04212011 - News Article - Portage candidates tout endorsements

Portage candidates tout endorsements
NWI Times
Apr 21, 2011
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/portage/portage-candidates-tout-endorsements/article_f93551a8-b8cf-5590-a4b8-2990b6ac7030.html

PORTAGE | Two Portage mayoral candidates held press conferences Thursday afternoon touting endorsements.

Incumbent Democrat Mayor Olga Velazquez listed a litany of endorsements she has received from local unions during a brief announcement at the Ironworkers Local 395 offices.

Three hours later, Republican mayoral candidate James Snyder stood outside the Portage Police station accepting the endorsement of Portage Fraternal Order of Police 145.

Velazquez is vying for the Democratic nod May 3 against Clerk-Treasurer Donna Pappas and businessman John Barlow. Neither Pappas nor Barlow have received any endorsements. Snyder is unopposed in the May 3 Republican primary.

Velazquez received endorsements from Boilermakers Local 374, Plumbers Local 210, Bricklayers Local 4, IBEW 531, Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons 692, Indiana/Kentucky Regional Council of Carpenters 1406, Ironworkers 395, Millwright and Machinists Local 1043, Teamsters Local 142, Steelworkers Local 6787, Northwest Indiana Building and Construction Trades Council, Northwest Indiana Federation of Labor and Laborers Local 81.

"I have always respected a worker's right to be represented by a union, and I have embraced that during my time as mayor," she said.

While endorsing City Council candidates, the International Firefighters Association Local 3151 decided not to endorse a mayoral candidate, said political action chairman Tom Colvin. Operating Engineers 150, which represents street, sanitation and some utility department employees, has not announced endorsements.

Sgt. Joe Radic, president of the fraternal police organization, said the majority of the members voted to endorse Snyder.

Snyder criticized Velazquez in his acceptance speech for her decision to consolidate Portage 911 dispatch service into the Porter County service.

Snyder said the decision to consolidate was premature and has caused a series of problems. He said the move "put each resident, business, police officer and firefighter in the city in harm's way" and will not be a cost savings as initially stated.

"We are aware times are tough, but tough times are not the time to make poor decisions," Snyder said.

Velazquez defended her decision to consolidate the dispatch service, saying it was necessary and that Portage has a seat at the table now to improve dispatch services throughout the county.

"Portage residents don't just stay in Portage. Don't we want the same level of service in the county as we do in the city? It is an emotional issue, but I still believe it was the right choice," she said.