Resurrection of probe is good news
The issue: Absentee ballots
Our opinion: Letting the investigation die would leave too many questions unanswered. Those questions need to be answered if the political culture here is to change for the better
NWI Times
Feb 17, 2004
nwitimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/resurrection-of-probe-is-good-news/article_84480b32-2d8d-59d6-8c47-0be7d28c2b97.html
After lying dormant for so long most people forgot about it, an investigation into vote fraud in the 1999 East Chicago Democratic primary is alive again. The special prosecutor on the case is looking into four-year-old allegations that campaign workers bought votes and forged signatures on absentee ballots.
This is an important development, coming less than three months before the statute of limitations runs out. More to the point, it could shed more light on how votes are cast and winners declared in Lake County, where questionable political practices are accepted as a matter of routine. Hopefully, it could show whether there is a clear pattern of abuse of the absentee ballot system. If so, indictments would send a clear message to political operatives here that these kinds of abuses will no longer be tolerated.
As Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita put it, "It isn't enough to address half that corruption."
He was referring to the fact that a special grand jury has been looking into allegations of vote fraud in last year's East Chicago and Schererville primaries. Last week, in fact, that grand jury indicted Robert "Bosko" Grkinich of Schererville on charges he corrupted voters and violated absentee ballot laws to favor Schererville Town Judge Deborah Riga. She won the election, but a recount trial threw out enough absentee ballots to give the bench to Kenneth Anderson.
Rokita had been pressing for the 1999 case to be reopened. He was correct to do so.
Letting the investigation die would leave too many questions unanswered. Those questions need to be answered and addressed if the political culture here is to change for the better.
Judge's ally accused of rigging race
POLITICS: S'ville committeeman allegedly coerced voters in Democratic primary
NWI Times
Feb 14, 2004
nwitimes.com/news/local/judge-s-ally-accused-of-rigging-race/article_7a613694-3ffa-5ba7-b1c3-062df691a954.html
CROWN POINT -- A Democratic precinct committeeman has to answer charges he corrupted voters and violated absentee ballot laws to tip an election for a political ally.
A special Lake County grand jury issued a 20-count indictment Friday against Robert "Bosko" Grkinich.
The 48-year-old Schererville resident surrendered Friday afternoon at the Lake County Jail. He was freed on bond pending an initial hearing next week on charges that carry a maximum penalty of 60 years in prison.
He is charged with causing a dozen Schererville residents to violate state election laws forbidding them to vote outside their home precinct, applying for absentee ballots in the name of other voters and voting in the name of other voters.
He also is charged with delivering, examining and posting their filled-in ballots and attempting to get a voter to lie under oath to cover up his activities.
The indictment disappointed some critics who wanted the highest circles of the Democratic Party indicted for making a mockery of last year's municipal elections.
Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter and Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter told a news conference Friday morning they are looking for evidence to charge others.
"We have learned many issues that need to be pursued arising from the grand jury's diligent investigative work," Steve Carter said. "Those matters will continue to be pursued both by the task force prosecutor Carter and I are involved with and also through our cooperative work with the U.S. attorney office."
Bernard Carter added: "It certainly does not close out the Schererville election phase at all. There is a lot more work to be done in that area."
The indictment is the result of a six-month grand jury probe that followed on the heels of last year's recount lawsuit, in which lawyers for Schererville Town Judge Kenneth Anderson proved the May 6 primary was stolen from him by absentee ballots. The ballots were linked to Grkinich's efforts to get out the vote for former Schererville Judge Deborah Riga.
The Carters refused comment on whether there were links between Grkinich's alleged crimes, Riga or East Chicago politicians with whom Grkinich is rumored to have ties.
Grkinich is represented by veteran defense lawyers Kevin Milner, of Dyer, and Thomas Mullins, of Merrillville.
"Tom and I are looking forward to presenting a vigorous defense on behalf of Bosko and are confident when all the facts come out that we demonstrate that Bosko did nothing wrong," Milner said.
