Councilor Ed Coleman first public official to suggest resignation of CIB president, Bob Grand

CIB Head Under Fire Councillor Suggests Resignation

By Stan Lehr, WIBC
4/16/2009

It's not just the bloggers pushing it now. A member of the City County Council is suggesting resignation to the head of the embattled Capital Improvement Board. It had gone unsaid in polite company until Libertarian Ed Coleman brought it up at a meeting of a Council Committee.

The bloggers have repeatedly attacked CIB President Bob Grand, who is also managing partner of the Indianapolis office of the law firm Barnes and Thornburgh. The firm represents the Indiana Pacers, one of the key players in the CIB budget crisis.



Coleman told Grand he was stating a suggestion as much as a question when he asked, "Have you recognized there is a possible conflict of interest and considered resigning so we can get someone on this board who represents the citizens and not the Simons?"



That's a reference to the Simon brothers, owners of the Pacers. Grand says he has acknowleged his position and has sometimes abstained from votes to avoid any conflict. And to the suggestion that he step aside, he said, "I strongly disagree." He referred to "aspersions" cast on blogs that "not many people read." That brought jeers from some in the meeting room. Grand was there, at least.



The Pacers and the Colts declined the committee's invitation to attend the meeting.



Councilor Ed Coleman, the only city councilor with the stones to suggest Grand resign, has also agreed to become temporary editor of the HFFT blog, while I pursue a personal project. To my knowledge, Councilor Coleman will also be the first public official in Indianapolis to be a political blogger.