The Gary Post-Tribune reports today:
The Post-Tribune has several other stories today on the election (access them today, as the paper does not archive): "Many city voters not surprised by court’s decision" is available here; "Election board mulls new elections" is available here; and "Special election Questions & Answers" is available here.
EAST CHICAGO — All eyes are on the mayor’s office as two court decisions issued within less than two hours of each other Tuesday cleared the way for an Oct. 26 special election in East Chicago.The Indiana Supreme Court followed up on its Aug. 6 ruling that threw out the results of the 2003 Democratic mayoral primary [Pabey v. Pastrick] by denying a petition by Mayor Robert Pastrick to have the high court rehear the case. The court, in a 3-to-2 vote, had sided with Special Judge Steven King — who found evidence of widespread corruption in the mayoral primary — and ordered him to set a new election as soon as their ruling became final.
[Judge] King ruled quickly Tuesday to set the ground rules for a new primary. Following the statute, which calls for special elections to take place nine Tuesdays after a court ruling is issued, King set the new primary date for Oct. 26 — one week before the presidential/gubernatorial election.
He also set a tentative date of Dec. 28 for a new general election in East Chicago, but he promised to revisit the issue after the primary. Arthur Santos was the lone Republican in the 2003 mayoral race, garnering just 22 percent of votes cast.
The players in the new primary will be those who participated in the May 2003 Democratic primary — Pastrick, former City Councilman George Pabey and former City Judge Lonnie Randolph.
From the Munster Times: "E.C. mayoral primary set for October: State Supreme Court rejects Pastrick's petition to redo mayoral election" is available here. Some quotes:
Save the date of Oct. 26. That's when the new East Chicago election will be held, after the Indiana Supreme Court on Tuesday dashed Mayor Robert Pastrick's hopes of avoiding a new Democratic primary contest. * * *The Times also has this story titled: "New election means new political strategies: Candidates must decide if they have support to win mayor's office." The lead:The justices rejected Pastrick's petition that asked them to reconsider their earlier ruling that ordered a redo of the 2003 primary election. The court also denied the Lake County Board of Elections and Registration's request for a rehearing.
"Mayor Pastrick is disappointed with the Indiana's Supreme Court's order denying his petition for rehearing," said George Patton, Pastrick's appeals attorney. "At this time he is considering all of his options." * * *
Within hours of the state high court's ruling, Special Judge Steven King ordered the new primary to be reheld on the last Tuesday of October, and tentatively scheduled the general mayoral election for Dec. 28.
The primary winner will face Republican Arthur Santos, who was the GOP mayoral candidate last fall. Wedged between the two mayoral contests is the Nov. 2 general election. "Logistically, this will be an incredible challenge for the staff of the election board," said James Wieser, the board's Democratic attorney.
The Indiana Supreme Court's decision to hold firm on its order for a new mayoral election has advanced the political ballgame in East Chicago and sent the top political players into their respective dugouts to plot their next strategy.Posted by Marcia Oddi at August 25, 2004 07:48 AM