Gov. Mitch Daniels reportedly slammed LaPorte County governments as "anti-growth" and "anti-business," a little more than a year after the county was hailed as "doing everything right" in attracting business by the director of the Northwest Indiana Forum.

Daniels' remarks were made in LaPorte Mayor Leigh Morris' office last week while Daniels was delivering checks for his Major Moves highway program, according to a news report. Only a few days earlier, LaPorte County rejected membership in the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority.

The governor, who had received a large amount of grief from Democratic and union activists over his lease of the Indiana Toll Road, reportedly told a reporter that some LaPorte County residents had grown insular, and shrunk from promoting new commerce.

But some LaPorte County officials don't believe the governor was talking about them specifically.

Michigan City Mayor Chuck Oberlie, a Democrat, doubts Daniels meant him, or his city administration.

Oberlie is eager to move on with the $7 million in Major Moves money he received for his city's roads, money for improved infrastructure he hopes will bring jobs. He expressed dismay the protesters may have provoked the governor into slamming LaPorte County governments.

"A decision (on the lease) has been made," Oberlie said Monday. "It's time to move on."

Jane Jankowski, spokeswoman for Daniels, said the governor was commenting on the 30 people who showed up to protest, and denied Daniels would label local officials anti-business. "Mayor Oberlie doesn't have that view, Mayor Morris doesn't have that view," Jankowski said.

Both Daniels and Morris are Republicans.

Oberlie said everyone has the right to protest, but LaPorte County's problems are not caused by a desire to shut business out.

Shaw Friedman, attorney for the LaPorte County commissioners and a Democratic organizer himself, said Daniels has lashed out in the past against cities where he isn't well received, including Democratic stronghold South Bend.

Friedman pointed to the St. Joseph County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner held in May, where Daniels reportedly said, "The state's success is beginning to come economically, but I don't see the same thing happening in South Bend."

Friedman said Daniels is targeting LaPorte County with criticism because the Democratic-dominated county voted down RDA last week, and its voters still oppose the lease. Friedman said the vote was bipartisan and based on fiscal concern. He noted LaPorte County partners with Lake and Porter counties in the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission and the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District.

Vincent Galbiati, director of the Northwest Indiana Forum and a former Republican member of the Valparaiso City Council, said Monday he did not know the circumstances of Daniels' remarks, but that "the two mayors certainly set the tone. They are very pro-business."

Last year, Galbiati praised LaPorte County and its cities for working together to bring development.

Galbiati said he is less familar with LaPorte County government's initiatives, and that he was disappointed with the LaPorte County Council's vote to reject RDA membership. LaPorte County will nevertheless remain a vital part of the region, Galbiati said.

Contact Jim Stinson at 648-3076 or jstinson@post-trib.com