Former Calumet Township Assessor’s Office Chief of Staff Sondra Ford said she was fired days after losing in a party caucus to Assessor Jackie Collins, according to a new federal lawsuit.
Ford alleged her dismissal on Feb. 26, 2024, was without cause.
Collins said “she ran against her and should have dropped out as soon as (she) put her hat into the ring,” the lawsuit states. It was filed Friday in the U.S. District Court in Hammond.
She won in a party caucus by 26-17 over Ford. She replaced Cozey Weatherspoon Jr., who died Jan. 23, 2024.
Collins declined to comment, citing pending litigation. Ford’s lawyer Lloyd Mullin was not immediately available.
Ford alleged Collins was motivated by “crushing any political dissent within her office” and “punishing employees who did not support her political agenda,” according to court filings.
She was seeking a civil trial and unspecified damages and lawyer’s fees.
At the caucus, Ford decried the undervaluing of property in Gary, such as the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, which sits outside of the city in Calumet Township. She said that it cost $450 million to build and is only assessed for $50 million.
Collins touted her experience and qualifications. She worked in the office for almost 20 years before she replaced former Assessor Booker Blumenberg when he did not seek reelection in 2010. She served eight years in the office.
She disagreed with Ford’s claim that the assessment for Hard Rock casino negatively impacts the city’s coffers because the property is in a different taxing district than the city’s.
“I have always believed in accountability and knowledge,” Collins said then. “I stressed quality work.”
Post-Tribune archives contributed; mcolias@post-trib.com
