Huntingburg denies lease for planned Republican Party movie night at League Stadium; Mayor chastises parks superintendent for screening city requests
The Huntingburg Parks board met last night for the monthly meeting. On the agenda was the proposed lease of League Stadium by the Republican Party.
At the June board meeting Denny Spinner approached the board concerning leasing the stadium to show “A League of Their Own” to celebrate the 20 anniversary of the production and introduce the Republican candidates in the coming election.
In response to the request made to the Park Board last month, the board requested that City Attorney Phil Schneider draft a proposed ordinance regarding the use of League Stadium.
Schneider presented a draft of the wording for a proposed ordinance for the board to review. It establishes that League Stadium should be available for organizations and government affiliated with an established baseball or softball league. It also allowed local government and nonprofit public benefit organizations to host events open to the public.
On the other hand it suggested that League Stadium would not be available for lease by groups wishing to influence legislation or for any political campaign.
It further suggested a rate structure be established.
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Proclaiming that the Republican Party’s plan to show a movie over Labor Day at League Stadium could be a dividing line in the community Marlene Morgan expressed concern “I feel that the two parties could get along and share in this thing. I don’t feel that this thing should be put on by only one party.”
Mike Fulkerson, board vice-president, felt that no political activity should be allowed on any public property to maintain the city’s unbiased position.
Denny Spinner spoke before the board. He stated that although it is a request from a political party and it is a political year, there was precedence for the use of the facility. “Connie Nass launched her campaign for State Auditor from League Stadium.” He said.
Spinner told the board that the Citizen’s Advisory Board proposed something like this in March but the question at the time was where the money would come from. “Our committee has eliminated that question by offering to cover all the costs and allow the public to attend for free.”
If the park board approved the request, Spinner offered that any other organization could come forward to assist in the facilitation of the movie over the Labor Day weekend.
Morgan responded by stating that no invitation had been made to the Democratic party to help in the event. Spinner stated they should consider this an invitation.
Morgan then responded, “I’m not trying to be negative . . . whenever you see the other party making a statement you think ‘oh that excludes us, we can’t go to that.’”
The board allowed Democrats attending to express their position on the proposed event. Huntingburg Common Council Precinct 1 Glenn Kays (D) passionately protested the Republican Party’s plan to host the event and stated that he would have fought it “tooth and nail” if his party had proposed it.
Mayor Marvin Belcher told the board that if the Huntingburg Foundation facilitates the event he wouldn’t have any problem with it. He then blasted Park Superintendent Jim Rueger with accusations that due to his running for election as a Republican candidate for city council he had screened the idea to have this event sponsored by the city.
Belcher stated the city would have liked to sponsor this event and he went to Jim Rueger to get information about Penny Marshall (director of “A League of Their Own”) and Columbia Pictures, but “instead my parks superintendent didn’t get back with me and ran straight to the Republican Party.”
Rueger denied the allegation from the board’s table.
Spinner tried to calm the situation by telling the board that the idea for the movie night actually came from his wife, Shari. He explained that during a drive home the two heard about Ferdinand’s Movie Night and she suggested they have a movie night at League Stadium.
Janet Kemp, Democrat candidate for Mayor, then spoke to the board denouncing the plan to use the stadium by the Republican Party. She stated the park was for everyone and that politics should be left out. She also backed Belcher’s allegations that Rueger had worked this out with the Republican Party.
“I spoke to you about doing an event like this and you said ‘no.’” She told Rueger.
Rueger responded by saying that he hadn’t said no, but had simply asked where the money would come from.
Kemp then expressed concern about the Republicans sponsoring the Bombers’ game on the Fourth of July. She felt this was inappropriate and that “parks have got to be for everyone”.
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The board discussed the proposed ordinance from Schneider and then made a motion to deny the Republican Party the right to lease the stadium for a movie night. It passed unanimously.
The board also decided to review the draft from Schneider for a future ordinance regarding the usage of League Stadium.
Kemp stated that she felt there was “some kind of feeling of the city backing a political party” if an event like this was allowed. Kemp also agreed that if the Foundation facilitated the event she would work side by side with Spinner to make it happen.
In regards to the allegations against Rueger, Kemp stated that Rick Mundy with the Citizen’s Advisory Committee had come to them to plan a fundraiser. “Within two hours of Rick Mundy meeting with us I had asked Jim for the information about the film company and production company to get numbers. The mayor even asked him to get any information in his files.”
Rueger commented that he never received a request for the information. “I don’t have Penny Marshall’s number. I have Columbia Pictures address but no number to call them.”
Rueger explained that they had come to him for ideas about events involving music and the first time he heard about the movie was when the Republican Party asked to be put on the agenda for the June Park Board meeting. “Even then I didn’t know what they had planned.”
