Local politicians react to federal corruption indictments of Lake, Porter officials
Post-Tribune
November 19, 2016 - 4:53PM
Following a series of corruption indictments against elected leaders in Lake and Porter counties, other officials decried the situation but called for unity moving forward.
U.S. Attorney David Capp Friday announced indictments against Lake County Sheriff John Buncich, Timothy Downs, the sheriff's second-in-command; Portage Mayor James Snyder, William Szarmach of Chase Street Auto in Lake Station and John Cortina of Kustom Auto in Portage.
While the investigations in Lake and Porter counties were separate, both involved allegedly soliciting and accepting money from tow company operators. Buncich, Downs and Szarmach are named in multicount indictments alleging deprivation of honest services and receipt of illegal money.
Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., a Democrat, said the situation is disappointing and makes the entire party look bad. Buncich is chairman of the Lake County Democratic Party.
"I feel bad for everybody involved, including the residents. It's bad for the residents. It's bad for the sheriff. It's bad for Mayor Snyder," McDermott said.
Disbelief and disappointment
Lake County politicians on Friday were reacting with stunned disbelief and disappointment as news of political corruption charges against the county's top cop and Democratic Party leader made the rounds.
McDermott said he is unsure what the sheriff plans to do regarding his role as chair of the Lake County's Democratic Central Committee, the post held by McDermott until he resigned. But, he said he thought Buncich should step down. McDermott was replaced by Buncich.
McDermott said the party has an already scheduled reorganization meeting in March when the election for the party's chairman takes place. If Buncich does step down, he would like to see vice chair Peggy Katona fill the slot until March when a new election can take place.
"Hopefully John does what's right for the party," McDermott said.
Jim Wieser, election board attorney and former officeholder, said while there are mechanisms in place in the state party's bylaws to remove a party official from a position before a conviction, any speculation on whether that may happen is premature. Buncich will have the option to resign from his post as party chair.
Wieser agreed with McDermott that given the timing of the holidays and the fact the reorganization meeting is in March, if Buncich does step down it may make sense to wait until March to elect a new leader.
Commissioner Michael Repay, D-Hammond, said he is not asking the sheriff to step down from either of his posts, but if he does step down from the party chairmanship, Repay said he would like to see a replacement selected before March.
"I'm not asking for him to step down. He has rights as an accused person. He has a right to defend himself any way he can," Repay said.
Whoever is in charge of Lake's Democratic Party has their work cut out for them in the wake of the Nov. 8 general election, and the charges against Buncich will only make it more difficult.
"The next county chair will have a lot of work to do rebuilding the reputation of the party. The next chairman would have had a lot of work. This just makes it all the more difficult. In my opinion, we should start fresh sooner rather than later," Repay said.
Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson said she is hopeful the county's Democrats can move forward as a party and as elected officials.
"It's just very unfortunate. It certainly requires us to regroup," Freeman-Wilson said. "We always know people are quick to point to Lake County as corrupt, as being a certain way. It is important in a time like this to be unified. I think we have to be focused collectively on rebuilding the party, repairing any negative damage that people may have inflicted and let folks understand that this is about individuals, not about an entire party."
City to move forward in wake of charges
Portage city officials on Friday were quick to assure citizens they had strong leadership in place, even as Snyder was indicted on federal bribery accusations and charges he tried to dodge paying payroll taxes to the IRS.
"We have a great city, and we're going to continue to move forward," City Council President Mark Oprisko said. "It's a sad day for me, and I'm beside myself. In 28 years on the council, I've never dealt with anything like this, but the mayor has a very good staff, and he does care about the citizens of Portage.
"(Snyder) needs to keep his head up and keep leading."
Snyder has declined to comment on the indictment or the 2 1/2 -year investigation leading up to the charges, but Oprisko said the mayor told him he would not be charged.
The investigation is one reason Oprisko said he blocked $93,000 in payments of legal fees to law firms that did work on Snyder's behalf during the investigation.
That determination to prevent the payments until there was more information on the legal fees is one example of Portage's leadership and another reason citizens can turn to city officials, Clerk-Treasurer Chris Stidham said.
"We have eight other elected officials who are leaders," Stidham said. "Portage can rest assured the city is in good hands, even with this cloud hanging over the mayor."
Portage Township Trustee Brendan Clancy, a Democrat who ran against Snyder in last year's municipal election, called for community unity in the wake of the charges.
"The mayor's innocent until proven guilty," Clancy said. "We have to let the judicial process take its course. No matter what happens, we have to come together as a city."
Snyder's indictment came after federal officials made multiple trips to Porter County government offices, as well as investigating the Portage mayor, who is a Republican.
Mike Simpson, chair of the county's Republican Party, said he was "shocked" because he's known Snyder for a long time, and "I have a great deal of respect for him."
Whether Snyder, who was re-elected to a second term as mayor last year, should step aside to focus on his legal issues remains to be seen, he said.
"It's way too early to suggest or consider something like that," Simpson said. "Any citizen, no matter their political persuasion, is innocent until proven guilty."
The county's Republican party can resolve the matter once Snyder's case has made its way through the court system, Simpson said.
"What James chooses to do, as the officer, is up to him" Simpson said. "This is extremely disconcerting no matter what, but I also believe everybody, including Buncich, deserves their day in court."
Carrie Napoleon and Michael Gonzalez are freelance reporters for the Post-Tribune. Staff reporter Craig Lyons contributed.