Riga won last year's primary by 11 votes, but her nomination was reversed last year by a recount judge. The judge declared Anderson the winner after disqualifying 23 absentee ballots for Riga cast in Schererville Precinct 10, an area heavily populated by ethnic Serbians where Grkinich is Democratic committeeman.
Grkinich, raised in East Chicago, is a registered nurse and businessman, who ran unsuccessfully in 2000 for county coroner. He was beaten by David Pastrick, a son of East Chicago Mayor Robert Pastrick.
Grkinich ran two years ago for St. John Township assessor and lost to Republican Hank Adams. He was considered at the time a rising star in the party for the enthusiasm he brought to campaigning and his attempts to get younger people involved.
An investigation into his campaigning last year paints the picture of a man taking advantage of elderly and naive voters he met at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church.
"You have a very active participant working to subvert the laws and election processes, who has knowledge of how to do that and who intends to defraud the voters out of a fair election process," Steve Carter said.
Bernard Carter said the grand jury heard testimony from more than 30 witnesses before issuing the indictment that revolves around absentee ballots cast by 12 people.
State law forbids anyone but the voter, their immediate or authorized voter registration workers to handle ballots to ensure votes are not influenced or cast in others' names.
The indictment alleges Grkinich broke those laws causing the false application, delivery, receipt or voting of ballots involving Danica Vukovic, Djuro Balac, Jovanka Lakic, Djorg Jovanovic, Ilija Kalinic, Jovanka Blesich, Jovo Blesich, Nedeljko Duvnjak, Dragana Duvnjak, Ranko Markos, Milan Markos and Milica Markos.
It alleges Grkinich induced Blesich to cast a ballot although she was ineligible to vote because she lived a half mile outside the town of Schererville. The other 11 lived in Schererville.
Grkinich also is charged with attempting to persuade Duvnjak to falsely testify in last year's recount trial that she mailed her own ballot.
Schererville precinct committeeman indicted in vote fraud probe
NWI Times
Feb 13, 2004
nwitimes.com/news/local/schererville-precinct-committeeman-indicted-in-vote-fraud-probe/article_4cbe3a62-4e89-50d7-98fb-7aea88f09025.html
CROWN POINT -- A special Lake County grand jury issued a 20-count indictment today against a Schererville precinct committeeman accused of vote fraud in last year's Democratic primary.
Robert "Bosko" Grkinich, 48, faces 60 years in prison if convicted of illegally handling absentee ballots and assisting voters in casting them in the May 6, 2003, primary in an attempt to help Schererville Town Judge Deborah Riga win another term in office. Riga was cast off the ballot last year after a recount declared her winning margin invalid because of voting fraud.
The former judge hasn't been charged, but Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter and Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter said today their investigation isn't over and a new grand jury could issue more indictments over the Schererville election.
Vote fraud indictments expected today
NWI Times
Feb 13, 2004
nwitimes.com/news/state-and-regional/vote-fraud-indictments-expected-today/article_7deb28fa-1b97-5d2e-9385-f7285b7f5e6e.html
CROWN POINT -- State and local law enforcement officials expect to unveil one or more major indictments today involving vote fraud and public corruption.
Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter and Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter scheduled a press conference for this morning "pertaining to the special grand jury investigation."
The Carters publicly predicted last month that the special grand jury would issue indictments before its term of office ends this month. A source close to the investigation said the two would announce more significant charges than last November's indictment of an elderly Hobart Township couple for voting outside their home precinct.
The Carters empaneled seven grand jury members last August in the wake of allegations East Chicago Mayor Robert Pastrick and Schererville Town Judge Deborah Riga won Democratic primaries last spring with the help of suspect absentee ballots.
The Carters also assembled a task force of 13 investigators from both of the offices and state police. Dozens of witnesses have testified the past six months.
Bernard Carter said last summer he had a target list exceeding 100 names. There were expectations the local grand jury would immediately issue blanket indictments last year in both East Chicago and Schererville. However, the Carters said last month the investigation would take as long as necessary to be completely thorough.
