Unless
he chooses to seek court intervention, George Rogge's quest for
the Democratic nomination for the 3rd House District appears to
be over.
The state
Election Commission, reacting to a complaint from two Gary residents
of the 3rd House District,* removed Rogge from the primary ballot
last week, citing his prior ties to the Republican Party.
Although
it is true that Rogge is a former Republican, he petitioned Lake
County Democratic Chairman Rudy Clay late last year for acceptance
into the Democratic Party. Clay welcomed Rogge.
Those opposing
Rogge's Democratic candidacy argued he should have stepped down
from two commissions to which he had been appointed as a Republican.
Although
it is true he remained on those commissions through the end of
2007, it is important to note that his declaration of candidacy
for state representative wasn't filed until early 2008. The opponents
seem to be splitting hairs.
Given the
volatility of issues dominating local, state and national politics,
it's not unusual these days to see candidates jumping from one
party to another.
There are
those who say Rogge, a resident of the Miller section of Gary,
made the switch to the Democratic Party because he can't beat
incumbent Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, by running as a Republican.
That may be, but what's important is that Clay accepted Rogge.
There is
precedent for party switches in Lake County. Former Democratic
Chairman Stephen Stiglich welcomed sitting Ross Township Trustee
John Rooda into the Democratic fold. He did the same with Thomas
McDermott, who now is the Democratic mayor of Hammond.
We think
the people of Lake County should decide who will represent them,
as opposed to a state commission.
---------------------------------------------------*Charlie
Brown's cronies started this.
NO LEGAL
PRECEDENT WAS USED IN COMING TO THIS DETERMINATION!
We will
be watching your every move, Charlie Brown, and examining your
past moves.
It's so not over!
--------------------------------------------
Statement by George A. Rogge
On March
12, 2008, the Indiana Election Board took away the right of the
citizens of Northwest Indiana to vote in a free and fair Primary
election in House District 3.
“Just
as the Indianapolis power brokers took away Northwest Indiana’s
right to determine the value of large industry for taxing purposes,
so the Indianapolis power structure has taken away the right of
the ability of citizens in the 3rd District to have a true choice
in the May 6th Democratic Primary,” stated George A. Rogge,
Democratic Candidate for House District 3, to the State House
of Representatives.
“In
2001, the Indiana State Legislature took away our right, a right
that all other counties in Indiana have, to assess our large industries.
That legislation was backed by Representative Charlie Brown whom
I chose to run against in 2008. Now at the insistence of Charlie
Brown and his buddies, the State Election Commission has taken
away my right to run for office because of their erroneous assertion
that I am still a Republican. It did not matter to them what the
Democratic Chairman of Lake County thought about it and it did
not matter to them that I am a Democrat. What mattered to them
was that Charlie Brown was, for the first time in a quarter of
a century, threatened with the possibility of having to run in
an actual competitive election. Never before has this man faced
real opposition. Democracy is not his first instinct.
I followed
the law exactly in getting on the ballot. I went to the Lake County
Democratic Party Chairman, Mayor Rudy Clay. Mayor Clay welcomed
me when I told him I had become a Democrat and he signed the necessary
certification. It is the only requirement in the law.
One does not have to pass any sort of litmus test for loyalty
to the Party. This is a complete violation of my right to run
for elective office, and the right of the citizens of Northwest
Indiana to vote in a meaningful election.
I have
consulted with attorneys across the State of Indiana who assured
me that I have a very strong case for overturning the actions
of the Indiana Election Commission. However, time is short. Although
I declared my candidacy on the first possible day, January 23,
2008, protests were not filed by Mr. Brown’s cronies until
it was well past the filing deadline. The time and money that
would have to be invested in appealing this erroneous ruling,
along with the uncertainty it would create for the election, make
it not worth it.
Therefore,
I am announcing today that I am a candidate for the Democratic
nomination for House District 3 in the Democratic primary to be
held May 4, 2010.
Make no
mistake, I intend to be elected the Democratic State Representative
from District 3 because I believe that the people want a change
from the old politics, from business as usual, and because my
membership in the Democratic Party will have a strengthening effect
upon it. Northwest Indiana has been pushed around by the Indianapolis
power brokers for too long. “I am going to fight it and
I am going to win,” Rogge concluded.
