Knuth Running For County Council
Posted by Scott Spaulding - 4/23/08 @ 12:39 pm - Filed Under Featured, Local Politics
From the Allen County Democrats blog:
Okay, it feels odd to write a headline about myself. But the fact remains- today I announced that I will be a candidate for Allen County Council At-Large.
Be sure to visit my website- www.kevinknuth.com.
Kevin enters the race with a press release on the Maplecrest extension project:
Fort Wayne, IN – Former Allen County Democratic Party Chairman Kevin Knuth today announced that he will be a candidate for Allen County Council on the November ballot.
Knuth kicked off his campaign by reviewing the issues surrounding the proposed Maplecrest extension, a 1.5 mile stretch of road that is expected to cost $55 Million to build. Knuth pointed out that the County Commissioners want to get the project approved before July 1, when a new law goes into effect that would require a referendum vote. “They want to avoid the referendum, plain and simple,” said Knuth.
Knuth pointed out that even with the proposed bond issue there is an $8 Million gap in funding. Knuth stated, “The $8 Million shortage does not account for any cost overruns, which would be a further burden to taxpayers”.
And even though the Commissioners have a one year contract with Barnes and Thornburg (for which they paid $60,000) to lobby for more federal funding, Congressman Mark Souder made it very clear last week that there would no more federal funds for this project. Last week Souder suggested that the county petitions the government to reprogram the $11 Million dollars they had set aside for the Maplecrest project for other purposes.
“To sum up this project- It could have a negative impact on the neighborhoods around Maplecrest Road, it us underfunded, and there is no economic impact study to show the benefits. It becomes obvious why the commissioners want to avoid the referendum,” said Knuth
“I was looking forward to stepping back from politics for a while. But this type of haphazard planning demonstrates that I have two choices - quit paying attention to local issues or get more involved. Today, I announce that I am a candidate for County Council At-Large,” said Knuth. Knuth will not appear on the primary ballot, but has been appointed by Allen County Democratic Party Chair Mike Bynum to appear on the fall ballot.
Knuth also made a campaign promise to offer new solutions to problems, and started by tackling another bridge problem- the Clinton Street Bridge near Headwater’s Park.
“Fort Wayne is trying to find a solution for diverting traffic during the re-construction of the Clinton Street Bridge,” said Knuth. “I suggest the County ask the federal government to reprogram $1 Million of the $11 Million they had pledged to the Maplecrest project to build a temporary bridge.”"
Comments
9 Responses to “Knuth Running For County Council”
Leave a Reply
[...] on the project. Today, former Allen County Democratic Party chairman Kevin Knuth announced that he’ll be running for county council. He also issued a press release echoing many of the sentiments myself, and others here at FWP, have [...]
That is a very good initial press release from Mr. Knuth!
Mike Sylvester
Jeff-
Be honest. Is Kevin really a Democrat?
Well he was the chairman of the party so I’m sure the answer to that is yes…
If I was not voting in the Republican Primary, I believe I would vote for Kevin - He “talks” like an elephant, not a donkey. With Kevin on one side and Jim Howard on the other in November, Allen County is going to WIN.
John, you and I definitely agree on this one.
Perhaps that is the reason for the earthquake last week :-)
Let me clarify something so those Republicans that are shocked by my stance can sleep better.
Yes, I am a Democrat. But I believe in Fiscal responsibility. That is NOT to say that I would not spend money. But the project has to make sense, and to me, at this point, the Maplecrest Extension simply does not make sense.
And I do not like referendums…but they are the law (or will be come July 1) and I do believe you have to follow the law. The Commissioners are trying to rush this to avoid that vote. Shame on them!
There,
Hope you Republicans can sleep a little better now!
I have never doubted that Kevin is a Democrat!
I am not sure who I will vote for for County Council; it will depend on who wins the Republican primary and who runs for the Libertarian and Democratic Parties.
Mike Sylvester
I am almost certain that Kevin ran as Republican for an office Pre 1999. Of course, I believe it is a prerequisite for being chair of either party to have first run for office in the opposite party.