Nancy Fromm: Let me explain what my company did for township
Letter to the Editor
NWI Times
February 08, 2004
nwitimes.com/news/opinion/mailbag/let-me-explain-what-my-company-did-for-township/article_c07547f1-d88c-5850-ad5b-333d9a7769bb.html
I feel compelled to defend my company and my employees. The recent publicity reflects on my staff, and they are hurt by it.
We have worked with the North Township trustee's office through an employee assistance contract for several years now. A degreed, licensed therapist presented programs designed to help the participants improve their working relationships with each other and with the clients they service.
These programs included alcohol and drug abuse in the workplace, conflict resolution and diversity in the workplace, taught the township employees to respect and value each other and their clients. Group sessions also dealt with employer-employee relations and stress relief techniques, which brought about the massage therapist. She was paid by me personally because she treated my employees as well as township employees who wanted to participate. It was an optional, 15-minute upper body chair massage with the participant fully clothed.
Successful companies are using massage therapy in the workplace to increase satisfaction and productivity.
Frank Mrvan, advisory board member, told me he simply wanted our program to be voluntary because that was what the employees wanted. Trustee Greg Cvitkovich felt all employees needed to be involved in the program. That kind of participation would evolve into better work practices and benefit the public whom they serve.
We are professionals and care a great deal about the people we treat.
Nancy Fromm
Hammond
North Township probe reveals political ties
Nancy Fromm's counseling agency receives most referrals; Robert Cantrell works for her and Trustee Greg Cvitkovich
NWI Times
Feb 8, 2004
nwitimes.com/news/local/north-township-probe-reveals-political-ties/article_9621fe6c-b688-50e4-b440-0f3af8aa4363.html
HAMMOND -- She has devoted the last five years to counseling thousands of Lake County's alcohol and drug offenders.
At the same time, Nancy Fromm has used political acumen to build her Addiction and Family Care agency in Hessville into a flourishing enterprise.
It has outcompeted other mental health agencies with greater resources to win more than $400,000 in business from local government officials who she, in turn, has rewarded with financial and political support for their re-elections.
Recently, Indiana State Police began asking questions about Fromm's $30,000 contract with North Township Trustee Greg Cvitkovich to provide his employees with mandated stress-management training.
Fromm said she spoke Thursday with Lt. Mark Day, a state police investigator working for a special task force investigating public corruption. He was one of two officers who visited with North Township employees.
"He told me they aren't investigating our business," Fromm said.
Day declined to comment on what he called an ongoing investigation.
A source close to the investigation said inquiries about Addiction and Family Care's contract with North Township weren't directed at Fromm's business, but there now is interest in her political contributions.
Fromm and Robert "Bobby" Cantrell, her politically connected consultant, said their business' reputation has become unfairly embroiled in rumors that state and federal investigators are after them.
"There is no investigation," Cantrell, who also is an administrative aide to Cvitkovich, said last week. "(State police) came and looked at that contract. The contract is legal, and they walked out and there is nothing to that."
Campaign chests
Lake County elections board records indicate Fromm and Addiction and Family Care have put $13,000 during the last six years into the political war chests of the following judges -- former Schererville Town Judge Deborah Riga; Hammond City Judge Jeffrey Harkin; former Hammond City Judge Thomas Stefaniak; Gary City Judge Deidre Monroe; County Sheriff Roy Dominguez; and Superior Court, County Division Judge Julie Cantrell in Crown Point, who is Robert Cantrell's daughter.
Each official has referred business to Addiction and Family Care, including hundreds of minor drug and alcohol offenders who go through local courts each year.
"You certainly aren't suggesting that people who get DUIs shouldn't get counseling, are you?" asked Julie Cantrell.
Fromm said she does not make contributions to get business. "I usually have the business before I buy tickets," Fromm said.
"Despite any political leverage we have, we know the judges would not continue to send us business if we didn't constantly monitor our clients and report to the courts, have a facility license and provide the best counseling possible by licensed therapists."
