Henderson ethics, schMETHics: Matt Oakley challenges the Floyd County power duopoly. Matt Oakley loses. Turn the page.

On Tuesday evening, county government's entertainment cauldron threatened to approach full boil. It didn't, and the crisis of adulthood passed, but the squirming was chuckle-worthy.

Seems that council member Matt Oakley had announced his determination to shine a light on star prosecutor Keith Henderson's ethical lapses ...

Matt Oakley's assessment of the prosecutor's ethical breakdown doesn't stop with Keith Henderson.

 ... and precisely because other county government operatives were complicit in the containment effort, there was little chance Oakley's resolution would succeed, and it died for lack of a second from any one of the council's four Republicans (Oakley's probably a Maverick Independent by now) and two Democrats.

But of course it died. There is nothing a two-party power duopoly resents more than someone standing outside the fixed system of elites, peskily suggesting that those reposing within the circled wagons undertake the reform of themselves.

Trust me. I know this.

Even the nominal council "Democrats" were having none of it. Brad Striegel and Tom Pickett stared off zombie-eyed into the distance, and why not? Purported Democrats always have played a prominent role in county council's dysfunction, which may or may not be cured by an influx of hospital sale cash. Dixiecrat-wing (nut) heavies Ted Heavrin and Larry McAllister merrily pinched the feeding tube for decades, and were venerated by the self-styled urban Rockefeller "liberals."

On rare occasions one is covered with glory, but more often in dog poo. City council wouldn't police Dan Coffey, and county council will leave Henderson to his own devices, which we can only hope will be culminate in disbarment.

With those Baptist hospital proceeds burning holes in the pockets of all involved, who needs to be reminded about ethics?

Floyd County prosecutor won't have to pay back cash; Resolution asking Keith Henderson to repay legal fees fails, by Papa (Hanson Hole Puncher)

NEW ALBANY — A resolution demanding Floyd County Prosecutor Keith Henderson pay back $27,539 in funds used for his legal fees died for a lack of a second Tuesday night at the Floyd County Council meeting.

Councilman Matt Oakley introduced the resolution. He said Henderson received two payments, for $10,000 and $17,539, for his own personal legal fees and those funds should be repaid.

Matt Oakley's assessment of the prosecutor's ethical breakdown doesn't stop with Keith Henderson.

Keith Henderson's sell-by date fast approaches. To paraphrase Groucho Marx, there'll be joy unconfined. There'll be dancing in the streets, drinking in the saloons, and necking in the parlor.

Guffaws greet Keith Henderson for Circuit Court Judge: "Reprimand recommended against Floyd County Prosecutor ... over actions in David Camm case."

That said, someone needs to patiently explain to the Jeffersonville-billeted crew at Bill Hanson's perennially under-performing ad aggregator that is isn't exactly earth-shattering "breaking" (BREAKING!!!) news when a rival political party's resident graft coordinator demands that Henderson resign on ethical grounds.

Floyd County Democratic Chairman calls for Republican prosecutor to resign.

Spare me the ennui.

Just as a dog licks his balls, Adam Dickey issues proclamations like this one. They're valid only for yawning and stoking a fervent desire that if Evan Bayh actually wins, he'll beam the Boy Wonder with him to DC/Indy/Disney World and end (this particular) recurring local nightmare.

Verily, it's far more entertaining when one of Henderson's fellow Republicans casts him adrift without so much as a leftover lemon to ward off scurvy.

So, what's Matt Oakley up to?

I'm not suggesting he's being insincere, and what he says in his guest column makes perfect sense. I agree with him. However, it's worthy of note that his targets aren't limited to the errant prosecutor.

Maybe he's sniffing a palace coup. Mark Seabrook's getting on, and if Billy "Come Lately" Stewart doesn't win Steve Bush's seat on the board of commissioners, the longtime county fix will be out -- and with it, Henderson's safe haven.

I'll be voting for Dennis O. Roudenbush, the independent candidate for Floyd County 3rd District Commissioner.

Granted, it isn't as though we weren't aware of Henderson's many and varied abuses as prosecutor, and Seabrook's role in ignoring them -- as these posts from 2013 attest.

Keith Henderson and the county's chronic poverty.

Charting the "false narrative" of the Floyd County Commissioners.

Of course, Oakley has viewed this question from another helpful angle, as when he retired from the hospital sale task force.

Oakley asked the county council to remove him from the task force in April, bringing up his real estate deals with Floyd Memorial and his hope to avoid any perception of a conflict of interest.

But let's not be churlish and look gift hearses in the mouth. The Henderson era can't end quick enough, can it?

