05222014 - News Article - Soderquist returns to council meeting

Soderquist returns to council meeting
NWI Times
May 22, 2014 - 9:40 pm
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/lake-station/soderquist-returns-to-council-meeting/article_b76a92e6-7555-5112-9c82-5dabbb7ecf18.html

LAKE STATION | For the first time since pleading not guilty to multiple corruption charges in April, Mayor Keith Soderquist returned to chair the City Council meeting Thursday.

When asked after the meeting by a Times reporter, the mayor had no comment about the charges against him, his wife, Deborah, and stepdaughter Miranda Brakley. The trio pleaded not guilty to a total of 15 criminal charges in Hammond federal court.

Soderquist and the mayor's wife are alleged to have stolen food pantry and campaign funds, and gambled away some of the proceeds while reporting the allegedly stolen cash as income on their tax returns.

Councilman Rick Long, at the end of the meeting, told a Times reporter the mayor will have his day in court and will have to regain the public’s trust.

Only about 10 residents appeared at the meeting, which was not open to general comments, only what was on the agenda. The next meeting open for general comments from the public is June 5.

In other news, Councilman Harry Pedroza expressed interest in creating an ordinance banning saggy pants. Cities and towns across the country have recently been passing ordinances banning overly sagging pants.