It's Not About Matt Kelty

I don't have any issue with Matt Kelty as a person. I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt and I'm sure he's good, honest, hard-working guy. This issue isn't about disgracing him personally or even removing him as a candidate. It's about the rule of law. I've heard several people claim that the "loophole" needs to be closed yet nobody has offered a definition of what this "loophole" is or how to close it. Personally, I don't believe there is a loophole. The law is quite clear and Kelty violated it regardless of the partisan whitewash ruling we saw today.

Kelty's loans aren't the only issue here. As I previously blogged, the Redevelopment Commission has also violated state law by not getting appraisals before purchasing the Harrison Square properties. Yet instead of being held accountable, their attorney is actually saying that the law doesn't apply while giving erroneous references to the Indiana Code.

But it doesn't end there. Our current mayor has not responded in the time alloted by state law to numerous Open Records requests. Our Sheriff, Ken Fries, had an illegal sign up during last year's campaign and nothing was done. Kelty, too, had an illegal sign and his campaign tried to say it didn't violate the law because it was a banner and not a sign. Recently the Yellow side of the FWCS petition drive has illegally placed signs in various spots throughout the city. We also have electronic signs and campaign signs that are violation.

If we don't want these laws or we think they're pointless then get rid of them but we cannot condone blatant disregard for the law. I feel like Walter Sobchak from The Big Lebowski:

Smokey, this is not 'Nam. This is bowling. There are rules.

Has the whole world gone crazy? Am I the only one around here who gives a shit about the rules? Mark it zero!