The Oz's New Queen

It's election season, and Town Council candidate Candace Ulmer is on stage playing the charade behind the curtain as the Wizard of Oz.

You know the poseur, pretending to be what he's not?

Unfortunately for Zionsville's citizens, she's hiding from what she is; a flip flopper to end all flip floppers, backed by deep-pocket developers. But, outwardly, on her blog and in expensive newspaper ads, she's all innocence and good governess.

Hogwash.

She's wagering that voters on Nov. 8 won't do their homework and realize just how dependent her campaign is on the cash dished out by big-time developers with designs on their own shovel-ready projects in Zionsville

Take a look behind the facade.

For her to triumph in the May primary, Ulmer raised $17,000. Most notable contributions came from MIBOR (Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors) - $1,121.80. Council woman elect Susana Suarez Campaign Fund gave $1,000. Council President Matt Price's, Civic Pride of Boone County Political Action Committee gave $7,100. Keith Burks of Naples, FL contributed $1000 (who's he?). Plan Commission President Allan Rachles gave $200, as did Councilman Jeff Papa.

And remember, annual pay for a council member is $5,000.

Ulmer is opposed next week by an Independent candidate from Union Township, Constance Brye. Ms. Brye is running with no ties to any development interests or political group. Brye's campaign report show a paltry $1,050 raised in total, $600 from herself.

Only those voters residing in District 1 are allowed to decide the Brye vs. Ulmer race. But with David and Goliath fund raising differences, don't expect big fancy mailers from Brye.

A little background music please.

Two years ago, when the consolidated government proposition was before the voters, Ulmer was serving as the elected Union Township trustee. She was the majordomo tub-thumping for the movement, campaigning for everyone in Union Township to vote for it, and they did, and it passed.

Ulmer promised Union residents that taxes would not go up. (And, by virtue of the consolidation, she ascended to the stage of the Zionsville Town Council.)

She stated, ''Union residents will see a tax rate increase of 0.6% - Hummm

But taxes did go up for Union in 2010.

Residents there saw an increase of approximately 25 percent in their 2010 property tax bills. Union taxpayer's rate jumped from $1.54 to $2.04 per $100 of assessed property value. And, according to Ulmer's own blog dated Oct. 21, 2010, for the 2011 budget it says, "Yes, taxes are increasing," and goes on, "Union residents will see a tax rate increase of .06%" No increase in taxes? Blarney.

Let's review: 2009 - ''Taxes won't increase.'' Then in 2010 - taxes increase. Taxes increase again in 2011.

Great record.

Flip-flops abound. Her blog states she is for diversifying the tax base. "We need more business," she states. However, she recently voted to allow high density apartments that pay less in taxes than business, in an area zoned for business. Brilliant.

Another Ulmer flip-flop came this year, when the Stormwater Utility was proposed for all of the newly-consolidated Zionsville, including Union Township. Ulmer endorsed and voted for it. Taxes won't go up for Union? Hardly, this is a new added tax.

But, now Ulmer is against the Stormwater Utility because of the tax that will be imposed on residents to fund the utility, which Ulmer contends will only benefit Zionsville's infrastructure.

One of the backroom deals Ulmer was behind, but failed to deliver this year was allowing a private Westfield utility, Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) access into Union Township for the benefit the Indianapolis Executive Airport and developers along U.S. 421.

And oh, probably just a coincidence, but the operators of the airport (formerly Terry Airport) are major contributors to Ulmer's election campaign.

It's time for voters to unmask the Wizard of Oooze Tuesday. Nov. 8.