Guess Who Is Lobbying the the Mayor for Buckingham North of South Development?

Hat tip to Gary Welsh of Advance Indiana on this one.

Well it all makes sense now. Guess who is the lobbyist for Buckingham Company? Remember, Buckingham is the company which, when it couldn't get financing for the near southside "North of South" project deemed too risky by every bank Buckingham approached, got the City to pledge $86 million dollars in financing, using our property tax dollars of course.

If your guess is Tom John, Marion County Republican Chairman, you'd be right.

Tom John is on the City's website as a lobbyist for Buckingham. The particular agencies he will be lobbying are the Bond Bank, the Department of Metropolitan Development and the Office of the Mayor.

There is an obvious conflict when the county chairman, who has a great deal of say over the fate of Republican elected officials in the county, is lobbying Republicans for the project, even though it may well not be in the party's best interest to support it.

Here's what the page says. I thought I should post it in case Tom John pulls a Ryan Vaughn and has the page erased.

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Real Party in Interest: Buckingham Companies
Termination Date:
Subject Matter(s): property interests

Full Legal Name of Employer: Buckingham Companies
Common Name or Acronym of Employer: Buckingham
Business Address: 941 N. Meridian Street
Business City: Indianapolis
State: IN
Zip Code: 46204
Phone: 317-554-6740
Web Site:
Termination Date:
Compensation Amount:

Subject Matter of Engagement Related Agencies
property interests

- Bond Bank
- Department of Metropolitan Development
- Office of the Mayor