Fromm is a Democratic precinct committeewoman in Hammond and the daughter of John Mahoney, former state lawmaker and Hammond police chief, and Donnabelle Mahoney, who completed her husband's term in office after his death and later worked as personnel director for the city of Hammond.
Fromm also has helped with several campaigns, she said, among them, the election of Julie Cantrell and Lake Station City Judge Kristina Kantar.
"I grew up in politics. It's like a second skin to me, but it's not feeling too comfortable at the moment," Fromm said.
Rising to Fromm's defense
Robert Cantrell defended Fromm's contributions as part of a political culture where almost all government vendors make political contributions.
He is a long-time East Chicago political operative who resigned as that city's Republican chairman last year amid allegations he helped elect Democrat Thomas McDermott Jr. as mayor of Hammond. McDermott was a partner in a law firm operated by Cantrell's son, John.
"People send you tickets automatically," Cantrell said. "I'm a politico, and I want to be involved. I want to have the ability to call the guy back and say, 'Hey I need a favor.' "
Sources said state police asked questions about money Robert Cantrell may have made for referring Fromm's agency to judges.
Cantrell, who said he is not a business partner in Addiction and Family Care, refused to say how much Fromm pays him. "It isn't a fortune," he said.
One source with close ties to Lake County judges reported hearing that Robert Cantrell was being paid $25 per head for every person referred to Fromm.
"I don't care if he's getting a dollar or a thousand dollars," the source said. "It smacks of a judicial code-of-conduct violation -- a misuse of power."
Fromm said she pays Robert Cantrell a commission on the amount of business an individual judge brings in. Though she would not say how much she paid Cantrell, Fromm offered examples of what her agency charges individuals referred to her agency by the court, including the following:
* Eight-person group session, recommended for a person who is abusing drugs including alcohol, but not considered dependent on it, $400.
* Education sessions, recommended for social users who had a charge of intoxicated driving reduced to reckless driving (as a first offense) and had a low recording on a breath test, $250.
* Group sessions for individuals charged with such crimes as domestic violence, battery or resisting law enforcement, $300 to $700, depending on the number of sessions and degree of counseling.
Nancy Plesha, an office manager for Fromm's agency who has been with the center since it opened eight years ago, said it's unfair to describe her boss as political hustler for business, because she's always been involved in politics.
"I'm not political. I stay out of it, and Nancy respects me for that. She's never asked me to put a sign in front of my house, or buy a political fund-raiser ticket," Plesha said.
The numbers show
A survey of contracts with county officials shows Fromm has an $84,000 contract with the sheriff's office to provide substance abuse counseling for the more than 100 inmates in the Lake County Work-Release Center.
"She does a good job for us," Dominguez said. Campaign finance reports indicate Fromm donated $1,250 to Dominguez in 2002 and 2003.
Superior Court, County Division Judges Julie Cantrell and Jesse Villalpando, who presides in Hammond's county courthouse, said they send offenders to Fromm as well as other counseling providers. Fromm said she received 231 offenders from Julie Cantrell's court in 2002.
Villalpando, who said he did not know how many offenders he sends to Fromm's agency, said offenders also are referred to Addiction Behavioral Counseling and Fresh Start, two other agencies.
"We have no vested interest in any of them," Villalpando said. "I prefer having three (agencies) instead of one, so I can't be accused of falling under that kind of political influence. I'm not locking anybody out."
Harkin said he sent 442 offenders to Addiction and Family Services last year. Fromm said she received 202 offenders from him the previous year.
Records show Harkin has collected $5,500 in campaign contributions from Fromm's firm, but the judge said he wasn't influenced by that, or by Cantrell, to use Addiction and Family Care. This referral procedure was set up by then-city judge Thomas Stefaniak Jr., Harkin said.
"I really had no reason to revisit whether it should be changed. I wasn't even aware that Cantrell had anything to do with it until a year later," Harkin said.
