This is as political as I am going to get in any public forum. My politics and beliefs are mine, and everyone has the right to their own beliefs. I will not judge people, disown them or dislike them because of their beliefs or who they support.
I will not use someone’s choice in how they run their business as a way to take a shot at an elected official. I also am not going to assume something without knowing the facts.
With that being said, it has been brought to my attention that at the Beech Grove City Council meeting on Aug. 1 that Joe Griffin made the following comment: “Look at Dawn Whalen, Beech Grove citizen, business owner, former chamber president, BZA member chose to open her business in Southport and not Beech Grove. All because of Mayor Buckley and his continued tax increases.”
Let me set the record straight. Joe Griffin knows of me ... but doesn’t know me. The last communication between Joe and I was May 4, 2013, and that was in an email that I had forwarded him with the name of an individual who was interested in being on the Redevlopment Commission.
At the time I made the decision to start an independent real estate company, which was in November 2015. I looked for office space within 5 miles of Beech Grove. There was nothing available on Main Street that would’ve met my needs, not to mention at that time there were two other real estate companies on the street.
I did look at a property on Bethel, but it wasn’t large enough to accommodate the growth I have planned for my business. I also looked in Wanamaker and Fountain Square. I would’ve loved to stay in Beech Grove, but the only other alternative would’ve been to work from my house, and I had no intention of doing that, just to stay in Beech Grove.
I chose the location I did based on the rent and the flexibility offered in doing the build-out I needed to make it work for my company. The mayor, tax increases, nor anything else that people want to assume are the reasons my office is in Southport. If anyone wants to question why my office is where it is, they can call me at 459-5182.
Not having my office in Beech Grove doesn’t mean that I don’t support the community. I’ve lived there since 1992, having raised both of my children there.
I will not have my name or that of my company drug into the middle of someone’s political agenda.
Dawn Whalen, managing broker/owner
Whalen Realty Group LLC