Comments on: Marion County City-County Councilman Ed Coleman Switching Parties From GOP to Libertarian

By: Steve Jacobs

Steve Jacobs — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:54:24 +0000

Thanks, Republican Taxpayer, for exposing yourself as the problem. When you vote for party rather than a person or a principle, you are admitting that you are, in fact, a sheep. Personally, I’m glad that we had someone in local government with the stones to do this. He’s killing himself politically as the LP has proven itself futile over the years, but he probably did the right thing.

By: Abdul

Abdul — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:20:24 +0000

Melyssa,

The Council rules say committees must consist of at least three members appointed by the Committee on Committees. And Committees must have at least one minority member.

There’s nothing in the rules that say Ed must have a committee assignment since Democrats would be the minority members. And from the signals I’ve been picking up this morning, I don’t think he will be staying on Rules or Economic Development for very long.

I respect Ed’s right to make a choice and do what he thinks is best, but like with all the choices we make, there are consequences we have to live with regardless of our reasons.

By: Jacob Perry

Jacob Perry — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:11:51 +0000

Besides, all these LP wannabes that are going around laughing about it, I can tell you for an absolute fact that the Marion Cty GOP knew about this the weekend of the 6th adn specifically knew Ed was leaving. This wasn’t a big secret.

Plus, they were already planning on a primary challenge to Ed.

By: Jacob Perry

Jacob Perry — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:58:14 +0000

Ed is a friend and someone I respect. He’s is also a fool, and it pains me to say that.

I knew about this nearly two weeks ago and suspected it was Ed, but I was lied to. I’m wondering if I was lied to by a close friend, what lies were told to Ed?

There are more details about this over at CCP.

By: Melyssa

Melyssa — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 06:18:54 +0000

I have heard, although I’m no expert, that a member of the minority party has privilege to sit on all council committees. If this is rule, then would not Ed automatically be on all committees in spite of being temporarily removed by the majority party?

By: Michael Jezierski

Michael Jezierski — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 03:30:45 +0000

I seem to recall some years ago (mid 90’s?) a State Rep jump from R to D and I believe that caused a shift in majority, or it caused a 50-50 tie and at that time it was during Bayh’s or O’Bannon’s term as Governor IIRC.

In this case ties are impossible and we still hold the CCC. Councilor Malone is now the margin, and she’s voted with the opposition on several occasions so it’s all up in the air.

By: Paul K. Ogden

Paul K. Ogden — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 03:23:36 +0000

Dalton,

I’m pretty sure that the current’s administration position of casting aside the interest of taxpayers to give more money to corporations is not holding true to Republican or Libertarian principles. Maybe instead of castigating Ed Coleman we should look at the state of the adminstration and its tactics that would result in driving away a critical vote on the council.

By: cspangle

cspangle — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 02:57:22 +0000

RT,

Good to see you are voting for a team, and not a person and their principles…

By: daltonsbriefs

daltonsbriefs — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 02:40:24 +0000

Have to say I don’t know the inside stuff, what’s so anti-libertarian about the current administration that he would find his libertarian principles to outweigh his Republican ones?

By: Republican Taxpayer

Republican Taxpayer — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 02:39:26 +0000

I voted for Mr. Coleman because he was a Republican. Not because he was a Libertarian. I will not make that mistake again.