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About CarmelStrong.com

We focus on the actions that result in Government waste, empire-building and the detrimental impact this will have on Carmel’s citizens over time. We cite the facts, provide our sources and we do the Math.

If you have any suggestions or comments, please feel free to add that information to a blog post. If you don’t see a blog post with a topic you find relevant, please send an email to carmelstrong@gmail.com and we will try to get it added!

Of Parking Garages, Dense Development and Jim Brainard’s Ponzi Scheme

Of Parking Garages, Dense Development and Jim Brainard’s Ponzi Scheme

Ponzi [pon-zee] noun A swindle in which a quick return, made up of money from new investors, on an initial...
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City Hall being used for private profit at taxpayer expense?

Recent events have demonstrated a new low for the ethically challenged administration of Carmel mayor Jim Brainard and beg the...
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‘Strong Towns’ Author: Local Governments Bear The Weight of Imprudent Growth

‘Strong Towns’ Author: Local Governments Bear The Weight of Imprudent Growth

The outlook is not good for the nation's cities if current trends continue. (Podcast on site) That's according to Charles...
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Hotel Carmichael Mock ups

Hotel Carmichael Mock ups

Opening May 2020, Hotel Carmichael will emerge as Carmel’s first lifestyle boutique hotel. Follow along as we reveal sneak peeks...
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The Rent is too damn high!

The Rent is too damn high!

Latest About Events Podcasts Community The Book Join the Movement The Paradox of Persistent Vacancies and High Prices November 27,...
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Lotteries, a tax on people who can’t do math?

Lotteries, a tax on people who can’t do math?

        I noticed my good friend Carmel Bruce Kimball is touting a potential lottery for the socialistic-private...
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Economic Development as if Citizens and Small Business actually matters!

Economic Development as if Citizens and Small Business actually matters!

Things Carmel could have done other than borrowing $1.36B for E.D. and Developer incentives that should be unnecessary in the...
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Dan McFeeley drinking beer and being rude for a $8,000+/month

Dan McFeeley drinking beer and being rude for a $8,000+/month

Dan McFeeley was a writer for the Indy Star who ingratiated himself with Mayor Brainard through repetitive superlatives. He romanced...
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Is Carmel Social Media a City site or not?

Is Carmel Social Media a City site or not?

The number of Councilors that use the site for both self and business promotion and the banning of accepted members...
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A Former Derivatives Analyst gives the true state of Carmel’s current finances

A Former Derivatives Analyst gives the true state of Carmel’s current finances

Derivatives Analyst gives 2020 update on Carmel finances and S&P rating.   This chart would represent the impact of the...
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Carmels Delicate Condition.

Carmels Delicate Condition.

How much empty space is too much? Of 383 available commercial properties in Carmel (0nly 217 were available in March...
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2020’s First City Council Meeting!

2020’s First City Council Meeting!

On Monday, 01/06/2020, look for the Mayor to be talking dollars and cents ($200M+?) as he has in the first...
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Sophia Square seems to be in a death spiral.

Sophia Square seems to be in a death spiral.

Sophia Square: is a smooth landing possible? A "death spiral" is a situation that keeps getting worse and that is...
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Maintenance is Carmel’s Achilles Heel. It is an obvious issue at Sophia Square.

Maintenance is Carmel’s Achilles Heel. It is an obvious issue at Sophia Square.

With the elimination of the Clerk-Treasurers office Mayor Brainard has closed the door on any oversight. What we think is...
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Sophia Square – The Promotional Plans

Sophia Square – The Promotional Plans

So what is the reality today at Sophia Square on Main Street? Next:  We will explore this much-ballyhooed project less...
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IBJ Special Report: Former Business Associates Turn On Ozdemir, Accuse Him Of Corrupt Business Practices

IBJ Special Report: Former Business Associates Turn On Ozdemir, Accuse Him Of Corrupt Business Practices

Saturday, March 08, 2014 IBJ Special Report: Former Business Associates Turn On Ozdemir, Accuse Him Of Corrupt Business Practices The...
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PART 2: Just how does Carmel keep tax rates low while spending more and more each year?

PART 2: Just how does Carmel keep tax rates low while spending more and more each year?

  In Part 1, we described the delicate balance of municipal government finance – revenues, expenses and the tax base. ...
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PART 1: Just how does Carmel keep tax rates low while spending more and more each year?

PART 1: Just how does Carmel keep tax rates low while spending more and more each year?

