Kids, this is politics. Not everything is going to be positive. And there’s nothing wrong with telling the truth– even if it’s scary. We’re not being biased just because we want to dish dirt occasionally (or all the time). So, in light of the reaction to our story about Greg Fischer’s passive-aggressive email blast yesterday, I figure it’s a good idea to make a few points.

Since the Fischer campaign seems to be sensitive about Greg being an Indiana businessman, I thought it’d be a good idea to take a look at some history. For reference: The campaign’s manager got testy when I questioned Fischer’s motives for building a company in Indiana instead of his home state of Kentucky. See his comments here:

AJ // Mar 11, 2008 at 4:35 pm

Dude, Jake, do just a tad bit of research (aka Google). Dant Clayton is located right here in Louisville. And the video documentary was made by a Louisville native too.

jake // Mar 11, 2008 at 4:44 pm

Dude, AJ, he founded a company and headquartered it in Indiana instead of Kentucky. That’s well-known.

AJ // Mar 11, 2008 at 4:50 pm

Uh bro, your uh, referring to the former SerVend I take it, and yes that’s well known. Dant Clayton is located though in Louisville; just setting the record straight.

Never got an answer to my question, “Why couldn’t he open up shop in his own state? Taxes?” But I found some interesting stories in the Business First archives which may help with an answer while at the same time making it clear just how much cash Fischer invested in Indiana’s economy– not Kentucky’s.

Read the rest after the jump. Juicy, juicy!

SerVend moved to Jeffersonville. SerVend moved from Sellersburg, IN to Jeffersonville, IN in 1985. While Vice President of SerVend, Fischer announced that the company was moving from Sellersburg to Jeffersonville. [Business First - 7/1/85]

SerVend expanded. “SerVend International Inc. — America Place’s first tenant — has expanded substantially since moving to the complex from Sellersburg in 1985. Last year the company added 45 employees to its work force to handle increasing demand, said Greg Fischer, co-owner of the ice- and soft drink-dispensing machine designer and manufacturer. The firm now has 125 employees.” [Business First - 1/25/88]

SerVend built $6 million plant in Clarksville. “SerVend International to build $ 6 Million Clarksville Plant. Groundbreaking took place Jan. 9 for a $6 million plant that is being constructed by SerVend International Inc. at a Clarksville site eight miles north of Louisville. The 110,000-square-foot plant will allow the ice-dispensing-machine manufacturer to begin a new decade of growth, company officials said, and plans are to hire 50 to 100 more workers within the first two years after the plant opens sometime this summer. SerVend, based at America Place industrial complex in Jeffersonville, now employs about 200 workers. Growth over the last few years has been dramatic.” [Business First - 1/15/90]

This piece really sticks out:

“Greg Fischer said the 60-acre site off Indiana 60 was attractive from two standpoints. One is its proximity to nearby Interstate 65; the other is the convenience of the site for the approximately two-thirds of the company’s work force who live in Southern Indiana. His family will use a $4.3 million, low-interest industrial revenue bond is-sue to finance the project, Mark Fischer said. The money is being used for land, building and equipment. In addition, the state of Indiana has committed nearly $400,000 in grants for utility service, an access road off Indiana 60 and job-training programs to SerVend, said Stewart Hawkins, deputy director of the Indiana Employment Development Commission, a state agency that approved SerVend’s bond issue Dec. 4.” [Business First - 1/15/90]

So. It appears Greg Fischer opened up shop in Indiana instead of Kentucky because his family benefited financially from a state-supported (Indiana) bond issuance and $400,000 that the state of Indiana gave them. What’s that saying about his motives and ability to do the right thing for Kentucky? If someone cares about Kentucky, wouldn’t they do everything they could to do business in-state?

We already know about Bruce Lunsford’s record as a businessman. It’s time we learned a little of the same about Greg Fischer.

P.S. We promise to take a better photograph of him this evening.