Lake Station dealing with 'overwhelming' situation
NWI Times
September 17, 2015 - 9:30 pm
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/lake-station-dealing-with-overwhelming-situation/article_9e582d9f-9613-5bfc-b0fb-5c5778be7ec1.html
LAKE STATION | The recent conviction of former Mayor Keith Soderquist and his wife has tarnished Lake Station’s reputation, but city leaders see a brighter future ahead of them.
During Thursday’s City Council meeting, city officials offered residents words of encouragement and urged more involvement in the community.
“The cloud is kind of breaking up over our city,” Councilman Rick Long said, “With time, it will be gone.”
City Council President John McDaniel is currently handling the mayor’s duties.
McDaniel, who also serves as the Police Department’s assistant chief, said the situation is “overwhelming,” but he is receiving help along the way.
Long said he other councilmen are trying to “pitch in and help as much as we can.”
McDaniel said the conviction of the Soderquists has created a “black eye” on the city.
“We have to move forward,” he said.
McDaniel said he and other city leaders now are trying to reestablish trust at City Hall.
“We’ll be accountable for you,” he told residents.
McDaniel and Long each asked residents to continue to attend council meetings and become more involved in the city.
McDaniel will continue to be responsible for the mayor's duties until the Democratic Party holds a caucus to select someone to finish Soderquist’s term. McDaniel said the caucus is expected to occur at the end of the month, but he isn’t aware of anyone who has filed to fulfill the remainder of the term, which finishes at the end of the year.
If resident Joseph Castellanos has his way, McDaniel will be the person to do that.
Castellanos, who won the Democratic nomination for the city’s clerk-treasurer post in the May primary, told McDaniel he supports him “100 percent.”
“I hope you stay until the end of the year,” Castellanos said.
A U.S. District Court jury convicted Soderquist and his wife of conspiracy, wire fraud and filing false income tax returns on evidence they improperly withdrew money contributed to his political campaign and a city food pantry and gambled at area casinos, losing more than $100,000.
They claimed they only lost their personal funds. Their attorney plans to appeal the conviction.
NWI Times
September 17, 2015 - 9:30 pm
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/lake-station-dealing-with-overwhelming-situation/article_9e582d9f-9613-5bfc-b0fb-5c5778be7ec1.html
LAKE STATION | The recent conviction of former Mayor Keith Soderquist and his wife has tarnished Lake Station’s reputation, but city leaders see a brighter future ahead of them.
During Thursday’s City Council meeting, city officials offered residents words of encouragement and urged more involvement in the community.
“The cloud is kind of breaking up over our city,” Councilman Rick Long said, “With time, it will be gone.”
City Council President John McDaniel is currently handling the mayor’s duties.
McDaniel, who also serves as the Police Department’s assistant chief, said the situation is “overwhelming,” but he is receiving help along the way.
Long said he other councilmen are trying to “pitch in and help as much as we can.”
McDaniel said the conviction of the Soderquists has created a “black eye” on the city.
“We have to move forward,” he said.
McDaniel said he and other city leaders now are trying to reestablish trust at City Hall.
“We’ll be accountable for you,” he told residents.
McDaniel and Long each asked residents to continue to attend council meetings and become more involved in the city.
McDaniel will continue to be responsible for the mayor's duties until the Democratic Party holds a caucus to select someone to finish Soderquist’s term. McDaniel said the caucus is expected to occur at the end of the month, but he isn’t aware of anyone who has filed to fulfill the remainder of the term, which finishes at the end of the year.
If resident Joseph Castellanos has his way, McDaniel will be the person to do that.
Castellanos, who won the Democratic nomination for the city’s clerk-treasurer post in the May primary, told McDaniel he supports him “100 percent.”
“I hope you stay until the end of the year,” Castellanos said.
A U.S. District Court jury convicted Soderquist and his wife of conspiracy, wire fraud and filing false income tax returns on evidence they improperly withdrew money contributed to his political campaign and a city food pantry and gambled at area casinos, losing more than $100,000.
They claimed they only lost their personal funds. Their attorney plans to appeal the conviction.
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