A quick history lesson for Developer's Last Stand: in Zionsville’s 2007 election, a small army backed by development interests set their sites on Zionsville. Their battle plan? Run a slate of candidates friendly to their interests. Led by developer turned Economic Development Director, Chad Pittman, the battle plan paid off, netting control with 3 out of 5 council seats. However, resignations weren’t in the contingency plan.Developer’s Last Stand will be fought in the Republican caucus which will be called into session by the end of the year. The caucus is being convened by County Republican boss Debbie Ottinger to replace Judith Essex, who bailed out of her Zionsville Town Council position representing Eagle Township effective December 6.
She became the third councilor to jump ship from the Price administration. To digress - Essex has told two different versions for her departure: 1. She is moving, or 2. She isn't going to seek election so she graciously stepped aside to allow her successor time to get acquainted with town government, which amounts to her replacement taking orders from Price/Pittman (see previous posts). So, take your pick.
Sources say the moving story may be closer to the truth as she has been unable to rent her property in Lebanon. Each time there is a resignation, it is up to the precinct committee persons to choose a successor by a secret vote. Since they can fill vacant council seats, precinct committee persons hold a lot of power. Essex is the third casualty of the Price regime. The first was David Carr. Carr resigned in January of '08, and then a cabal supporting Valerie Swack went to work and Swack prevailed in the caucus. The second caucus was held when Michelle Barrett stepped down this spring largely because of published accounts of her inappropriate relationship with Council President Matt Price. Steve Mundy was the caucus choice, running unopposed.
Caucus choices Swack and Mundy have not always toed the Price line, which at times has led to fractures on the council and a loss of control that the 2007 victory was supposed to have ensured. This has also led to setbacks for Price’s interests. And if Essex's seat goes to an independent thinker, the Price agenda may be in big trouble.
But, this caucus, Price/Pittman & Co. aren’t taking any chances on the caucus’ choice. This go-round, a contingency plan exists: seat like-minded precinct committee persons. Since last year there has been an effort behind this contingency plan.
In the fall of 2009, Michelle Barrett (who Pittman anointed and groomed for the Town Council) began a series of meetings with Chad Pittman, and Steve Jacob, President of the Boone County Council discussing slating precinct committee persons. Steve Jacob's son, Jeff, is with the firm Andreoli & Jacob, a local law firm known for development.
Through a loyal reader, Zionsville Confidential has learned that in October 2009, Jacob sent an email to Barrett, with copies to Pittman and Ottinger.
The email stated, "As I think we discussed, the changes to the precinct chairs and vice chairs we have been working on need that [sic] to be turned into the state party by the end of the year. I know you have been quite busy (at least from the paper it might seem so) and may not have time to review more names with Chad Pittman, but if you would shoot me an email with the names you are recommending, it will be a start. If we need to change next year some time we can do so. I still have the first group of recommended names and can use those, but that was a fairly soft list and Steve and you were going to sit down and come up with a final list.'' Signed Steve Jacob.
So, how will the caucus go? It depends on if the contingency plan was put in place.
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