Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott Jr. remembers well his first term, when his critics referred to him as “O-T.T.” — “One-Term Tommy” — and he thought they might be right.
One term turned into two, however; then two terms became three terms, and McDermott on Friday became the 131-year-old city’s longest serving mayor as he was sworn in for his fourth term. The Common Council and clerk-treasurer were also sworn in during the ceremony at the Hammond Civic Center.
McDermott, a Democrat, topped former Republican Mayor Duane Dedelow, who McDermott defeated in 2002.
McDermott said during his address that the city’s state is strong and its future bright, and he credited city workers from the bottom up for making that happen. Acknowledging that Hammond receives its share of “big city problems” from over the Illinois border, he said the city has the right team to handle the job.
And he vowed that if something isn’t broke, he isn’t going to mess with it.
“If something’s not running the way it’s supposed to, I have to fix it,” he said. “While everyone else was on vacation for the holiday, I was here tinkering with stuff. But if it’s working, I won’t mess with it.”
McDermott once again credited his College Bound program for stabilizing the middle class in the city and touted the city’s bike trail system, which added new routes on the city’s north side. And with regard to City Hall, he said the Common Council has four years to make a decision to either move to the eight-story bank building downtown or pay for major repairs on the current City Hall, which was built in the 1930s.
More Top Picks Best Miniature Painting Kits For Beginners
“We have two proposals to the Common Council,” he said. “I know which one I want, but I want to have the support of the council.
“One of two resolutions will pass. If the council says, ‘Stay,’ at 5925 Calumet Ave., that’s fine, but we have to fix it.”
McDermott also thanked the residents for letting him “be himself.”
“Whether I’m in City Hall or coaching baseball, I try to be the same person,” he said. “This is the best job I’ve ever had.”
Friday’s ceremony had special meaning for Common Council President Mike Opinker, D-5th. Opinker was among the public safety workers who filed suit against the state challenging a law prohibiting police or firefighters from serving on their city or town councils.
Judge George Paras this week issued a temporary restraining order, stopping the law from taking effect. Without it, Opinker would have had to decide if he wanted his job or his City Council seat.
“I’m ecstatic,” Opinker said. “Whether it’s firemen or policemen, who knows the city better than we do? For them not to let us do both is treating us like second-class citizens. And what’s funny is that the mayor negotiates the salaries with the union officials, so we have nothing to do with it.”
Opinker, the chief fire inspector for the Hammond Fire Department, said he does vote on the firefighter salaries.
Bill Emerson Sr., D-4th, shared a story about his daughter, Elizabeth, during his remarks. A few weeks before the inauguration, she called Emerson to share the news that she and her husband, Rudy, came into tickets for the Fiesta Bowl.
“I told her, ‘That’s great! Just remember, that’s the day of the inauguration, so you have a decision to make. Let me know in the next few days,'” he said. “A few minutes later, I get a text from her: ‘What size shirt do you want from the Fiesta Bowl?'”
Emerson said it was a bit disorienting to run unopposed in the general election.
“Bill (Emerson Jr., Lake County surveyor and Emerson’s son) called me in May and said, ‘Well, there’s no one registered against you,’ and I said, ‘What? Give them a couple more hours,’ and he said, ‘No, Dad, they’re closing up shop for the day. It’s done.’ Here, I was gearing up for a fight,” he said.
At-large Council members Robert Markovich, Janet Venecz and Dan Spitale; Councilmen Mark Kalwinski, Peter Torres, Anthony Higgs and Scott Rakos; and City Clerk Robert Golec also took the oath of office Friday.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.