The gloves are off

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BY MARISA KWIATKOWSKI
mkwiatkowski@nwitimes.com
219.662.5333 | Thursday, November 08, 2007 | (8 comment(s))

CROWN POINT | Crown Point Mayor Dan Klein called Wednesday for the resignation of Lake County Republican Chairman John Curley and city chairman John Moos.

Klein said a change in Republican leadership is the only way to heal the party's rift. Democrat David Uran grabbed Crown Point's mayoral seat Tuesday from the divided GOP.

"I would ask for John Curley's resignation based on the fact he lost Highland, Hobart and Cedar Lake," Klein said. "I would accept his resignation based on those losses and ask we regroup so we can reorganize and move forward."

Klein said the party splintered four years ago when GOP mayoral candidate Gayle Van Sessen refused to endorse him after she lost the primary. It deepened into a chasm after the volatile 2007 primary when Klein lost his re-election bid to Van Sessen.

"John Curley supported her in the primary," Klein said. "With that support, he lost Crown Point to a Democrat and also lost a 25-year incumbent (City Councilman Paul Bremer)."

He tacked Moos onto the resignation list because he said Moos posted a sign about Klein tearing down the square before the primary.

Moos dismissed Klein's suggestion.

"That's just the way he operates," Moos said. "He blames everyone else for his shortcomings. He can ask for all the resignations he wants. The citizens of Crown Point already ordered his resignation."

Curley said he would only step down if Republicans, both winners and losers, gathered and made a unanimous decision to throw him out.

"It's very good to be a back-seat quarterback," he said. "If Mr. Klein has something he thinks would be constructive to bring this Republican Party together, then we will go forward. But it's not about how to take his group forward. It's the whole county, not just his corner of the world."

Longtime Republican City Councilman Bob Corbin, who drew ire from the party for openly supporting Uran, said lack of communication is what pulled him away from Van Sessen. He blamed Curley for not getting all the Republican candidates on the same page going into the election.

"For me, the most important thing is getting the best qualified people into leadership positions," Corbin said. "I've been concerned first about the community and being a Republican second. ... Qualified candidates were elected and life will continue."

Center Township Assessor Marty Wheeler, also a Republican, said the division in the party can be attributed to local favoritism.

"I think a change in the top echelon of the party would be very helpful," she said. "I think the leadership has made some serious mistakes. ... They don't treat everyone the same and they play favorites and that's not the way to run a party."

City Councilman-elect Mark Schweitzer said he believes the party members need to sit down and shout it out to heal the rift.

Center Township Trustee Eldon Strong agreed, saying it was time to put differences aside and support Crown Point.

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KitKat 57 wrote on Nov 8, 2007 7:40 PM:

" Where are the bridges and common ground, Dan? Klein burned them with his scorched earth approach to governing Crown Point. Mayor Forsythe is the last GOP mayor we've had. Klein is nothing but an opportunist and not a very bright one, at that. "

Lake County Republican wrote on Nov 8, 2007 3:03 PM:

" It is hard enough to be a Republican in this county without all of this complaining. The Republicans lost because they're Republicans. The Democrats encouraged the straight ticket vote on Tuesday. That's what happened. Even the best candidates for the job (Van Sessen, Guthrie) lost because of party politics. It's a shame. Crown Point and Hobart were such wonderful cities until now. Say hello to the new Gary and East Chicago. "

MPPS wrote on Nov 8, 2007 2:40 PM:

" But I agree with Klein. Someone has to pay. Not just Curley and Moos but all of the influential Republicans who could have helped win the election and didn't. Every last one of you who said " I would rather Rudy Clay run Crown Point that Gayle Van Sessen" are fired. You are no better than the North County goons that run everything else. And you are going to pay now that you live in Rudy's House. If Gayle was so unelectable someone should have stood up in the primary and said so. Not Democrat Dan Klein with a dirty letter but real Republicans. But then again, I can't see too many real Republicans in Crown Point. "

MPPS wrote on Nov 8, 2007 2:39 PM:

" They don't treat everyone the same and they play favorites and that's not the way to run a party." So funny to hear her say that. Fine way to run the Assesor's office though huh? Strong agreed, saying it was time to put differences aside and support Crown Point Time to put differences aside? That was on Tuesday. Corbin said. "I've been concerned first about the community and being a Republican second That makes Bob an Independent. He should be supported as such when it comes time to write checks for him. "

MAGNETIC wrote on Nov 8, 2007 11:15 AM:

" Don't worry Dan Klein we know what this is about; we know that you've been a closet democrat amoungst other things. With all the north county tactics and support you have had the last 4yrs, this noise your making is just an excuse to switch parties without making it obvious. "

good bye to the worst cp mayor wrote on Nov 8, 2007 9:58 AM:

" good bye to Klien he is the one who destroyed crown point he was a embrassment to the city and he now shows his child like behavior again good bye "

Republican Party in Chaos!!! wrote on Nov 8, 2007 9:38 AM:

" If a sports team loses consistently, you fired the coach and rebuild the team. In the Republican Party, if the candidates lose consistently, you blame the candidates. What's wrong with this picture? Proud to be a Democrat!!! "

CP POINT REP. wrote on Nov 8, 2007 8:43 AM:

" THANK GOODNESS IT'S UP TO TO DECENT REUPLICANS TO KEEP CURLEY IN.!! DAN'S SCREW-UP'S, ARE HIS OWN FAULT. THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR A NEW DEMO IN E.C.DAN. WHY DON'T PACK UP. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK JOHN! "

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