anonjusticeindy-blog

[anonjusticeindy-blog]

Mayor Brainard Timeline - 24 Years as Carmel Mayor is Enough

The mayor of the City of Carmel, Indiana has come under criticism for what are perceived to be inappropriate uses of his political power and unacceptable behavior up to and including sexual harassment.   This is what is BELIEVED to be a timeline of Mayor Jim “Crash” Brainard’s behavior over the last four years in office based on multiple sources, news reports and public records. ELECTION SEASON 2015 During the last primary season (Spring of 2015) the mayor pursued a relationship with a younger woman he met at a political event.  His divorce was filed 10/05/2015 in Boone County, presumably to keep it quiet and out of the local headlines.  During this time period Clerk-Treasurer candidate Christine Pauley was also a candidate for office - as were numerous city council candidates the mayor supported in order to drive out existing opposition to his liberal spending and heavy-handed government control agenda. During this same time period the mayor had access to an apartment (that may have been provided by a developer) at One One Six near 116th and College. There are questions about whether the apartment was provided to the mayor by the developer for free, was provided for use by the city or was paid for, in full, by the mayor.  Campaign finance reports show no in-kind contribution by the developer. The woman the mayor was pursuing was assisted by him in finding employment in Carmel and had access to and use of this apartment. The mayor extended an invitation for the woman to secretly accompany him on the first leg of a trip to Europe which she declines. Ultimately, the woman ended the relationship although it is believed he may have continued to pursue her (or that it could have been intermittent) and that she could have been the proximate cause for his divorce filing.  His influence over the local community, the job he helped secure and possible influence over other matters and persistent presence in the community likely being a complication or pressure point to appear loyal and grateful. A source suggested that at least two Carmel City Councilors privately scolded the mayor for his potentially embarrassing pre-divorce affair. He then turns his attention to the newly elected Clerk-Treasurer who he had supported and helped with campaign funds. He had acted as something of a mentor to candidate Christine Pauley who was new to running for office. While grateful for the mayor’s help and guidance, the Clerk-Treasurer finally decides she is not interested in the mayor romantically despite his continued interest and rejects his advances. He persists even including forwarding an adult store’s advertising e-mail to her.  Recommendations by a consultant to increase the pay for city officials are passed with the exception being the Clerk-Treasurer's recommended increase is significantly reduced.   The Clerk-Treasurer makes a claim that this is unfair and could be discrimination or a reprisal and then is viciously attacked by the mayor's long-time supporter and attack dog, city councilor Ron Carter.   The City Council then effectively moves to eliminate the Clerk-Treasurer's regular speaking time at City Council events and remove her from the dais. Also, in 2016 the Council removes the Clerk-Treasurer’s access to legal funds.  Additionally, the mayor’s personal e-mail address shows up on a list of those that had accounts that were compromised at Ashley Madison.  Ashley Madison was a dating service that catered to married people and promoted discretion.   FROM 2015 TO 2019

Carmel's debt increased by between $300 and $400 million to in excess of $1.3 billion. Carmel's debt now exceeds Fishers, Noblesville and Westfield combined. Projects include a government partnership to construct, own and manage a hotel in competition with privately owned hotels. This is pursued despite the hotel industry and lenders themselves not believing it is a good investment.  The mayor's pursuit of city financing for $5 million carousel becomes a reach too far and is rejected by the City Council.   Despite claiming his opponent was lying during the 2015 primary campaign that property taxes would go up, property taxes did indeed go up making mayor Brainard the liar. April 20, 2017:  the mayor avoids taking an alcohol/drug test after crashing his city provided vehicle requiring it be towed away. This is required of all city employees if they are involved in an accident requiring a tow away.  The Mayor quickly walks away form TV Reporters attempting to investigate. A city representative announces that the mayor is exempt from the city policy - an intolerable double-standard. Police camera footage has him acknowledging to an officer at the scene that he is required to take the test.  June 21, 2017: The IndyStar reports that Mayor Brainard’s car has sustained significant damage along one side. The mayor claims it must have been damaged while parked somewhere and suggests he will pay for repairs out of his own pocket.  Public suspects a possible accident while impaired. No parking lot video of an incident is ever pursued or released and nobody is aware of any police report being filed. On December 15, 2018, Mayor Brainard unbelievably pulls his vehicle into oncoming traffic to make a u-turn on Main Street causing an accident. He attempts this u-turn after having just exited one of the round-about intersections where it would have been very safe to just proceed around. 2019 A man named Dan Hennessey speaks to a local, well-connected political volunteer on or about January 28, 2019 about whether he'd be able to make more money working for the Brainard campaign than for the challenger's (Fred Glynn's) team.  He is advised that a meeting can be set up. By January 30, 2019 it is shared in private communications that  Hennessey will now be working for the Brainard campaign (or, getting our facts right as the ridiculous mayor demanded in recent debate, 'the consultant to the campaign'). This arrangement is reported to be for around $40,000 ($10,000 per month during the primary election campaign) - an unheard of sum of money for minor campaign work.  On or about February 3-5, 2019 a meeting takes place where Hennessey's new employer - (in effect if not in fact The Brainard Campaign) claims that Hennessey attempted to request a bribe from The Brainard Campaign in order for Glynn not to pursue the mayor’s office.  A third party, presumably innocent to what is going on, is invited to the meeting possibly to 'observe' what was likely a pre-meditated set-up. Hennessey indeed takes an "offer" to candidate Glynn, who rejects it. Hennessey contacts at least one other person to pressure Glynn to take the Brainard campaign's 'bribe'.  Fred Glynn continues to reject being paid to sit out the election. Some days, perhaps approximately a week later, Hennessey advises Glynn that he is going to make more money working for the Brainard team.  He does not advise Glynn that his deal with Brainard's team was struck up to two weeks prior. April, 2019: It is reported that the IRS is investigating the city's handling of a bond issue used to finance The Barrington which has filed for bankruptcy protection and has many elderly people in jeopardy of losing hundreds of thousands of dollars each. The bond issue is from before the current Clerk-Treasurer was elected. A woman hired during the current Clerk-Treasurer's tenure in that office is terminated. The mayor immediately suggests he might hire the woman elsewhere. Reports circulate that the woman was terminated for violating department policy on sharing documents - possibly by colluding with Mayor Brainard directly to bypass normal department processes. The Clerk-Treasurer, having decided to not pursue a further elected office in the City of Carmel and approaching a time where she can be free from reprisal, levies a harrassment claim against Mayor Brainard and provides evidence of him forwarding inappropriate, unprofessional material to her including an e-mail regarding sex toys. On-line, another woman publicly suggests she, a single mother, had an 'uncomfortable' one-on-one meeting the mayor initiated supposedly to address her concerns about the city.  She eventually deletes the post to ‘avoid drama’ but then she shares the next day that somebody suspicious drove by her house and took pictures of her home and a political yard sign.

Come to your own conclusions, but this is a lot of drama and perhaps it really is time for a change in city leadership?