Nelson Peters was emotional distraught in losing the Republican nomination for Mayor of the City of Fort Wayne to Matt Kelty. Peters who was supported by the old established Republican old guard did not take Kelty challenge serious. Peters relied on the talks of his friends in the media and the Republican Party.Kelty took his challenge seriously, as he reached out to the people. People who were tired of appointed officials instead of officials selected by the people. Kelty and team hit the pavement and used alternative sources to get Kelty's message out to the voters. As Kelty did his thing, his friends had his back. Friends shared who their wealth, rather than folks who stole from the coffer of the taxpayers or friends. Y'all remember Douglas Foy.
Kelty's grassroot campaign upset the good ole boy control over their selected candidates. Kelty left Peters visibility shaken and David Long arrival to see Kelty victory speech rather than Peters was an early shock.
And some other insiders just simply outraged.
But there was nothing Republican Steve Shine could do but welcome the new kid on the block.
Kelty had a lot to be proud of, he did not go negative. But that did not stop his opponents. Kelty credibility was attacked, his faith was attacked, but Kelty remained Kelty. And in the end, Kelty the underdog had done the unthinkable, he pulled off an upset. Kelty won.
But Republican Chairman Steve Shine would or could not throw his support behind the opponent so quickly.
Winning did not mean, that the opponents within his party would welcome him with open arms. They were busy plotting, because that's what evil folks do. And so the only thing left, the next phase by the Republican party into getting their appointed candidate on the ballot rather than the candidate selected by the people was to charge Kelty with campaign financing reporting fraud.
You know the campaign financial report that everyone and their momma had earlier gone over with a fine tooth comb and found nothing. But, they need Kelty to tell his new friends what was not visible to the nake eye. Where did the money come from and how much money? Kelty trusted as he told his new friends.
A big credibility issue would be the headline news. Charges of a felony would kick Kelty from the ballot was the noise. But they had no evidence, they needed Kelty to come in and give up the information that was not on the campaign report voluntarily. Kelty was invited in, according to Republican Chairman Steve Shine on the afternoon Pat White talk show with host Pat Miller.
As the story unfolded in the media newspaper and talk radio, some interesting details were disclosed. Details not just about Kelty campaign finance reports, but how Kelty was advised to review, rethink his campaign report. Kelty was placed on trial before being charged or even issued a subponea for a dispostion. The republican wanted Kelty off the ballot by any means possible.
Once Kelty made that decision, the Allen County Election Board was invited to do what Peters and the Allen County Republican could not do to Kelty. The Allen County Election Board was on board to punish Kelty for his win. The Democrats Chairperson Kevin Knuth was beaming because the Democrats Tom Henry did not have a pray of beating Kelty.
Andy Downs was on the same WOWO talk show talking about the procedure in removing a candidate from a ballot. Candidates would have to bring forth evidences that is not available to the election board members. This would mean Matt Kelty personal records. Downs sounded as if he wanted Kelty to voluntarily hand over information to the board to prove Kelty of being guilt of campaign fraud.
A fine tooth comb did not find anything, this was the second bite at the apple. The Democrats and the Republicans last change to keep Kelty name off the ballot. The Democrats and Republicans wouldn't work together to keep a Republican off the ballot now work they?
Down hypothetical suggested that there may be issues of commingling of funds. No one said that there was commingling, but if Kelty bring in all of his accounts the Allen County Election Board could make that decision for Kelty.
Another issue Downs discussed on the radio talk show with Pat Miller, contribution made in someone elses name in a hypothetical. However, the hypothetical involved three parties not two parties. The three parties did not involve an exchange between one to another, but one to another in behalf of another. This is a big difference.
The third issue Downs discussed on the radio program was on a fraudulent return being filed. To me, this would be based on finding of the other two which are misdemeanors. And last but not least on Kelty providing them with the necessary evidence.
Does this not sound like a fishing expedition and sore losers?
So what if Kelty friends had deep pockets and supported Kelty. Kelty took the money and used it as he saw fit. If Kelty goes before the Allen County Election Board, it is bias, two of its members are to look out for the interest of their party, one is a republican and one is a democrat. Peters was the interest of the republicans and Henry is the interest of the democrat. The third person is the clerk of the court. Bias, bias. The Allen County Election Board needs to have alternative members.
Hopefully, Kelty handlers has contacted Indiana Election Board or the manual.
Other bloggers weigh in on the Kelty's party., and here a discussion of what is a loan, contribution, or what is the true meaning of a word when it is used in law, here for a run down of the events of the calls for a review by the non legal Allen County Election Board and here.
Other bloggers comments but say little, herehere, especially the comment section which gives the blogger a lesson on Peters and here.
Also here at ABC7 Chicago.com
Associated Press, May 25, 2007 (FORT WAYNE, Ind.) -
The Republican candidate for mayor of Fort Wayne is revising his campaign finance documents to indicate a political adviser made a 150-thousand-dollar loan to his campaign.
Matt Kelty submitted the revised documents yesterday. He says loan came from adviser Fred Rost, not from Kelty's personal funds as he indicated in a January filing. Kelty also indicated that a ten-thousand-dollar loan came from Glenna Jehl, who is Kelty's campaign manager.
Kelty says he didn't initially report the origin of the money because he considered it a personal loan, which he then gave to the campaign.
Allen County Democratic Chairman Kevin Knuth says it appears that Kelty wanted to hide the source of the loans.
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