Question for Hoosier Access Readers: What Should I Do?
Mitch Harper at Fort Wayne Observed has pointed out an interesting decision I might have to make as Chairman of the Whitley County Republican Party with the announcement that a candidate from my county has filed to challenge Congressman Mark Souder in the May Primary Election. What makes this announcement unusual is that the candidate was briefly a Libertarian candidate in 2006. Election laws, according to Harper, give the County Chairman the ability to declare whether a candidate is in good stead with the Republican Party in certain circumstances in order to appear on the ballot. Here is more analysis from Harper:
Whether or not Mr. Wise is permitted to run as a Republican may be up to a decision by Whitley County Republican Chair Jim Banks. Under Indiana election law, a person last affiliated with another party due to a primary voting record may be permitted to run under a new party banner with the dispensation by the county chair. Since Mr. Wise did vote in the last Republican primary - indeed he was a candidate in it - it is unclear whether the effect of Mr. Wise’s renunciation two years ago will be to prevent him from running as a Republican this year.
I’m curious about what readers of Hoosier Access think and what you might do in a similar situation.
January 29th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
If Mr. Wise has not:
A) Showed up at any party meetings or otherwise associated himself with the Republican party, OR
B) Donated to Republican candidates in the past several months
He should not be allowed to run as an official Republican. If he wants to wear the title of Republican he can, but not with “official” sanction.
January 29th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Who is each one using as a political consultant?
My best guess is that it would have to hit the courts before it would get to you. The only way the courts would give it to you would be if there is not enough evidence for the court to CYA that the guy was Republican. In that case if there was not enough proof for the court, then there is not enough proof for Jim either.
January 29th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
If I’m not mistaken and this may just apply to Marion County - but anyone can file as a Republican candidate for office with the County Clerk (or Election Board) regardless of the Chairman’s opinion. Of course the Chairman doesn’t need to support and can work to defeat said candidate in the primaries.
Here in Marion County of course we have slating processes which 90 other counties do not.
January 29th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
I won’t speak to legalities or technicalities. Generally, I would say let the guy run. I prefer a very open election process that allows people to run–particularly in primaries.
January 29th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
If the guy wants to run, he should be allowed to run, no matter what he’s done in the county or district. Being allowed to be on the ticket is a constitutional right of everyone who meets the age and citizenship requirements. We have to get our heads out of the sand and stop thinking in terms of “what’s good for the party” and in terms of what’s good for our Democratic Republic.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
By not having to go through an open primary, Marion county often produces a weak candidate who has the support of the machine, but not the electorate.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
“We have to get our heads out of the sand and stop thinking in terms of “what’s good for the party” and in terms of what’s good for our Democratic Republic.”
HEAR! HEAR!
January 29th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
I’d also second the notion of letting everyone run. The electorate does a good job of voting for the best candidate who will advance the ideals of the party as well as those that are the best for the community.
January 30th, 2008 at 6:23 am
So many Republicans have wandered off into being Independents, Libertarians, and Democrats during the Party’s drift to a philosophy of big government (whether fiscally unconstrained or socially intrusive), that the Party has lost what was once an undisputed leadership in Indiana. To deny the return of any form of Republican would contribute to the Party’s continued decline, and serve neither the Party nor the democracy.
But for those of you who see in Brian Sikma’s response not only disagreement, but a desire to demote others to second class citizenship and deny access to the table, welcome to the world his brand of Republican is attempting to construct.
What makes you think that once they are done with gays, they won’t look for ways of silencing other citizens who don’t adhere to their orthodoxy? You see the evidence in his response.
January 30th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Actually, I’m not for denying access to the table. I’m just saying that if this guy is quick to bolt the party and has not shown that at minimum he supports the local party, or at least some candidates and ideas promoted by the local party, he should not receive any support from the local party.
If he wants to run, let him! But if he wants some sort of official mark of being a Republican he has to prove himself.
January 30th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Prove himself? The guy not only voted in the last Republican primary, but ran as a candidate! So now being registered Republican and having run for office as a Repbublican is not pure enough for you? If I didn’t know the Party didn’t have them, I would have thought you were a Commissar!
January 30th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
*breaks out the 80’s music on my iPod*
Don’t turn around, uh-oh
Der Kommisar is in town, uh-oh!
January 30th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
If part of the Republican agenda is to advance the ideals of smaller government, lower spending and lower taxation than anyone offering that as part of their platform I should think would be welcome, yes?
Granted, there is plenty of evidence to support that the party no longer stands for those things, but I digress.
It’s about policy, not parties. I’d let him run, but I’m biased.
Sean Shepard, Candidate
U.S. House of Representatives
Indiana’s 7th District
January 31st, 2008 at 8:56 pm
I appreciate the give and take. I can see merit in arguments from both sides. I feel comfortable I meet the requirements as stated on the declaration of candidacy form. Regardless, anything can be challenged, especially when legal interpretations are involved. The rational thing is to let the Republican voters decide. I actually know many Republicans less than satisfied with the GOP.
I posted some information about my long personal affiliation with the GOP last night after watching the news.
http://votescottwise.wordpress.com/
The future of this country is what is important. I am not going away, and I will, god willing, give 3rd district voters a fresh perspective to consider.
Thanks for the opportunity to express myself.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:17 pm
I side on let him run!