A major talking point of Carmel mayor Jim Brainard and those councilors aligned within him on the City Council is...
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$60 million courtesy of Clay Township:  Carmel’s debt addiction keeps growing

$60 million courtesy of Clay Township: Carmel’s debt addiction keeps growing

"Where there is no accountability, there will also be no responsibility." ― Sunday Adelaja The Carmel City Council has approved...
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How Carmel’s elected incumbents can claim the lowest tax rate in the county, yet you end up paying more and more to the city each year

How Carmel’s elected incumbents can claim the lowest tax rate in the county, yet you end up paying more and more to the city each year

“There is no worse tyranny than to force a man to pay for what he does not want merely because...
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Did Jim Brainard fail to report Thousands of dollars in gifts on Statement of Economic Interest?

Did Jim Brainard fail to report Thousands of dollars in gifts on Statement of Economic Interest?

What happened to Barnes and Thornburg professional fees for Campaign Finance Report refilings in 2018? Brainard was still trying to...
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Rollo Tomasi is alive and well in Carmel, Indiana

Rollo Tomasi is alive and well in Carmel, Indiana

Jack (Kevin Spacey):  "Why in the world do you want to go digging any deeper into the Nite Owl Killings,...
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The Republican primary ballot:  The one tool for change available to each Carmel voter

The Republican primary ballot: The one tool for change available to each Carmel voter

Tomorrow is Primary Election Day in Carmel. Polls will be open between the hours of 6:00AM – 6:00PM. Please remember...
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Noblesville Levinson Building; Will it ‘create a Frankenstein of design that tries to please everyone’?

Noblesville Levinson Building; Will it ‘create a Frankenstein of design that tries to please everyone’?

How high is it? – On February 12, 2019 Noblesville Common Council quietly passed Ordinance 07-01-19 allowing “The Levinson” to...
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Misleading of Carmel Citizens; statement from Jeanne Book “I support Glynn for Mayor”

Misleading of Carmel Citizens; statement from Jeanne Book “I support Glynn for Mayor”

To my friends and members of the Carmel and Indianapolis Media: I wanted to comment on a mailer that was...
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A message from Rick Sharp

A message from Rick Sharp

I and many others, not dependent on the Brainard administration for our livelihood, have experienced the disregard for the truth...
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A message from Fred Glynn

A message from Fred Glynn

To the Citizens of Carmel: On May 2, 2019, a dishonest and misleading mailer began hitting your mailboxes from Mayor...
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(UPDATE) Has Jim Brainard’s failing campaign thrown in the towel?

(UPDATE) Has Jim Brainard’s failing campaign thrown in the towel?

In perhaps the final gasp of a failing re-election campaign, Jim Brainard's campaign organization sent out a negative hit-piece focused...
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Your vote:  Your right.  Your obligation.  Your community’s need.

Your vote: Your right. Your obligation. Your community’s need.

“Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn...
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When the Messengers get in the way of the Message

When the Messengers get in the way of the Message

As the campaign of Carmel’s incumbent mayor Jim Brainard begins a last-minute all-out media blitz in an increasingly desperate attempt...
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Is a last-minute media blitz an acknowledgement by the Brainard campaign that they are in deep trouble?

Is a last-minute media blitz an acknowledgement by the Brainard campaign that they are in deep trouble?

As the final days count down toward the upcoming May 7th municipal primary election, Carmel’s incumbent mayor Jim Brainard and...
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Why does support for incumbents appear so weak outside of Carmel’s central core?

Why does support for incumbents appear so weak outside of Carmel’s central core?

One week from today, those Carmel voters that have not already cast their votes via early or absentee ballot will...
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Mary Sue Rowland comments with application to Noblesville and Carmel

Mary Sue Rowland comments with application to Noblesville and Carmel

former Mayor of the City of Noblesville and served 3 terms on Noblesville Common Council A word to the voters...
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What are Doug Haney, Mayor Brainard and all the Incumbents hiding?

What are Doug Haney, Mayor Brainard and all the Incumbents hiding?

On April 1, 2019 a records request for the Statement of Economic Interest was acknowledged by Doug Haney. To date...
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Can you believe anything Douglas Haney says?

Can you believe anything Douglas Haney says?

"Citizen" Doug Haney wrote the following Letter to the Editor: This question is asked because he is making accusations about...
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One City, One Future, Two Visions

One City, One Future, Two Visions

The current campaign for Mayor of Carmel offers voters two rather starkly contrasting visions of what the next four years...
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Who is the harasser? Pauley, Brainard or is it all of us?

Who is the harasser? Pauley, Brainard or is it all of us?

