Conflict of Interest and the City

 

 

Source: Indiana Gateway for government units

W/R: Mayor Tyler’s conflict problem

Seems Mayor Tyler recently realized there may be a conflict of interest.  Stuff like that happens when the FBI comes knocking on your door

It took a handful of citizens working diligently for two or three years, investing their time and money to uncover several violations.

Within months of Craig Nichols appointment as the city’s building commissioner, his defunct business was reopened.  Shortly thereafter his company began receiving city contracts.  It took the local newspaper about nine months to report and even at that it was a lighthearted almost humorous article.

The paper is reporting Nichols had a conflict of interest statement filed in 2015.  The State of Indiana is not showing anything filed for Nichols in 2015.  The Conflict of Interest law states the form must be filed within 15 days with the State Board of Accounts and the county clerk.  (See picture).

Uodate: Newspaper responded on their story.

“Keith Roysdon ·Watchdog reporter at The Star Press

In the Delaware County clerk’s office, there are separate state approved conflict of interest forms for Craig Nichols’ companies.”

Indiana Conflict of Interest law

For 2016 three council members, building commissioner and one attorney filed conflict statements.  Four of the statements were done at or near the time the investigation and Federal Lawsuit was reported to the public.

Another appearance of  conflict would be the street department superintendent and city contracts awarded to his nephew’s company.

“Obviously, I don’t see any problem with them doing work for the city because they are the best and the lowest,” said Campbell, a Democrat who is more high-profile this year because he’s running for Delaware County commissioner against incumbent James King. “They’re good guys.

“I know what people may think, but it’s all on the up-and-up,” Campbell added. “I don’t consider it a conflict. It goes by the book.” Duke Campbell, Muncie’s street superintendent

W/R: In politics, it’s all relative(s)

Not exactly sure how “goes by the book” is defined in this instance.  If the street superintendent’s nephews are awarded contracts to work on the streets one would think a conflict of interest statement submitted by Duke Campbel would be going by the book of Indiana State law.  There is no conflict statement for Campbell in 2015.

It’s not just about conflicts of interest, it’s the Federal lawsuit alleging contractors have been cut out of the bidding process in favor of friends and relatives of the Mayor and his close associates.

We will end this post with excerpts from the Muncie Star Press after the 2011 election.

“It’s not going to be a ‘good old boy’s club,'” Tyler said about the first Democratic city administration in 20 years.

At the same time, Tyler acknowledged that Democrats will now control both city and county government locally and with that control comes expectations.
“This isn’t going to be easy,” he said. “Democrats don’t have any excuses now. But I think people will be pleasantly surprised.” WALKER/ROYSDON REPORT: Tyler: No‘good old boys club’ Nov. 27, 2011