OAKLEY: Prosecutor ethics violation finding should serve as a wake-up call, by Matt Oakley (guest columnist at CNHI Court Avenue)

The Indiana Supreme Court hearing officer recently issued his report in the pending disciplinary action against Floyd County Prosecutor Keith Henderson. After a lengthy trial on the matter, the hearing officer found that Mr. Henderson had a personal interest (the book deal) while he was still representing the State, a conflict of interest and an ethical violation. A separate complaint also alleged Mr. Henderson made “material statements that were false, dishonest, and Fraudulent” when he submitted invoices for his personal attorney to defend him from ethics charges from this private book deal.

The findings of the report are not just an indictment against our prosecutor but also an indictment of the process of spending taxpayer money in Floyd County. It is often easier to ignore embarrassing problems like this rather than to address the situation, but burying our heads in the sand won’t fix the problem ...

... Next, when inappropriate claims get paid even under the rights process, we should try and rectify the situation immediately. Although it should have happened in 2012, I will ask for a vote to request Mr. Henderson to pay back the $27,539 Floyd County paid to his private attorney for his ethics investigation. The Ethics Commission also alleged that Mr. Henderson’s ethical violations resulted in a delay in three years of the prosecution of David Camm and more than $225,000 in excess costs and expenses to Floyd County. Inaction is not an option unless we want to repeat this unfortunate scenario.

Matt Oakley proposes giving the hospital to the Baptists for free, because otherwise, county government would have money.

Q. What happens when the newspaper combines cooking school !!! with pet o' the month nominations?

A. Bowser Burgoo.

(My compliments to the late, great John Ed Pearce for the dish)

Meanwhile, Matt Oakley takes his case for enforced starvation to an on-line click-bait bracket, which Ted Heavrin would win handily if he still served on the County Council.

Infrastructure and economic development? Just a thought.

online-petition/article_c9f293ee-f52f-11e5-af8e-57b048789e96.html">Floyd Councilman Matt Oakley proposing tax cut via online petition, by Chris Morris (Clark County Cornucopia)

NEW ALBANY — Matt Oakley does not plan to serve the final year of his term on the Floyd County Council doing nothing.

Oakley recently posted his plan to cut taxes online at the website floydforward.com, a free petition site where he is encouraging people to read the plan and sign it if they approve. He said with the money the county will receive from the sale of Floyd Memorial Hospital and Health Services — $75 million of $150 million will be paid up front if approved — county taxpayers should be able to keep more of their money. The other half from the sale will be paid over a 10-year period.

Credit candidate Oakley for dining independently.

6th district GOP council candidate Matt Oakley came in for lunch on Wednesday, and we had a good chat about localism, independent business and whether or not Papa John belongs in the discussion. Matt was a good sport about PizzaGate, so here's to equal time.

PizzaGate: Just making a point about localization, Candidate Oakley. Nothing more, nothing less.

PizzaGate: Just making a point about localization, Candidate Oakley. Nothing more, nothing less.

The photo was cribbed from Matt Oakley's 6th district candidate site on Facebook. We've brought PizzaGate to your attention precisely because Oakley once said that he makes decisions based on facts, and the fact is that buying local is a positive boost for the economy in Oakley's district, and city. A fervent discussion took place at my Facebook site. Jeff included a few prime links to AMIBA. Let's all think for a change, shall we?

Decision 2011: For those in the 6th about to plant a yard sign, we don't salute you.

We've spent the week thoughtfully contemplating New Albany's November 8 municipal elections, and to be honest, emigration keeps coming up in conversation. Today marks the end of numbered council districts. Tomorrow are the council at-large hopefuls, and the mayor foursome on Monday, October 17. Candidate listings are cribbed from the clerk's office, followed by brief comments by the senior editor.

NEW ALBANY COUNCIL DISTRICT 6
(Precincts New Albany 27, 41, 42, 43, 44)

R Matt Oakley 1118 Eastridge Drive 502-599-1251
D Suellen Wilkinson 1028 Castlewood Drive 812-948-9844
I Scott A. Blair 3925 Rainbow Drive 812-697-0128

Voting for the person? All three candidates for Jeff Gahan's seat in the 6th are first-rate, so that one's a wash.

Like the remainder of the Republican slate, with the possible exception of Jessica Knable, Oakley's given no hint of a position on specific issues. Neither has Blair, although one would expect an independent to be able to demonstrate his vision in contrast to the pathetic record of local political parties in doing so.

Wilkinson is running openly and proudly as a Democrat, and for that she ordinarily would deserve credit from the likes of me, except that in Floyd County, such a close and intimate alignment with the crumbling Democratic party structure implies a decided Dixiecrat shading, and nothing resembling her Wisconsin blue state credentials.

Am I the only one in the city seeking to judge hopefuls by their views on issues facing the city, and not yard sign placement?

NAC's pick: In spite of her proximity to the outgoing England administration, the choice is Wilkinson.