In a troubling development for local governance in Indianapolis, City County Councilman, Paul Annee has come under scrutiny for alleged kickbacks linked to an ordinance aimed at increasing taxpayer funding for the Marion County Fairgrounds. Annee, who has served on the Indianapolis City County Council since 2019, was previously fired from the fairgrounds in August 2020 due to an inappropriate relationship with a fair pageant contestant—a situation brought to light by his political candidacy treasurer and Marion County Fair president, Cindy Mowery.
In May 2022, Annee sponsored an ordinance that aimed to increase taxpayer funding for the Marion County fairgrounds, which is a non-government entity 501c3 non-profit. This sponsorship presented a clear conflict of interest. Cindy Mowery serves as Annee’s campaign treasurer as well as the Fairgrounds president in addition to the several other influential positions she holds, including; the Treasurer for the Marion County Republican Party, the chairperson for the Franklin Township GOP Club, and the Director of Voter Registration for Marion County. Moreover, she is the treasurer for both City County Councilors Paul Annee and Brian Mowery. This extensive network raises concerns about potential collusion and favoritism among local officials. The situation became significantly more controversial just two months later. In July 2022, reports surfaced indicating that Annee received questionable payments ordered by then acting fair board president Abdul Hakim Shabazz. Shabazz who announced his intention to run for Indianapolis Mayor as a Republican in 2023, resigned from the Marion County Fair Board shortly after the allegations emerged. The revelation that Annee received payments for unworked hours, along with a bonus allegedly unknown to the fair board, preempted additional resignations of Marion County Fair Board members, LaDonna Freeman, prior to her becoming the Center Township Trustee. Jon Sturgill, prior to his becoming the Decatur Township civil court judge. There is widespread public concern, particularly among those constituents who expect their elected officials to act in the public’s best interest. Further complicating matters, in January 2023, both Annee and Marion County Fair Board Treasurer Mike Dilk denied any affiliation with the fairgrounds in their campaign re-election forms. Mike Dilk is also a member of the City County Council today and sits on the Council’s ethics committee. This denial is particularly striking given that Dilk also voted to increase funding for the fairgrounds in May 2022, despite the clear conflict of interest this posed.