From: Eric Morris Date: April 26, 2019 at 1:50:43 PM EDT To: Ann Marie Shambaugh <annmarie@youarecurrent.com> Subject: Letter to the...
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Jim Brainard:  deflecting (but not denying) claims of inappropriate behavior toward another elected official

Jim Brainard: deflecting (but not denying) claims of inappropriate behavior toward another elected official

In what was already a spirited primary campaign season, recent allegations from Carmel Clerk-Treasurer Christine Pauley of sexual harassment and...
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Protected: Carmel Stand Together! We must quit standing alone as neighborhood after neighborhood is violated for Mayor Brainard and his crony mandated improvements!

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Will Carmel voters end up with the best representation, or simply the best representation that money can buy?

Will Carmel voters end up with the best representation, or simply the best representation that money can buy?

Pre-primary campaign finance reports were due at 12:00N yesterday (Monday, April 22nd) for all candidates in the upcoming May 7th...
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Jim Brainard:  spurned advances lead to harassment

Jim Brainard: spurned advances lead to harassment

The recent revelation that Carmel's incumbent mayor Jim Brainard attempted to lure Carmel's incumbent Clerk-Treasurer Christine Pauley to accompany him...
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Mayor Brainard’s Roman Holiday; was it sexual harassment? You decide…

Mayor Brainard’s Roman Holiday; was it sexual harassment? You decide…

In 2015 Christine Pauley ran on Mayor Brainard's slate of candidates. On his 2015 Campaign Finance Reports he claimed he...
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Brainard’s European jaunt Summer of 2016; Booty Call or Saving the World?

Brainard’s European jaunt Summer of 2016; Booty Call or Saving the World?

So what happened to Mayor Romeo Brainard after he was kept from roamin' in Rome? He took a 5-day sidetrip...
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Of propaganda, talking-points and those that spin them

Of propaganda, talking-points and those that spin them

With the clock ticking down to the final days of the 2019 municipal primary season, it seems incumbents at Carmel...
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Jim Brainard:  deceptionis consilium

Jim Brainard: deceptionis consilium

Six-term incumbent Carmel mayor Jim Brainard faced off against his primary challenger, Hamilton County Councilor Fred Glynn in a mayoral...
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Looking past the carefully-crafted talking points of incumbents

As the clock counts down the final three weeks until the municipal primary election on Tuesday, May 7th, there is...
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Johnson Addition to meet on a planned but previously withdrawn Variance.

Post from our friends in Johnson Addition! Hi Neighbors, we've heard right after the 2019 election they are going to...
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A Jim Brainard interview worthy of a Philip K. Dick alternative-reality plot

  This morning, incumbent Carmel Mayor , Jim Brainard, was interviewed in-studio by WIBC radio host Tony Katz during his...
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The heavy hand of incumbency: arbitrary and uneven enforcement of sign ordinances

As the days count down toward the May 7th municipal primary election, incumbents at Carmel City Hall have issued directives...
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Mayor Jim Brainard either lied to Ann Marie Shambaugh or he has Carmel Police conducting off the record investigations.

Mayor Jim Brainard either lied to Ann Marie Shambaugh or he has Carmel Police conducting off the record investigations.

On Friday April 5, I spoke with Ann Marie Shambaugh. She has a copy of the Police report in hand...
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Brainard & The CRC – Master illusionists with an agenda and no oversight.

Brainard & The CRC – Master illusionists with an agenda and no oversight.

The purpose of the Carmel Redevelopment Commission is to maximize TIF! By maximizing TIF they create debt instruments to add...
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Shaver asks more questions (third request) about development in Carmel  Posted By: The Reporter April 4, 2019

Shaver asks more questions (third request) about development in Carmel Posted By: The Reporter April 4, 2019

Dear President Worrell and Members of the City Council, First, it is important to note that your most recent response...
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Mayoral Deb(t)ate: your turn to ask the candidates about proper fiscal management and restraint

Mayoral Deb(t)ate: your turn to ask the candidates about proper fiscal management and restraint

       A very simple thought for the day. Would you ever allow someone to take your checkbook and...
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Carmel City Council President Worrell responds to letter from Mike Shaver

Posted By: The Reporter March 22, 2019 Dear Editor, On March 18, Mr. Shaver addressed the Carmel City Council claiming...
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Shaver: What exactly did Pedcor “guarantee”?

March 27, 2019 Dear Editor: The following is a response from Carmel resident Mike Shaver to the members of the...
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TIF: Tax-Increment Financing or Taxpayer-Indebted Future?

