Saturday night.

He had a basic message to present to Hoosier voters in 2016 – remember the economy Barack Obama inherited when he assumed the presidency in 2009.

In 2009, as Baron Hill came into his congressional seat, economists were telling elected officials in Washington “if Congress does not act, we’re looking at 1932 all over again.”

Once Obama took the oath of office and the new congress began in January 2009, Hill said Democrats began to act.  He listed the following accomplishments:

–A $1 trillion stimulus package.  “It got people back to work,” said Hill

–The saving of the automobile industry.  “What would have happened to Hoosiers here in Indiana had we not saved the automobile industry?” according to Hill.

–Congress passed cash for clunkers program, aimed at getting older, less fuel efficient vehicles off the road.

–Congress also enacted a tax credit for new home buyers.

Hill cited those actions as the reason the nation economically “stopped the bleeding and got this country back on its feet again.”

Hill took a shot at Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s slogan he will “make America great again.”

Hill countered, “I’m here to tell you, America is great.”  Hill called Trump’s statements about women, minorities and the disabled “disgraceful.”

There were a number of other Democrat candidates on hand for the dinner.  Angela Demaree is running in the 5th U.S. House District, the seat currently held by Republican Susan Brooks, and spoke before the group.  There were surrogates speaking on behalf of Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, who will both be on the primary ballot in the May 3rd Indiana primary election.

The Carmel Community Players held opening night April 15th for their production of Neil Simon’s comedy The Odd Couple.  Larry was there and has this review.

Keep Fishers Beautiful has been an annual Mid-April event for the city Parks and Recreation Department.  This year, the weather was once again perfect.

The Sunblest neighborhood received special attention this year with a fix up blitz centered along Orchard Boulevard.  There was a spring service day at Ritchey Woods.

One of the biggest operations was the recycling day at Billericay Park.  Fishers residents lined up there vehicles to drop-off items for recycling.

Residents, volunteers and businesses joined forces with the city to make this operation happen April 16th

My latest Indiana Forefront commentary looks at how education is a major issue in the Indiana Senate District 20 campaign between Luke Kenley and Scott Willis.

http://www.indianaforefront.com/luke-kenley-scott-willis-and-education-in-indiana/?doing_wp_cron=1460813462.5566320419311523437500

Primary election day is now less than 3 weeks away, and today is the deadline day for candidates to file their final campaign finance reports before the balloting begins May 3rd.

I will highlight the most interesting race for Fishers, since County Commissioner District 3 includes Fishers.

Incumbent Commissioner Mark Heirbrant started the year with just under $140,000 of cash on hand.  He received an additional $30,000 during 2015 up to the reporting deadline.  The report lists expenditures of over $90,000 this year, leaving Heirbrandt with cash on hand of just over $79,000.  You can view the entire campaign finance report at this link.

Challenger Bill Smythe, a Fishers restaurant owner, had no cash on hand to begin the year, because he did not declare his candidacy until after the first of this year.  His report lists contributions of just over $15,000 and expenses of a little under $12,000.  His cash on hand is shown as just over $3,200.  You can see his entire campaign finance report at this link.

The other election of interest to those living in Fishers is the school funding referendum on the May 3rd ballot.

The political action committee (PAC) advocating a yes vote in that referendum is Advance HSE.  The PAC’s campaign finance report shows cash on hand at the start of 2016 at just over $4,600.  The PAC shows contributions so far this year at just over $14,600. Expenditures on the report this year are shown as just over $9,200.  That leaves the PAC with cash on hand of a little over $5,300.  You can access the complete report for Advance HSE at this link.

So far, no organized group has emerged to oppose the school funding referendu.

You may have heard about the Fishers Government Academy, where citizens take a course lasting several weeks to learn more about how local government works..  You may not know that once one has graduated from that course, you become an alumnus.

The Government Academy Alumni are banding together for a fundraising effort for the two townships encompassing Fishers, Fall Creek and Delaware.  3,000 area residents are helped by the food pantries run by the Fall Creek and Delaware Township offices.

You will find donation boxes at the following locations:

The drive will take place May 6th-20th.

–Fishers Park and Recreation building lobby (11565 Brooks School Road)

–Delaware Township Office (9090 E. 131^st Street) Monetary donations accepted here.

–Fall Creek Township Office (11595 Brooks School Road) Monetary donations accepted here.

–Fishers YMCA and Britton Falls Club House (15305 Trebbiano Drive).

Here are some donation ideas from the alumni:

Soaps and cleansers, shampoo and conditioner, razors, brushes, combs, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, lotions, children’s shampoo, deodorant, toilet paper, paper towels and laundry detergent. Sensitive skin and hypoallergenic products are also appreciated. 

The group publicly thanked the Kroger store at 116th & Olio Road for a direct donation to their drive.   The Hagerman Group, Chase Bank, and USA Funds have boxes located within their employee areas.  

The Alumni group is comprised of graduates from the Fishers Government Academy program. The City of Fishers provides the Academy to educate City residents about the operation of Fishers government and its services and departments.  

The Fishers Redevelopment Commission issued a report Thursday evening detailing activity within the city, on Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funded projects.

The 2015 TIF financial overview shows income of $3.8 million, with a fund balance at the end of 2015 of $958,136.

The report breaks down activity for the various TIF project throughout the city.

You can view the entire 2015 TIF report at this link.