HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-R-22 RESOLUTION NO. 2011-R- av
A RESOLUTION OF THE 3EFFERSONVILLE COMMON COUNCIL TO
AUTHORIZING COMMUNICATION OF THE INTENT OF THE
CONLMON COUNCIL TO CEASE FUNDING ONE SOU'T'HERN INDIANA
WHT:REAS, the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana previously expressed concern regarding
the electioneering activities of One Southern Indiana, an organization that receives public
funding authorized by the Common Council for the City of Jeffersonville; and
WIILRLAS, One Southern Indiana has continued to engage in campaign activities, and
has expanded those activities to include the endorsement of candidates for local office;
and
WHEREAS, the Common Council for the City of Jeffersonville, as a body, believes that
authorizing public funding for an organization that has expressed an intent to influence
the election of local officials creates an unresolvable conflict of interest, as holders of and
candidates for the office of Member of the Council have an incentive to authorize or
pledge to authorize such funding in exchange for electoral support; and
WIIEREAS, the correspondence prepared by counsel, and attached hereto, summarizes
the Council's position on this issue;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of
Jeffersonville, Indiana, that the communication attached hereto to the Officers and agents
of One Southern Indiana is authorized to be transmitted to those Officers and agents..
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Passed and adopted this tr day of c��r ptnlr,,y.�� , 2011.
/I ATTEST:
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_Tho R. mas al t : Pegg
Presiding Officer Clerk- Treasurer
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P sensed by e as Cler and Treasurer to the Mayor of said City of Jeffersonville this
day of , 2011.
a 3 0:1 211224)— Pegg er
Clerk - Treasurer
Approved d signed by me this ILI day of 4.1.,10t&t7 , 2011.
Thomas R. Galligan, :�
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1/ September 13, 2011
Vaughan Scott, Chairman Pamela Bennett - Martin, Chair -Elect
WEBER HARBISON, Li, Tonva Fischer, Vice President Investor & Goverment Relations
Mickey K Weber One Southern Indiana.
Laura A. Harbison* 4100 Charlestown Road
C. Frazier Sarterly
Attorneys at Law New Albany, IN 47150
Re: Campaign Endorsements and/or Contributions
538 East Court Avenue Dear Mr. Scott, Ms. Bennett- Martin, & Ms. Fischer,
Jefersonvi0e, IN 47130
(812) 280.7700
FAX (812) 280.7707 My client, the Common Council for the City ofJeffersonville, has authorized me
by resolution to deliver this correspondence to you, as representatives of One
141 L Spring Street Southem Indiana Chamber & Economic Development.
New Albany, IN 47150
(812) 949 -I659 While the Council certainly has no objection to individuals and organizations
FAX (812) 949-2780
participating fully in the political process, the Council has previously expressed
reservations about providing public funding to an organization that is engaged in
electioneering.
Despite being made aware of these reservations, your organization has
commenced the practice of endorsing specific candidates. More recently, One
Southern Indiana has gone so far as to endorse specific candidates for certain
local offices. It seems only a matter of time before your organization begins
endorsing candidates for those elected positions that have, in the past, been
responsible for voting upon the government funding that One Southern Indiana
receives from the City of Jeffersonville. -
The Council has resolved that it is inappropriate for the membership of the
council to continue to take legislative action to publicly fund your organization.
As One Southern Indiana appears poised to influence the election of members of
the Council, both current members and potential candidates might otherwise
appear to have a personal interest in supporting such funding in return for
electoral support.
For that reason, the Council has authorized me to communicate that the Council
does not intend to authorize further public funding of your organization, so long
as your organization continues to endorse or otherwise support spceific
candidates for local office.
1f you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. I
look forward to hearing from you.
Yours truly,
Mickey K. Weber
'Licensed in Indiana 8e Kenrudqr