(La Porte County, IN) - More in a recent series of political fireworks erupted at today’s La Porte County Commissioners meeting.
A lot of the friction stems from appointments in January later being switched by Commissioners Rich Mrozinski, a Republican, and Sheila Matias, a Democrat. The other Republican commissioner, Joe Haney, protested the changes that removed him from his original duties with the La Porte County Redevelopment Commission and the La Porte County Health Department.
Adding to the political tension since January 1 was the rehiring of Shaw Friedman as La Porte County Attorney. Haney cast the only vote against that decision supported by Mrozinski and Matias.
La Porte County Auditor Tim Stabosz, during the public comment portion of Wednesday’s meeting, started voicing concerns about the decisions but was ordered to stop talking by Mrozinski. Friedman quickly jumped in and told Stabosz criticizing the decisions of others, along with slander, are among the violations of policy governing public comment.
“You haven’t heard enough of what I said to know whether I’m going by the rules or not,” Stabosz said. “I’ve heard all I need to hear, sir. I’m asking you to sit down,” Mrozinski said.
Rodney McCormick, an outspoken critic of local politics especially in Michigan City, alleged Mrozinski went back on a campaign promise not to bring back Friedman as county attorney. “We are tired of being lied to and pretending that everything is o.k." he said.
In a prepared statement, La Porte County Republican Party Chairman Mitch Feikes said the decisions illustrate how Friedman has “control and influence” over the commissioners. Feikes also said Friedman should stay within the parameters of providing legal advice to the governing body and called for the commissioners to consider removing Friedman as county attorney for behavior he alleged was unethical.
In response, Friedman, a Democrat, said he’s worked hard on building relationships with members of both parties to help get things done. “It’s disappointing that in the same week that Mitch Feikes chose to slam me for purely partisan reasons, he neglected to inform residents that it was my office that just landed a $68,000 grant to allow the Board of Elections to buy a mobile van to conduct non-partisan voter registration,” he said.
Friedman's response went on to say, “He also forgets to mention that it was my office that successfully negotiated with LaPorte Hospital to obtain the Coolspring Township early voting site that served thousands of voters in this last election. That site – just like the mobile van – benefits Republicans, Democrats and independents,” Friedman said.
