EVANSVILLE — Supporters and opponents of Evansville-Vanderburgh County government consolidation waged a war of endorsements Tuesday, with each releasing a list of current and former local elected officials who support their cause in the Nov. 6 referendum.
The 16-member pro-consolidation list includes former Mayors Jonathan Weinzapfel, Russ Lloyd Jr., and Mike Vandeveer and current Mayor Lloyd Winnecke. Weinzapfel and Vandeveer are Democrats, and Winnecke and Lloyd are Republicans. Yes! for Unification also cited pro-consolidation statements by Gov. Mitch Daniels, a Republican, and former Democratic Gov. Joe Kernan.
The 14-member anti-consolidation list, released by opponents, includes Democratic County Commissioner Steve Melcher, Republican County Clerk Susan Kirk, Democratic County Treasurer Rick Davis and Rep. Gail Riecken, D-Evansville. Kirk is Davis's challenger in November's election.
Vanderburgh County voters will cast ballots on a consolidation referendum on election day, Nov. 6.
"It's heartening to see elected officials who are putting the future ahead of political careers," said a pro-consolidation statement offered by County Commissioner Joe Kiefer, a Republican running this year without an opponent.
"Many officials, including at-large representatives like me, could lose their positions because of redistricting, but they nevertheless support the Plan of Reorganization because they believe it is best for the community."
But Riecken, a candidate for mayor in 1999, said consolidation supporters want "more concentrated, centralized leadership."
"I do not understand how they feel they're going to come about having a centralized leadership that is any better than what we have now," Riecken said Tuesday.
Riecken added that she is "very concerned" about the representation that 4th Ward and Downtown Evansville residents would have on a consolidated government's 15-member Common Council.
At least one former local elected official who has taken a stand did not make it onto Tuesday's endorsement lists.
Cheryl Musgrave, former Republican president of the County Commissioners, has a pro-consolidation sign on her Downtown Evansville property. Musgrave confirmed that she supports consolidation.