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[tonyd]

December 8, 2010
Amongst a crowd of over 200 friends and family Gale Neulieb, Deputy Clerk for the City of Michigan City, announced her bid to run for City Clerk of Michigan City in 2011 election cycle. Gale has worked in the Clerk’s office for more than five years and was the previous owner of Berg’s Flower Shop. She is also the secretary for the Michigan City Police and Fire Merit Commissions.
Gale is a life-long resident in the Michigan City community. She was born and raised in Michigan City and graduated from Elston Sr. High School. She is dedicated to the Michigan City Clerk’s office and sees this as opportunity to continue to serve the people of Michigan City. Gale stated, “I am very excited and thrilled at the support I have been receiving from the community. I want the citizens of Michigan City to know that I am professional, diligent and dedicated to public service.”
Current City Clerk, Thomas Fedder, is not seeking re-election after 32 years of dedicated service. Thomas Fedder said “he wishes Gale the best of luck in her bid and believes her experience and dedication will serve her well in this office.”
Also serving on her campaign committee is City Councilwoman, Angie Nelson. Angie stated, “Everyone who knows Gale understands that she is the best person for the job. She works tirelessly to ensure things get done. She does whatever it takes to make it happen. I give my full support to Gale in this endeavor.”
Anyone who would like to contact Gale or would to contribute to her campaign can reach her at Neulieb4Clerk@yahoo.com or P.O. Box 278, Michigan City, 46361.

[Southsider2k12]

She will stay on the ballot

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/0...4b072767008.txt

Board rules in favor of clerk candidate

Neulieb’s residency questioned
By Matt Field
Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, March 3, 2011 5:07 PM CST
MICHIGAN CITY — City clerk candidate Gale Neulieb survived an attempt to knock her off the ballot on grounds she didn’t meet a residency requirement.

Attorney Alan Sirinek failed to persuade the La Porte County Election Board that Neulieb isn’t eligible to seek office because she didn’t cancel a homestead tax credit for a property she owns outside city limits until days after he filed an election challenge.

The three-member board unanimously voted to keep Neulieb on the ballot, deciding that by taking steps such as changing her voter registration to a Michigan City address and moving her belongings there, she had transferred her residence.

“I think she’s established her intent to live within the city limits of Michigan City,” board member Greg Hofer said. “I’m not exactly a liberal person; however, I don’t think its unusual for a person not to think to change her homestead.”

At one point, Hofer seemed to suggest Sirinek went too far when he confronted Neulieb about not understanding finances. Neulieb explained she isn’t a “tax person.”

“The people that do this are all citizen politicians,” he said. “She’s acknowledged she didn’t know she was supposed to withdraw the exemption within 60 days.”

Neulieb said she’s been living in rented housing at 2008 Wabash St. since August. She also claims to be renting out the property she owns outside city limits.

Sirinek tried to focus board members’ attentions on the tax-credit issue, not on where she was sleeping and receiving her mail.

“I know there’s a couple different ways you can interpret that, but I think for public officials, we should construe that in the single most constrictive way that we possibly can,” he said.

Neulieb claims she didn’t realize she had to cancel the exemption.

Local officials, including Common Councilwoman Pat Boy and County Councilman Earl Cunningham, testified to the board, making points bolstering Neulieb’s position.

Neulieb said after the hearing she never doubted the board would rule in her favor.

“I was very confident in what I was doing,” she said.

Sirinek, who was representing John G. Bowerman, a Michigan City resident, said he didn’t know whether he would appeal the board’s decision.

“Either she’s perpetrating a fraud on the county taxpayers as it relates to the homestead exemption, or she’s perpetrated fraud, I believe, as it relates to her eligibility for residency and to run for city clerk,” he said.

La Porte County Clerk Lynne Spevak, who also votes on the board, said the challenger can still file a lawsuit if he wants. She said absentee ballots will be ready by April 4 for the May 3 election.

Neulieb, who’s been deputy clerk for years, faces Mike Dempsey and Michael Palmer.