01072011 - News Article - Verdict out on Gary mayor's first-term accomplishments

Verdict out on Gary mayor's first-term accomplishments 

Post-Tribune (IN)
January 7, 2011 

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GARY -- When the mayor of Gary abruptly resigned in 2006, Rudy Clay had the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream. He campaigned and won the right to succeed Scott King. 

His prize was stewardship of a city starved for economic development, derided for decades as the country's "murder capital." Northwest Indiana's largest city was also spiraling into a deep financial crisis. 

His administration's cost-cutting measures earn little praise from constituents, who more often accuse it of corruption and ineffectiveness. 

Clay wants four more years of this. 

He confirmed Thursday he'll run for a second full term. He has never hinted he'd do otherwise, despite recent rumors. But at least five competitors are lined up against him, including attorney Karen Freeman-Wilson and City Council member Ragen Hatcher. 

Candidates have until Feb. 18 to file with the county. For now, here's a look at the Clay administration so far. 

Feds check in 

What ended Houston's tenure as chief was his indictment, along with two other officers, of violating the civil rights of suspects. Houston was convicted in 2008 after he admitted kicking a suspect. The other defendants were acquitted. Houston died late last year. 

His was the first federal indictment to touch Clay's City Hall, but it wasn't the last. Community Development Director Jacquelyn Drago - Hunter is charged with fraud in an indictment unsealed in October. Drago - Hunter is responsible for handling millions of dollars in federal stimulus dollars, and Clay refuses to suspend her. Her indictment doesn't involve her duties as community development director, though. 

It's not clear if the investigation that snagged Drago - Hunter is over, though. And there are others. Federal agents have delivered subpoenas to Gary City Hall seeking information about former attempts to renovate the Dalton Arms apartment building. The records they're seeking predate the current effort to fix the building. 

The feds have also taken a long, close look at the Gary Sanitary District, recently indicting former operator United Water and two of its employees. GSD officials say they weren't targeted in the probe.