This may come as a surprise to those of you that follow this site, to our conservative readers who want to toe the Republican line, and to our Democrat readers who love to argue in the comments section:
As a long-time Porter County leader, a sitting county councilman, a thinking politician willing to look at reform of local government, we endorse Mike Bucko for County Treasurer. Some of you will remember our series earlier this year The Murphy Plan or the Bucko Plan?
In which Jim Murphy who is the sitting county treasurer, running for county commissioner, and Mike Bucko, sitting county councilman running for county Treasurer, prepared competing plans to assist local municipalities using the $160 million in hospital proceeds. We backed the Murphy Plan but were proud that both leaders were willing to take a risk in an election year, this county needs Leaders willing to reform and take risks. We've gone too long with "head in the sand" leadership from the commissioners, the elected "skill leaders" and the council.
We do disagree with Mike on his stance to keep the Treasurer seat forever. We believe that a total overhaul of county government, a reform that would put skilled professionals in the jobs of Auditor, Clerk, Treasurer, Assessor, and Economic Development ... would be much preferrable. This was originally proposed by Bob Wichlinski, and was the best idea to come out of the election season, although the media disregarded and thus many people didn't understand it. Sure, Mike Bucko has the skills, but what about the next person that gets elected who doesn't and continues the mess that our county administration has endured. Mike ... take a second look at this issue for sure.
Let's put Mike Bucko and Jim Murphy into that county building, I'm sure they'll come up with some terrific ideas for reform and investment to grow our county. And no, we didn't lose our edge, the best part of both of these wins would be that Commissioner Bob Harper would lose his proxy domination of the entire county. Mike Bucko was the last Democrat to stand up to Bob Harper, on his foolish green space ordinance, and though he suffered from retaliation, he is back to the leadership position he deserves.
Stop Governing Like This
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3 comments:
I do not agree with your choice for Bucko.
REASON 1
Bucko wanted to lend money to the municipalities at a rate higher than they could have obtained theirselves. Instead of going along with the Murphy plan that would have saved the taxpayers money he comes up with his own plan which costs the taxpayers money. If he was truly about the taxpayer he would have put politics aside and endorsed the Murphy plan. The hospital money is one of the counties biggest assets this money needs to be used for the taxpayers. We have access to the interest lets use it for the counties best interest.
REASON 2
Bucko is currently on the council his term is not up and I think that he should fulfill his term commitment before running for another office.
REASON 3
He has not embraced the samller government idea. He has never said that he was for the Shepard Kernan report so we do not know where he stands on less government.
I totally understand your concerns, and join you in calling for Mike Bucko, Bob Harper, Dan Whitten to fully endorse the Kernan Shephard commission report.
As for filling the remainder of the term, wouldn't that be hypocritcal since we all supported Mayor Costas' run for AG, after only recently being elected to mayor?
Although we supported the Murphy Plan, feeling it was better for local governments in Porter County, the Bucko Plan would have been better than total inaction which is where things ended up.
My reason for him fulfilling his term on the council is purely selfish on my part I think the county is such a mess that he should stay and help clean up what is wrong.
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