In today's Hammond Times Newspaper there is an article by reporter Susan Brown that more than anything I can say alone seems to conclusively outline the mental problems of Mayor Tom McDermott, Jr. of Hammond. The article can be found in the following link: Times Article on McDermott/Markovich Tape
In the article, it seems to clearly show and characterize that the Mayor suffers from severe borderline personality disorder, which potentially can undermine his self-control and ability to make rational decisions. He uncontrollably threatens a sitting Hammond Councilman with the full power of his office because an 18 year old kid is challenging him in the Democratic Primary. Beside the fact that it is bad politics and irrelevant because McDermott had such a lead, it shows that truly McDermott is suffering from questionable mental unsuitability. What is truly frightening is that the Mayor in this article is incapable of recognizing his own mental problems and continues, months later, to defend his action. He further cannot recognize, as any normal human would, why his actions are problematic or an "overkill."
I make this evaluation without first hand therapeutic evaluation of the Mayor and not being a licensed professional in the area. But sometimes an individual is so out of control, mentally, that even an educated layman can make serious diagnosis of mental instability.
A real cross-section of NWI Democratic politician have related their experiences with Mayor McDermott and all conclude from a number of indications that he is literally unstable emotionally. I am sure that the experiences of reporters at the Times such as Mark Kiesling or Susan Brown with Mayor McDermott, Jr. was to be presented to neutral mental health professionals they would also arrive at the conclusion that we are dealing with a true border line personality that has all the markings of turning violent.
This is not a joke. We all understand the problems of mentally unstable individuals who are likely to lash out at any perceived threat. I do seriously believe that before the election, primary, the Mayor must provide the citizens of the great City of Hammond a clean bill of mental competency from a certified mental health professional.
The mayor must assure the citizens and the general population of NWI that he is not a threat. I think it is time for newspaper reporters to provide the truth of the erratic and unstable behavior which they have witnessed from the Mayor over the past year or so.
As far as Councilman Markovich's claim is concerned, what citizens need to understand is that although he has a personal stake in this (he is running for re-election), he is performing a public service by providing the truth to the citizens and law enforcement officials. He should be lauded and thanked for his efforts. We all know why the City Council did not go along with it; they are afraid of this same Mayor. It is political intimidation of the worst sort. During the past twenty years or more, nothing of this overall seriousness happened politically even in East Chicago (but, I am not trying to defend East Chicago politics).
Everyone think clearly. Here is a Mayor of an Indiana city who is threatening the father of an 18 year old declared candidate running against him. A rational person would truly perceive that this individual afforded minimal political threat to McDermott's longevity. Only a mentally unstable individual would go on a rant and threaten to put the full weight of his elected office and over $400,000 of campaign funds against this 18 year old. The reason isn't for political gain; it is because the Mayor felt "dissed". That potentially is a seriously dangerous man that should raise fear in everyone.
Remember I am not claiming anything about this from my own experiences. I did not invent it. This is the Mayor's own ranting and threats over an 18 year old published and heard publicly. When are the newspapers themselves going to grow up and tell the full story of their experiences during this administration. They should be looking responsibly at the problem of mental stability in Hammond's leadership.
In the forthcoming election, this threat against Markovich is sadly not unique. Federal officials and the Indiana Attorney General need to take note, the worst harassment and intimidation of voters, candidates, and elected officials is now occurring in Hammond not in East Chicago or Gary. The FBI, U.S. Attorney, and the Indiana Attorney General need to concentrate as many, if not more, officials and investigations in Hammond than in the other northern cities. If they do not, and they have a very short time to act on this, then it would be fair to claim that their focus is blinded by racism. They are only focusing on black and Hispanic "elections" for electoral civil rights harassment.
That is not the case. In the next blog, I will outline the illegal harassment of voters and elected officials that a plain citizen like me could find on their own.
