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The results are all in. Ron Meer wins with 1445 votes in the Democratic Primary.

[Homey]

What a disappointment

[Southsider2k12]

http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/elect...0,4999173.story

MICHIGAN CITY -- Since there hasn't been a Republican mayor in Michigan City in about four decades, Democratic nominee Ron Meer is the odds-on favorite to become that city's next mayor.

Meer, with 1,445 votes in today's primary, defeated Robert McKee by 413 votes while John Jones garnered 949 votes to finish third in the race for the Democratic nomination. Joie Winski collected 844 votes while James LaRocco earned 208 votes.

Keith Harris, the lone Republican candidate, said that if there is ever going to be another Republican mayor in Michigan City, this is the year because of major changes already happening at the local political level.

''A lot of changes are going to take place whether people want them to or not,'' Harris said.

Incumbent Mayor Chuck Oberlie, for example, did not seek a third consecutive term, and longtime clerk Thomas Fedder also chose to step aside.

LaPorte Circuit Court Judge Tom Alevizos, who served on the city council in the 1980s and '90s, said the next mayor might have to guide Michigan City through its next crossroads.

Alevizos said the city must decide whether its future rests more with heavy industry or tourism, and adapt to the sweeping positive changes set in motion in the school system by a new superintendent.

''As the economy has changed, Michigan City has to figure out how we are going to figure out our future,'' Alevizos said.

Meer was a foreman for the Michigan City Sanitary District when he was let go in 2010 after reporting alleged wastewater treatment plant violations to the state.

In claiming he was wrongfully terminated, Meer later won a $215,000 judgment against the city.

[Tim]

Fixed.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/0...49629807273.txt

Dem voters give Meer victory

Mayoral candidate Ron Meer is congratulated on his win Tuesday night at his campaign headquarters. Photo by Bob Wellinski
Will face Harris in general election
By Tim Moran
Staff Writer
Published: Wednesday, May 4, 2011 7:09 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — Third Ward Councilman Ron Meer will be the Democratic mayoral candidate in November’s general election.

“I’m very relieved and happy,” Meer said minutes after the final tallies were counted Tuesday night. “What I think really helped was the platform of getting Michigan City’s image back in control as far as dealing with neighborhood crime, how we are going to market Michigan City and try to get more quality jobs here.

“When those things happen, I think we are going to start to see the city turn around.”

Beginning today, Meer said he will set his focus on the general election, when he will face Republican nominee Keith Harris. Harris received 280 votes in the primary as the lone Republican nominee.

“We’re going to have to work just as hard for November,” Meer said. “The Republican party has seen improvement in their numbers over the last few years ... They are a worthy opponent, and I won’t take anything for granted.”

Nearly 300 Meer supporters gathered at his Franklin Street campaign headquarters to watch the returns after the polls closed at 6 p.m.

“It’s time for Michigan City to have a change and get someone that represents the community,” Brenda Brown, one of Meer’s supporters, said. “We need someone that understands the needs of the city, and Ron Meer is the man for that ... The city has no idea how wonderful this is for them, and that will show in the time to come.”

Shortly after WIMS, WEFM and ALCo-TV pronounced the winner, Meer received a congratulatory call from opponent Joie Winski, who finished fourth among the Democratic mayoral candidates with 18 percent of the vote.

“She was real complimentary and says she wants to work together for the fall,” Meer said, adding he hopes “to see the entire Democratic party come together.”

“They are all gentlemen,” Meer said of his other three opponents. “It’s been an emotional roller coaster all day for all of them.”

“I’d like to thank all the residents of Michigan City for all their support,” Meer said. “I really appreciate all the people who voted for me and all the people who came out and voted period.”

Meer edged out his closest competitor, At-Large Councilman Bob McKee, by a little more than 400 votes. When approached by The News Dispatch, McKee said he had no comment about the loss.

Mayor: 4,478 total votes

M A P Total %

736 213 0 949 21.19% John W. Jones

173 35 0 208 4.64% James T. Larocco

907 125 0 1,032 23.05% Robert (Bob) Mckee

1,263 182 0 1,445 32.27% Ron Meer

720 124 0 844 18.85% Joie Winski

M = Machine Ballots

A = Absentee Ballots

P = Provisional Ballots

[Southsider2k12]

http://heraldargus.com/articles/2011/05/05...ef562176585.txt

MICHIGAN CITY — On the day after the primary, both Democratic mayoral nominee Ron Meer and Republican nominee Keith Harris say they will battle for the position through the November election.

Click here to find out more!
Harris had no opponent in the Tuesday contest. Meer, on the other hand, garnered more votes than his four opponents – John Jones, James Larocco, Robert McKee and Joie Winski.

Meer said he believes he won because voters liked the theme of his campaign and his platform. His emphasis was on lowering crime in the neighborhoods and aggressively marketing the city to attract high-quality jobs.

He also believes voters recognized his “enthusiasm to take are of the (third) ward.” He said he has worked hard to rid the ward of abandoned and dilapidated houses and garages. A neighborhood revitalization grant added muscle to the effort, he acknowledged.

Meer said the rest of the city could benefit from such attention as well.

The sitting mayor was not surprised by the primary results.

“The results are about what I anticipated,” Mayor Chuck Oberlie said. “To Ron’s credit, he stayed on message. His campaign was about more law enforcement in the community and more jobs.”

It’s important to remember, Oberlie said, that the local economy is impacted by the national economy. La Porte County is affected by the county tax fiasco, beginning with the complex issues attached to the 2006 property tax assessments, which led to five years of provisional tax bills. Not only did property tax payers suffer years of headaches, but public bodies which depend for funding on property taxes were forced to make drastic adjustments as well.

While the voter turnout amounted to less than one third of those eligible, “It was more than I anticipated,” Oberlie said.

Although he lost to Meer, John Jones, the chairman of the La Porte County Democratic Party, said he will support Meer in the November general election.

Joie Winski, another of the Democratic candidates for mayor called to congratulate Meer on Tuesday evening, Meer said. “She wants to work together for the fall,” he added.

Mayoral candidate Jim LaRocco, whose father, the late Joseph LaRocco, served as mayor, is convinced that poor voter turn-out contributed to his loss.

“It also was discouraging to see so few voters at the various pre-election forums,” he said. “But if you don’t vote, you have no right to complain. If you don’t vote, you really get to have no opinion.

Describing himself as “an old race car driver,” LaRocco said the most important component in a political campaign “is to remain true to yourself and true to your principals.”

From now on, LaRocco said, “I plan to support Ron.”

As for the Republican candidate, Keith Harris said he planned all along to run on the same platform no matter who his opponent was.

He said he plans to announce his platform soon, “At that time, I may or may not open a headquarters.”