Believe Kostas: Vote for Scales

After reading the [Sept. 12] Viewpoint by Kostas Poulakidas, I can only conclude that I will receive Kostas’s vote in the Nov. 8 municipal elections. I am exactly what Kostas is looking for in a city-county councilor.

My record as a councilor is above reproach. As an empty-nester and employed in no other capacity, I have time to make myself available to constituents, and I do.

I regularly meet with constituents who wish to offer ideas and opinions or need help with issues, and do so at all hours of the day. I visit their yards to see their drainage problems and hound the Department of Public Works until their problems are attended to. I am a fixture at neighborhood meetings.

My relentless work on behalf of neighborhoods has earned me three awards for outstanding service. Two of three of these awards (Coalition of Northeast Neighborhoods and Forest Manor Multi-Service Center) come from areas of the district whose populations are overwhelmingly Democrat and African-American. As a white Republican, one would have to surmise that I have been fairly hands-on in these communities to be recognized in such a way.

And last month, an entire neighborhood held a block party to thank me for the ways I helped them.

I once paid my own air fare to return to Indy for an important public works committee meeting during a family vacation time. I also changed my scheduled and ticketed European itinerary to provide the needed vote for township-Indianapolis Fire Department consolidation.

I have offered creative solutions to the city’s challenges. I consult with local and national experts on issues to gain a thorough understanding of all complexities of a proposal coming before council for a vote. I seek opinions from constituents through phone calls.

How on earth does Kostas think that he, a busy partner in a busy law firm, the father of two preschool-aged children and husband of a full-time working wife, can commit the time I do to constituents? Does he really think voters would prefer a registered lobbyist while representing their interests in his council votes? How does he define conflict of interest?

What a nice little campaign puff piece the IBJ offered for free to my opponent. As in Kostas’s words, “there are good candidates running for council who have some great ideas for Indianapolis.”

Take his advice—give me your attention. I am a councilor who goes above and beyond voter’s expectations, and I have earned their vote.

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Christine Scales
City-County Council representative, District 4