Tax-Increment Financing (TIF) has been a prominent funding tool used by local and regional governments for decades to spur redevelopment...
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Boosters and Haters: when loving your community is not enough

"I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man...
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Carmel’s missing buildings and the phantom TIF; Worrell’s response to Mike Shaver’s Second request for documents

Posted By: The Reporter March 28, 2019 Dear Editor: The following is an email response sent from Carmel City Council...
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Mayor Brainard calls a Technical Foul – Removes Campaign Signs & everything but the American Flag

    Will he be back for the Stars and Stripes? It would appear Dr. Tim Hannon's flags are also...
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How to build a hotel without financing, public support or proven demand — and create a fiscal crisis at the Carmel Redevelopment Commission

Imagine that you reach a point in your life where you decide you want to build your own house. Not...
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When full transparency is worth more than a cup of coffee

Have you ever noticed? Carmel's mayor and council incumbents are quick to trot out their cut-and-paste proclamations to convince us...
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Why does a six-term incumbent need to find ways to eliminate challenges from within his party anyway?

    As Hamilton County Democratic Party Chairman Joe Weingarten filed a request with the Hamilton County Election Board last...
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Register to vote now — your vote is more important than ever!

    "In selecting men for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect or denomination of...
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Missing teeth and more New Commercial and Apartment Space is coming fast!

Missing teeth and more New Commercial and Apartment Space is coming fast!

What is Mayor Brainards plan for vacant space? There are 217 Commercial Properties available currently in Carmel!  How many thousand...
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How do you help a man in a tavern or a car crash? Pick them up or let them go!?

Old Town Tavern patron describes ‘helping’ Mayor Published: 4 February 2019 I’ve long heard the stories about the Mayors carousing...
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What did the neighborhoods impacted by the Auman Stop Sign think about it?

I am here to speak for the Removal of the Stop Sign on 126th and Auman Dr. February 15, 2015...
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Heard of the $21.8M Energy Center Boondoggle?

The first question to answer is what did we pay for the Energy Center? The following PDF shows we paid...
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Evan Lurie Gallery 12 years after!

Evan Lurie Gallery incites fury, with reason Author Archives November 15, 2007 Filed under PERSPECTIVES By: Jaclyn Chen <jchen@hilite.org> Yet...
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Can Carmel afford 4 more years of Brainard/Mestetsky generating $10.9M each month of new debt?

Since being re-elected to a SIXTH term in 2015 Mayor Brainard has indebted Carmel citizens an average of $10.9 million...
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Who investigates our elected officials? – Not Carmel police.

Are votes for sale in Carmel?  Is this Quid pro quo? Councilor says developer who has business in front of...
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How to listen to a Politician & propaganda neutralizers

Any time you hear a Politician speak, you should filter their words through the following: In 1937, Edward Filene helped...
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Carmel-sized Campaign Contributions come to Noblesville with Big Expectations!

Can an average citizen compete against Jensen's $46/vote powergrab with the financial assistance of Noblesville's Mayoral King Makers? Consider the...
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Is the County Election Board serious about corruption?

Or are they a part of a larger problem? Reader calls for changes to County Election Board Posted By: The...
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Buildings that don’t exist can not generate TIF?

Buildings that don't exist can't pay to cover Bond payments.   Full document and letter available at bottom of page...
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Categorizing Self-Serving Politicians, Cronies and Political Groupies

It seems a number of those who seek to lead us are afflicted in one of two ways: Self-Aggrandizement  -...
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The Palladium, Hotel Carmichael and the Simpson’s?

The only difference between the two projects is beside just some slick outsider (Artec) or (Coury Hospitality)/Pedcor pitching it, it...
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The Bailout; the shock, the truth!

The Bailout; the shock, the truth!

The Bailout; the shock that shook the city of Carmel to its core! To be sure we had numerous small...
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How The Auman Dr. Stop Sign won an election; Brainard’s campaign strategy for 2011 works like a charm in 2015 election.

How The Auman Dr. Stop Sign won an election; Brainard’s campaign strategy for 2011 works like a charm in 2015 election.

Jeff Worrell campaigning during Election day A.M. traffic with a sign that states: "This Stop Sign must go" and two...
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Brainard Cares – What are Mayor Brainard’s Commitments worth?

The Mayor's (C)ommitments are equal to his (A)ctual (R)esults plus his (E)xcuses. Or  C=(AR+E's) From the very beginning Mayor Brainard...
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Carmel Politics Take on an Indianapolis’ Flavor

The Use of Non-Profit Corporations to Avoid Accountability and Public Scrutiny Sunday, August 9, 2009 | By Paul K. Ogden...
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Mayor Brainard needs a driver! Second crash in two years.

