Keller, Strong tangle Tuesday in CP primary

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Eldon Strong

Updated: January 23, 2012 2:18AM

CROWN POINT — A businessman and a township trustee will square off in Tuesday’s Republican mayoral primary election.

Paul Keller, 63, and Eldon Strong, 58, hope to become the city’s Republican candidate to take on Democratic incumbent Mayor David Uran in the November election. Uran is unopposed in the primary.

Keller, who has owned a tile installation company in Chicago for 30 years, served on the Board of Zoning Appeals and Plan Commission during the Dan Klein administration. He serves on the school improvement committee at Eisenhower Elementary School and various civic organizations.

Keller said he decided to seek the city’s top spot after Uran took office in 2008.

“When he came in he said he would change things,” Keller said. “I continued to go to the meetings and I saw within three to six months that the direction he was taking was not one I thought the city wanted to go.”

Keller declined to go into specifics before Tuesday’s primary, saying, “I’m not running against Mr. Uran now.”

Keller did, however, address his current opponent, saying Strong has, “Opened himself up to questionable ability to guide the city because of his stance on the fire territory. He came to the city with a different budget than he submitted to the state. He said he didn’t have the money that the city requested for fire protection. The city is paying more for fire protection and he’s sitting on $1.6 million and asking the city to vote for him. It doesn’t make sense.”

Strong, who is serving his third term as Center Township trustee, following a term as a township board member, argued, “That $1.6 million is all from Center Township,” Not one penny is from the city. That is money I saved over years for future projects. I don’t want to impact taxpayers with loans and bonding. That money is always advertised every year and the State Board of Accounts and Department of Local Government Finance see it every year.”

Strong said he did the same when he purchased two fire trucks.

“I paid cash for them so there was no interest, and I received a discount because I paid cash,” he said. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with saving money.”

Keller said if he were elected, he would eliminate the city’s chief-of-staff position, one that Uran created with the City Council’s approval when he took office.

“I believe it’s an absolute waste of money with an unqualified individual and not needed for a city this size,” Keller said.

Keller said he also opposes the city’s involvement with the proposed Bo Jackson youth sports facility, potentially slated for the North Street sports complex.

“It’s not even on taxable land,” he said, adding that he would have no problem with it if Bo Jackson Elite Sports buys the property and pays taxes on it.

“The city isn’t supposed to be getting in on a sports entertainment business,” Keller said.

Strong said he can make a difference and do the job better than Keller.

“I’ve managed government budgets,” he said. “I don’t think my opponent can say that. I’ve lived here my whole life, attended Crown Point schools and retired from the Crown Point Police Department in January after 35 years.”

Strong said he also promotes partnering with other communities in buying bulk salt, and asphalt.

“We are in a recession,” Strong said. Gas is climbing. Costs are going up for everything. We need to provide residents the services they deserve — public safety streets. sidewalks, sewers and good affordable housing.”

Strong did agree with Keller on one thing.

“We are spending a lot of money on a park on North Street,” Strong said referring to the city’s Sportsplex. Now isn’t the time for any grand spending projects. We need to tighten our belts.. I have nothing against parks but we need to stop unnecessary spending.”

One way to do that would be for the city to stop paying consulting fees, said Strong.

“We need to do the work from within,” he said.

Contact Diane Krieger Spivak at 648-3076.