Archive for October 20th, 2007

For the third time on television, Greg Ballard and Mayor Bart Peterson will square off in the third of four debates. This debate is moderated by WTHR’s “Indiana Insiders” of the Star’s Matt Tully, Democrat activist Robin Winston, Republican Peter Rusthoven, and Kevin Rader of WTHR.

You may submit questions for the candidates HERE. The debate is on Channel 13 at 9:30 on Sunday October 21st, and the fine folks of Hoosier Access have invited me to live blog and provide commentary.

9:28 AM - Just getting ready to live blog this event. I submitted a question criticizing the Mayor on his latest ad where the Mayor claims fixing the schools. I doubt they’ll take my question but you never know.

9:30 AM - Here we go. Oh Mayor Brat has that cheesy grin. And the “usual suspects” of Robin Winston and Peter Rusthoven are not there. Neither is Fred Peterson, the Libertarian. Kevin Rader explained candidates with over 5% of the vote in prior years were invited.

9:31 AM - Question on Lucas Oil Stadium and the problems of the neighborhood surrounding it. Mayor Bart says he’s assigned one of his deputy mayors to work on the problem. Greg Ballard agrees we need to work with the neighborhood.

9:33 AM - They agree on whether the stadium was needed. GREG! Why didn’t you bring up the way Fred Glass gave it all away. Kevin you’re letting Bart have this as his personal platform.

9:34 AM - Greg - you’re getting nervous again. CALM DOWN! BREATHE!

9:35 AM - The Mayor and his cheesy “Joe Isuzu” smile again… talking about parks and adding “greenspace”. He didn’t mention the park removed so a bar in a government building could be built. Now we’re going to commercial.

9:39 AM - OK we’re back. Email questions. “Did you think we could get rid of property taxes”. Mayor Bart says it could be done, but he brings up the talking points of 15% sales tax yadda yadda. Pitches for a hard cap on property taxes (there already is one - 2%). Greg Ballard - He wants to see property taxes gone. Wants a constitutional amendment. Says a 1% cap is OK if we cannot get totally rid of property taxes. Claims correctly that taxes are just a spending problem. Wants to bring non-elected boards into control.

9:42 AM - Question asked “If the police merger saved money, why did our taxes go up?” - Greg says the merger did NOT save money. Brings up how 300 new officers hired will be met with 290 leaving. Mayor Bart claims the mergers are saving money. Now he’s playing the “blame the state” game - “If you only passed my Indianapolis Works” we would save a lot more money by now. Mildly ironic Mayor Bart claims others are lying - and he smiles when he says that. Ummmm… we know who the liar here is Mayor!

Another commercial and it appears Robin Winston and Peter Rusthoven will come onstage now.

9:49 AM - Robin - try again. We’re NOT lowering crime in Indianapolis. Assaults, rapes, robberies, burglaries, auto theft, and carjackings are ALL UP!!!

9:50 AM - The Star’s Matt Tully is asking “How can you hire more police without raising taxes?” - what a stupid question - though it IS Matt Tully! Greg responds by making his case to put IMPD back under the mayor. Mayor Bart talks about “increasing investments” - that’s liberal doublespeak for “raising taxes”.

9:52 AM - Greg Ballard: “The City is going in the Wrong Direction”. Now Mayor Bart claims “we’re making a great city better” and then grins. He claims everything is coming up roses in the neighborhoods. Claims the city is on the “right track”.

9:53 AM - Matt Tully lobs a softball at the Mayor: “Will you raise taxes again?” - The Mayor replies “No”. The Mayor wants to have the city in “strong financial footing” - so why did our bond rating go down?

9:55 AM - WAY TO GO GREG! Finally you reach over and smack the Mayor! “Past performance is an indicator of future and you’ve raised taxes 19 times!”

9:56 AM - Mayor Bart disputes the Indiana DWD figures quoted by Greg Ballard. Greg claims in the past 4 years the city has a net gain of only 147 jobs. Mayor Bart claims over 10,000 jobs were created.

9:58 AM - Peter Rusthoven summarizes by stating “The candidate with the most integrity” and refers to Greg Ballard. Robin Winston rattles off the talking points of taxes, education, public safety, etc. and says that is a case to re-elect Mayor Bart.

The debate is now over. Next debate is Monday night at 7 PM on the radio at WNOU-FM (soon to be WIBC-FM) 93.1. It will be televised on tape delay on Fox 59 next weekend.