HAMMOND | It's definite 2nd District Councilman Al Salinas will not be going to trial on a battery charge before the May 8 primary, and he will be out of town May 21 when the next pretrial conference is scheduled.

The latest scheduled date for the bench trial was April 26 but it was canceled during a pretrial conference March 26. It was the sixth bench trial to be canceled since the case came before Lake Superior Court Judge Nicholas Schiralli more than two years ago.

A pretrial conference has been set for May 21 when Salinas is scheduled to attend the four-day annual conference of the International Council of Shopping Centers May 20 through May 23 in Las Vegas.

"I'll have to call my lawyer," Salinas said. "I forgot (the trade show)."

Salinas' attorney, William Padula, of Munster, did not return a call for comment.

Salinas declined to discuss persistent rumors that the repeated delays are politically motivated.

Former Hammond City Court Judge Peter Katic, however, said the two-year court lag is "not unusually long."

Nor did Katic believe that Salinas' status as a public official plays into the court's decision to allow the continuances.

Katic, a long-time politically active attorney now serving on the North Township Board, served as city judge from 1984 until 1991.

Salinas should be treated as any resident facing similar charges, Katic said.

"At some point the judge must decide enough is enough," he added.

Katic also said Salinas is not required to attend all court hearings since an attorney can act on his behalf.

The case stems from an incident in September 2004 when former city truck driver Michael Planer was trimming weeds near the Lost Marsh Golf Course.

Salinas contends Planer threatened him with the weed trimmer, prompting him to hit Planer to avoid being struck himself.

Planer, however, alleges Salinas intentionally provoked the altercation in retribution for a union grievance Planer had won against Salinas.

Planer did not return a phone call for comment.

Salinas was indicted by a Lake County grand jury in February 2005. He faces a maximum one-year jail sentence on the Class A misdemeanor charge if found guilty.

Salinas said early on he would take his chances by going to trial rather than barter a plea agreement.