VANDERBURGH CO., IN (WFIE) -
Citizens Opposed to Reorganization in Evansville, or C.O.R.E., made a request Thursday morning to the Vanderburgh County Election Board to set aside a petition to reorganize city and county government.
The question is, should the city of Evansville and Vanderburgh County reorganize as a single political subdivision?
C.O.R.E. wants this question removed from the November ballot.
They say the petition that was submitted in order to place the public question on the ballot isn't valid.
"The League of Women Voters of Southern Indiana initiated this petition. We started to investigate state law regarding petitions," said C.O.R.E. Co-Chair Bruce Ungethiem.
But Mayor Lloyd Winnecke says the petitions were certified in 2009.
"I think it shows that this group will do anything to derail the process," the mayor said.
C.O.R.E. has four claims
- First, they say there are not enough valid signatures to meet state requirements.
- They also claim the petition itself didn't clearly state the date of the election, which they say is required by state law.
- They claim some of the signatures on the petition were from outside Vanderburgh County.
- And finally, they say the petition is "misleading" and "vague."
"Our strategy was to adjust the plan so that it would be more acceptable to the folks in Vanderburgh County," Ungethiem said.
"What this group is saying, less than three months before the election, is "We don't think the people should decide," said Mayor Winnecke. "Whether you're for unified government or not, I think the bottom line is people should be able to vote 'yes' or 'no' and they're trying to stop that and I think that's unfair."
The Election Board will review the proposal to see if they can take action, or if the case will have to go to court.
The mayor says he's confident the question will remain on the November ballot.
For more information about C.O.R.E. visit their website.
To find out more about their opposition, Yes for Unification, post here.
Copyright 2012 WFIE. All rights reserved.
