Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., campaigns at Mishawaka High School in Mishawaka, Ind., Friday, March 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Story Created:
Apr 9, 2008 at 7:54 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Apr 9, 2008 at 8:10 PM EDT
MISHAWAKA — Republican Mayor Jeff Rea has written a letter to the mostly Democratic Common Council telling the council that Democrat Hillary Clinton’s visit two weeks ago cost the city $1,865 in overtime for city workers.
He also reminded council members that former U.S. Rep. Chris Chocola paid the city for the overtime cost when President Bush appeared at a Chocola fundraiser in 2006.
In February 2006, council members and the Mishawaka Fraternal Order of Police said the city should not pay overtime for Bush’s visit because it was a fundraising event for Chocola. So Chocola paid the city for the $2,907 to cover overtime pay, according to Rea.
In his letter to council members, Rea estimated overtime from the Clinton visit at $1,865.
“In 2006, I did not ask the congressman to reimburse the city, though he ultimately elected to do just that,” Rea wrote. “I do not intend to ask the senator to reimburse the city either. However, we would gladly accept the reimbursement should the Clinton campaign or the Democratic party think it is appropriate.”
James Benjamin, former Democratic council member from the 5th district, said if Hillary Clinton had come to appear at a fundraiser, “I would have been adamant she pay the expenses.”
But, he said, her appearance was open to the public.
Dale “Woody” Emmons, D-1st, the other council member who complained about the city paying for security for the Bush visit, is out of town.
Current council President John Roggeman, D-at large, and former council president Gregg Hixenbaugh, D-at large, both also pointed to the differences between the two stops. Hixenbaugh said only people who paid for tickets were allowed to hear Bush. Clinton’s visit was free for the audience.
But Hixenbaugh and Roggeman both said personally they believe the city should provide security when national-level political figures come to visit.
“I don’t think we should stand with an invoice at the borders to the city,” Hixenbaugh said.
Friday, Apr 11 at 2:00 AM Dollar Bill wrote ...
Mitch, there was little doubt that someone would be interested in developing downtown Mishawaka. In fact there were two interested parties, one local and one in Indy. However neither would have donated $10,000 to Rea's campaign fund like the current developer did. The city could have charged more, a lot more, for that land and should have to try to recoup at least part of the $14 million it spent to clean up Uniroyal. Bring back Mike Hayes!