Political Chess Match Begins Over 1% Income Tax

Filed Under COIT, Fran DuPey, Income Tax, Lake County Commissioners, Will Smith Jr, property tax crisis, taxes

The political chess game surrounding the 1% Lake County income tax is being played.

The moves so far:

The Lake County Council passed a 1% income tax, 5-1.

The Lake County Commissioners vetoed it, 2-1.

Prediction: The Lake County Council overrides the veto and someone files a lawsuit challenging the legitimacy of councilman Will Smith, Jr.’s vote.

Says Lake County Commissioner Fran DuPey, according to the Northwest Indiana Times:

DuPey attacked council members who voted for the tax Tuesday night.

“The vote of one council member for the income tax is subject to challenge because of a criminal conviction,” she said.

DuPey was referring to the federal felony conviction of Councilman Will Smith, D-Gary, in September on a charge of filing a false tax return in 2001. He is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

DuPey said the vote of Councilwoman Christine Cid, D-East Chicago, for the tax was a conflict of interest because Cid is a county government employee and violated her campaign promises.

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Comments

3 Responses to “Political Chess Match Begins Over 1% Income Tax”

Buzzcut on December 20th, 2007 2:17 pm

I’ve already approached the legendary attorney John Price (remember him?) to see if he’s interested in a lawsuit on my behalf.

He says that it’s pretty clear that Will Smith was impeached by law and is not a councilmember, and thus anything that he voted on is null and void.
Chris on December 20th, 2007 4:38 pm

Hi Buzzcut,

It would make an interesting lawsuit. Keep us up to date with what happens, if you decide to proceed.
Will Buzzcut File Tax Lawsuit? | Region Life on December 21st, 2007 10:20 am

[...] Buzzcut in a comment about an earlier post about the Lake County income tax passed by the Lake County [...]