McDermott wants Pabey to step down

from his role as a party leader in East Chicago: (via The NWI Times)

McDermott said Tuesday, "This is not about whether he is a good chairman, this has nothing to do about his job as mayor, this is about him having bigger things to worry about.

"Over the weekend, we were researching party rules to see if I had direct authority to remove a sitting chairman. I do not. But unless he voluntarily steps down, which is what we are asking, one third of the city's 36 precinct committeemen have to sign a petition calling for a hearing. We then have a hearing, and then two thirds of the organization has to vote to remove him," he said.

McDermott said that even if the current precinct organization stands behind Pabey, the E.C. mayor must face possible removal after the May 4 primary when a new slate of precinct committeemen is elected by the voters.

"If Pabey doesn't step aside by May, I will call for an election. I don't know if (Pabey) can make it through that."

If Pabey does step down temporarily, McDermott said he would run this city's organization in Pabey's absence. "I will fill vacancies and work with people to run fairly. If he clears his name, we will give it back to him a day later," McDermott said.