GOP advertises its disgust with elections board publication

CROWN POINT | The Lake County Republican chairwoman is denouncing a decision by a Lake County government department to buy a $3,600 advertisement in a Hammond publication with ties to Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr.

"I think it's a gross misuse of taxpayer money," Chairman Kim Krull complained Thursday of an advertisement she said lists polling places for Tuesday's general election and a sample ballot for all candidates in municipal elections in Hammond, Highland, East Chicago, Whiting, Griffith and Munster.

"Sally LaSota at the Board of Elections was asked to purchase this ad through the Board of Elections budget. I don't believe they are obligated to print a sample ballot in CR publications, which is owned by a McDermott friend," she said.

Jake Jacobs, CR Publications' owner, had served in past years as communications director for Hammond's Sanitary District with a salary of $50,000 a year until the practice ended in 2008. "It's clearly a pro-Democrat publication with a full-page McDermott's ad on its front page," she said.

Jacobs said Thursday the advertisement is similar to an advertisement that ran during the spring primary. "We run the same ad The Times runs," he said.

LaSota said the elections board frequently has purchased space in several local newspapers to publicize sample ballots and polling places to increase voter awareness and participation.

Pat Gabrione, one of two Republican members of the elections board, said he intends to investigate whether the board voted for the expenditure and if not, "that would be something inappropriate." Krull complains it was a "last-minute decision."

Kevin Smith, one of two Democratic members of the elections board, said such advertising was in the 2011 budget the elections board previously approved.

McDermott responded Thursday he didn't order anyone at the county elections board to advertise in the monthly publication, which has about 13,000 readers.

"I don't deny I know Jake Jacobs. I don't deny I have two (Democratic member) appointments to the elections board and I'm friends with the county clerk, but that doesn't mean everything the elections board does I ordered," McDermott said. "I'm very good at delegating. The elections board runs itself.

"These allegations are embarrassing for her. They have a desperate candidate and a desperate chairwoman throwing around baseless allegations," McDermott said.

McDermott is running for re-election Tuesday against Republican George Janiec, who lost by fewer than 500 votes to McDermott Jr. in 2007.