"I'm not going to send someone from Hammond to Crown Point or Edgewater in Gary or something in Merrillville. It is important for a Hammond City Court to support Hammond business."
Stefaniak, now a criminal court judge, said he sent substance abusers to a number of agencies, including Fromm's.
He said judges running for re-election are forbidden to solicit campaign donations, but people are free to donate money to them. He said that money is handled by the judge's campaign workers, and the judge wouldn't know about the contributions without reading the public campaign finance reports the staff must file with the elections board.
The competition
Addiction and Family Services competes for drug and alcohol offenders with LADOS, founded in 1982 by Superior Court, County Division judges. LADOS counseled approximately 1,000 people last year with a budget of $292,000.
Another competitor is Addiction Behavioral Counseling of Merrillville, founded in 1999 by Wayne Isailovich, a Democrat who ran unsuccessfully last year for Crown Point mayor. He said more than 200 offenders were referred to him. He declined to comment on his revenues.
A review did not show political campaign contributions from LADOS or Isailovich's agency.
Schererville Town Judge Kenneth Anderson said his predecessor, Riga, sent approximately 160 offenders to Addiction and Family Care last year. Fromm said she received 104 clients from the Schererville court in 2002.
Anderson said he intends to give offenders a choice of several programs, but praised Fromm. "The information I have is that Nancy Fromm runs the best program," he said.
Lowell Town Judge Thomas Vanes said he is wary about insisting offenders attend a particular program.
"I think people are more likely to take it seriously if they have a choice in the matter as opposed to having a program force fed them," Vanes said.
"I just don't want to be seen as being in bed with any particular agency. There have been all sorts of rumors swirling around for 20 years about these agencies. This is Lake County, and some of these programs designed to fight social problems are treated as cash crops for insiders."
Robert Cantrell said the people who come to Fromm from the courts pay their own fees. "That's not taxpayer money," he said.
Fromm said she collects less than half the fees she charges the court-referrals because they plead poverty. Some clients even work off their fee, she said, by cleaning the agency office or its surroundings.
"She could turn them away. But she says she won't turn them away. They need help," Cantrell said. "Nancy has been successful not only because she is political and people know her, but she's very competent. Because she's my friend, that makes her bad (in the eyes of) my political enemies."
He said when all of the dust settles from the state and federal investigations, he will still be left standing.
"I haven't done anything wrong. They try to nail me in Schererville, Hammond, East Chicago, everywhere. My political enemies want me out the loop and knocked out of politics. I've never been indicted. I've never been called to a grand jury," Cantrell said.
Town Court to reopen in March
SCHERERVILLE: Task force investigating corruption returns three computers seized last month
NWI Times
Feb 5, 2004
nwitimes.com/news/local/town-court-to-reopen-in-march/article_9d97942a-707a-587a-ad2d-a9a522d616ec.html
SCHERERVILLE -- A special task force investigating corruption in Lake County has returned three of seven computers taken from the Schererville Town Court.
The computers, along with the office's financial records, were removed hours after Highland attorney Kenneth Anderson was sworn in last month.
Anderson was instructed to close the court for eight weeks while the investigation continued, and to restructure the administrative and financial operation of the town court. That's the first time a court has ever been closed in Lake County.
Anderson said Wednesday the first court date will be March 2, and on Tuesdays thereafter.
"We're up and running with three computers," he said. "We've also had a chance to go see the Hobart Court (which was pointed out as a model) and we intend to go look at the Lowell Town Court. We still have a few glitches to work out but we do have our database back."
While Anderson has some computers, he doesn't know when, if ever, he will get the financial records back.
"I'm trying to get access to them now to prepare reports," he said. "We're trying to make everything as smooth as possible and get it up and running and have a good program."
The special task force is looking at voter fraud issues in Schererville, and the operation of the town court under former Judge Deborah Riga. The grand jury has heard testimony regarding the issue, but has not yet returned any indictments.
Anderson was declared the winner in the judge's race after a recount judge disqualified absentee votes for Riga.