Mayor Brainard needs a driver! Second crash in two years.

  By: Paris Lewbel Newly obtained video shows the latest crash and what happened after that crash occurred.    ...
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Mayor Brainard’s tenuous grasp on his campaign finances.

Mayor Brainard’s tenuous grasp on his campaign finances.

Friday, January 25, 2008 What Is Jim Brainard's Campaign Hiding? A campaign finance report filed by the campaign of Carmel...
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Brookshire Golf Club and Pool

Brookshire Golf Club and Pool

PUBLISHED: NOV 27TH, 2006 - 5:29PM (EST) UPDATED: AUG 26TH, 2016 - 6:34PM (EDT) Chris Proffitt/Eyewitness News Carmel - Soon, the City...
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The Performing Arts Center; Broken Promises

The Performing Arts Center; Broken Promises

Easily the Crown Jewel of Mayor James C. Brainard's reign the Palladium was a project run amuck from its beginnings...
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Woody Rider begs ‘Mr. Mayor please bring me a plan’

Woody Rider begs ‘Mr. Mayor please bring me a plan’

Mayor never rests, he was trying in October of 2016 to borrow for necessities. In 2017 the necessity was a...
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Orderly but Dumb, are we doing it right?

Orderly but Dumb, are we doing it right?

Carlson's Law looks at the balance between autocracy and democracy in an organization: "In a world where so many people...
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Mayor raises taxes 19% and asks for 40% raise the same year.

Mayor raises taxes 19% and asks for 40% raise the same year.

Mayor Brainard can't handle the truth, or at the very least he has serious issues with honesty. This Facebook post...
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Private Investigators investigated Private Carmel citizens for over a decade.

Private Investigators investigated Private Carmel citizens for over a decade.

Mayor Brainard used private investigators to gather information on private citizens? The motivation seems to be to save us from...
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The Balance of Power in Carmel

The Balance of Power in Carmel

  Chuck Marohn President and Founder of Strong Towns comments on the preferred type of corruption If on the other...
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City Center Parking’s $116,847/space Parking Garage Boondoggle

City Center Parking’s $116,847/space Parking Garage Boondoggle

You didn't read it wrong! Carmel paid $116,847/space for 184 spaces. $21.5M Total How much is the highest median cost...
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Carmel has three times the debt of Fishers… Why?

Carmel has three times the debt of Fishers… Why?

Fact is all of the cities and towns on this list combined owe less than Carmel. That is right Carmel's...
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Mayor involved in wreck in city-leased vehicle for second time in 2 years

Mayor involved in wreck in city-leased vehicle for second time in 2 years

By Ann Marie Shambaugh on December 30, 2018 Carmel Community For the second time in as many years, Carmel Mayor...
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Mayor’s crash – Why skip a test you confirmed you knew you were supposed to take?

Mayor’s crash – Why skip a test you confirmed you knew you were supposed to take?

The initial news report of the Mayor's accident raises nothing but questions.   If an elected official is involved in...
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City of Carmel Contact List:

Plan Commission:  Contact Joe Shestak, Administrator, Board of Zoning Appeals | Plan Commission, City of Carmel, Department of Community Services, One Civic Square, Carmel, IN 46032.  (317) 571-2419

jshestak@carmel.in.gov  (Ask him to please distribute your email to all of the Plan Commissioners OR BZA members, whichever is appropriate.)

Jacob Quinn:  Deputy Clerk for City Council  jquinn@carmel.in.gov   317-571-2413

 Carmel City Councilors 2020:

City Council-At Large    Timothy Hannon            507-0812   thannonmd@gmail.com

City Council-At Large    Kevin “Woody” Rider    503-7095    krider@carmel.in.gov

City Council-At Large    Jeff Worrell                     471-9836   jworrell@carmel.in.gov

Central District              Bruce Kimball                  476-0841   bkimball@carmel.in.gov

Southeast District         Adam Aasen                                        adamaasen@gmail.com

Southwest District        Tony Green                      605-1811   antgreen@att.net

Northeast District         Sue Finkam                      614-5835   sfinkam@carmel.in.gov

Northwest District        Laura Campbell               432-9985   lcampbell@carmel.in.gov

West District                  Miles Nelson                   313-7653   miles@milesforcarmel.com

Mike Hollibaugh:  Director of Community Services  mhollibaugh@carmel.in.gov

Mayor Brainard: (317) 571-2401  jbrainard@carmel.in.gov

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