Spinner said he was disappointed about the decision by the board but he reiterated that the idea came from his wife, “That’s all it was, we’re driving along and we hear about Ferdinand’s movie night and she’s like, ‘you should show A League of Their Own at League Stadium.’ and here we are. That’s it.”
Mayor Belcher commented today that in the initial planning of the event it was going to be a surprise for the community. “It’s just ruined. This is why I’m not running again. I hate politics.” He continued. “I have loved every minute of being in office working for the city and I am on scene as soon as there is a problem but I hate this. Jim Rueger just ruined it. I will never miss the politics but I have loved every second I have been in office.”
The Huntingburg Foundation has volunteered to facilitate the movie with the stipulation that no political activities would occur during the showing, but according to Executive Director Brad Ward with all of the politics involved the Foundation Board would have to examine the issue to ensure it doesn’t do anything to jeapordize the organizations 501.3c status as a nonprofit agency.
“It’s no different than any other event for the community, but because it has been politicized we may lose it.” Ward said.
In regards to the Foundation’s inability to facilitate the event, Mayor Belcher stated the city would sponsor it if the Foundation was unable.
Dang…you people are squabbling over who gets to put on a free movie for the public in this economy? I wouldn't vote for a single one of you, and I would recall everyone of you currently in office. Grow up.
Sorry you feel that way Brent, but the reason for the squabbling runs much deeper than it looks on the surface. City celebrations, events and facilities should be a neutral ground for all to enjoy, period. There are many ways to still have the free movie and celebrate our community successes as there are many ways to show your political and religious views–I strongly feel it is unnecessary to mix them. Everyone pays taxes to keep our parks open for EVERYONE to enjoy,and it needs to stay a neutral ground.
I agree that everyone should be able to enjoy it. Did the Republican party state only Republicans are allowed to come enjoy the movie? Or is the Democrat party just afraid that swing voters would punch the "R" ticket because the Republican party put on a movie for everyone to enjoy? Anyone who would be swayed to vote one way or another based on a movie being sponsored by a certain political party is an idiot and should not get to vote. Too bad we don't have a civics literacy test everyone must pass before pulling any lever. I guarantee you if we had only educated voters voting, the country wouldn't be in the mess it is now.
I have to agree with some of your points Brent…if you don't want to attend a "Republican" sponsored event then simply don't go. I usually vote democrat, but it seems to me that this denial had nothing to do with "neutrality" and I base that solely on the way it was handled.
You are quite right, Brent. If this idea had never been brought up by the Republicans and the Dems would have had their way as they indicated they, themselves, were thinking, nothing would have been said about holding this in the stadium. Just a bunch of political posturing by sore losers. The denial had nothing to do with neutrality and was everything about sour grapes and sandbox sulking by the Dems, with a whole lot of political whining thrown in. Most everyone I've talked to including some city workers feel Janet and her lame-duck boss came across looking like a bunch of stick-in-the-muds, and so very unprofessional in a city meeting by lashing out at a city department head. Score one BIG for the Elephants, and even without the movie!
Well, I always thought the Democrat agenda was to use other people's money to spend like crazy. Surprises me they would argue with using Republican party money to entertain the masses. Then again, I guess if they can't be Robin Hood and slap their name on it, they'll do whatever they can to make sure it doesn't happen. It's just so petty. It sucks for the Huntingburg community that THIS is their leadership.
By the sound of the previous posts – I am absolutely correct in my thinking that politically sponsored community events are NOT a good idea. Politics divide us and do NOT bring about good feelings that should be shared at a community celebration. People who feel so strongly about their party that they can't help but criticize, condemn and complain about the opposing party ruin any possibility of success in this type of event. I am glad the Foundation is managing the event and nasty politics are pushed to the side—the people of Huntingburg deserve a good peaceful nonpolitical celebration. I must mention Denny keeps stating he wants a good clean campaign—but people like "IMA" certainly destroy any hopes of that happening every single day.
Politics don't divide us. People choose to be divided. I have strong political ideas, but, despite politics, I also have strong emotional attachments to people who are on the opposite end of the spectrum. I choose not to be divided from them.
If the mayoral candidates choose to run a clean campaign, they will. They can't control what others do.
As I read this article, I started to believe the city was acting in a very neutral way. Then, I read the part about their concern for the Republican sponsored 4th of July Bombers game (could this just be sour grapes from the Democrats because someone beat them to it?). Unless the city has a provision in the lease with the Bombers regarding Bombers sponsorship, the city needs to back off! The Bombers, as a private company, can have whomever they want sponsor a night at the park. Would the city have a problem with "Jasper Deanery Night at the Ballpark", would they start quoting a falsely assumed separation of Church and State? It's situations like this that make me question my decision to move back to Dubois Co. for work. I would expect this type of petty bickering at a department meeting in Louisville or New Albany, but not back home in Dubois Co.