04182014 - News Article - Lake Station Council grilled about mayor ’s charges

Lake Station Council grilled about mayor ’s charges 
Post-Tribune (IN)
April 18, 2014
LAKE STATION — Residents and a small army of local and Chicago media packed Thursday’s city council meeting, one day after Mayor Keith Soderquist , his wife and her daughter were indicted by a federal grand jury. 

Soderquist and his wife, Deborah, face various charges for misusing campaign funds and city food pantry money for gambling and other personal uses, not filing federal income tax returns for three years and conspiring to cover up Miranda Brakley’s theft of bond money from the city court, according to two separate indictments. 

Soderquist did not attend the council meeting, but the council broke from its normal routine, amending the agenda to allow public comment. The council usually opens the floor to comments only at the first meeting of the month. 

The speakers voiced frustration, confusion and, for some, an unwillingness to believe that council members were blindsided by the charges. 

After Councilman Todd Rogers admonished the crowd to “keep it civil,” several councilmen said they were saddened by the news but did not know about the allegations prior to Wednesday’s announcement by the U.S. attorney’s office in Hammond. 

“We have questions also,” Councilman At-Large Garry Szostek said. “We’d like to get them answered.” 

Councilman John McDaniel, a police lieutenant and strong Soderquist supporter, said after the meeting that he was shocked by the indictments but “figured something would happen” in light of reports in recent months that the mayor was under federal investigation. 

Kim Frizzell, city court clerk and a vocal critic of Soderquist and most of the council, said the council members should not have been surprised by the indictments because she has sent them dozens of emails, warning of improprieties in the mayor ’s office for a year. 

Frizzell, who formerly worked in the police department, said she has been collecting for several years documents demonstrating problems with the court money that Brakley is accused of stealing. 

“This (indictment) probably would not have happened this way if (the council) had acted,” Frizzell said “Their obligation to the people was to ask questions.” 

One resident, Jim Esteph, simply asked, “What are you guys going to do to restore the public trust?” 

“Nobody can tell me you didn’t know there was something wrong going on in this city,” said Vic Vargas, who worked for the city’s emergency medical services for 45 years before losing his job when the city privatized ambulance service last month. “If you didn’t know, you’re like ostriches with your heads in the sand.” 

Amelia Lara, a resident who works for the Portage Township food pantry, offered to help in “restoring faith in the (city) food pantry,” but after the meeting she blasted Soderquist . 

“( Soderquist ’s) guilty in the eyes of the people whose food he took out of their mouths,” Lara said. “He stole money from people, from children, who were hungry.” 

Outside of the council chambers, some residents cautioned to let the legal system run its course. 

“I thought maybe ( Soderquist ) would come and explain why he ripped us off,” Ashley Latta said. “If he would’ve showed up tonight to prove he’s not guilty, I would’ve believed him.”