Archive for the ‘Fort Wayne’ Category

Long rumored to be a potential challenger to Minority Leader Brian Bosma for his Republican leadership post in the Indiana House, State Representative Randy Borror received a major appointment late last week by Bosma. Borror has established himself as a leader in the Indiana General Assembly on Economic Development issues and this appointment is further evidence that House Leadership intends to rely on him for handling those issues.  Press release and details below.

Rep. Borror Appointed as Alternate
to State Budget Committee

(Statehouse) Aug. 22, 2008 — Republican Leader Brian C. Bosma (R-Indianapolis) announced today his appointment of state Rep. Randy L. Borror (R-Ft. Wayne) to serve as the House Republican alternate on the State Budget Committee. Rep. Borror replaces state Rep. Larry L. Buell (R-Indianapolis), who is retiring from the Indiana General Assembly.

(more…)

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(From Mitch Harper and Fort Wayne Observed)

I will be voting for Greg Zoeller for Attorney General at the Indiana Republican State Convention.

I have known Greg Zoeller for over twenty years and I believe his experience and sensitivity to the concerns of regular Hoosiers merit his selection to succeed Attorney General Steve Carter.

Greg Zoeller has an understanding of the entire state which stems from his work on behalf of former Vice-President Dan Quayle during Mr. Quayle’s service as United States Senator and from Greg’s service as Chief Deputy Attorney General.

During my term as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives I served two years as Chairman of the House Labor Committee. I well remember the conversation Greg and I had regarding the approach that Dan Quayle took to his duties as Chairman of the US Senate Committee on Labor. I formed an opinion then that Greg Zoeller took public policy seriously, had a keen grasp of the larger context of individual pieces of legislation and that he had a sincere appreciation of the effect that federal and state policy had on the everyday lives of citizens.

That opinion has not diminished over the years.

Let me reiterate that my position is one of positive endorsement of Greg’s candidacy.

In regards to Mayor Jon Costas, who is also contesting the nomination, I will say that I worked with in the legislature with his father, Bill, a state senator. Bill Costas is one of the finest gentlemen I have known in the General Assembly and I regard Bill with a great deal of admiration and affection. As Bill’s son, I know Jon must have the same fine character as his Dad.

Mitch Harper is a member of the Fort Wayne City Council and editor of Fort Wayne Observed.

More from that wacky AG endorsement game! Greg Zeoller has picked up 3rd CD Congressman, Mark Souder.

From Mitch Harper and Fort Wayne Observed:

The Indiana State Republican Convention will be anything but a somnolent affair this year. The nomination for Attorney General to succeed incumbent AG Steve Carter will be between Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas and Carter’s Chief Deputy AG Greg Zoeller.

Greg Zoeller has picked up the backing of 3rd District US Representative Mark Souder.

Mr. Costas has the announced backing of the Governor, Lt. Governor Becky Skillman, Secretary of State Rokita, Treasurer Richard Mourdock, and State Treasurer Tim Berry.

Mr. Zoeller has the backing of his boss, AG Carter.

Last but not least, Mr. Zoeller has the backing of another fellow who had employed him - former Vice-President Dan Quayle.

I have a feeling this won’t be the last bit of congressional support to swing Greg Zeoller’s way. Btw, I know Dan Quayle is from Huntington and all, but doesn’t he live in Arizona now?

The Allen County Right to Life Political Action Committee Endorses Candidates in the May Primary

Fort Wayne, IN., April 21, 2008 – The Allen County Right to Life Political Action Committee (ACRL- PAC) today endorsed a number of Federal, State, and Local candidates seeking elected office in the Indiana primary election being held May 6^th.

“We again this year are certainly fortunate to have an excellent slate of competitive candidates who, in our estimation, have demonstrated passion and support for life,” said ACRL PAC Communications Director, Cathie Humbarger. “Though many consider life a single issue in an environment of many issues candidates are expected by voters to address, we believe attitudes and actions taken towards life are core indicators that speak to the judgment and character of candidates” remarked Humbarger.

The slate of candidates endorsed by the ACRL PAC are:

(Check out the endorsements below the fold) (more…)

Details were forwarded to us by Mitch Harper of Fort Wayne Observed. Many thanks to him for passing these along.
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The funeral service for John Okeson will be held at 1 PM Saturday at Trinity English Lutheran Church in downtown Fort Wayne.

Calling hours are 2 PM to 4 PM and 6 PM to 8 PM at the church at 405 W. Wayne Street. Burial will be in Highland Park Cemetery on Fort Wayne’s north side.

H. John Okeson died Tuesday at Lutheran Hospital. He was born November 7, 1964 in Fort Wayne.

His children - son Kale, and his daughters Erin and Abbey - survive him. He is also survived by his mother, Betty Okeson; his brother and sister-in-law David and Kristie Okeson, his brother and sister-in-law Paul and Michelle Okeson; and his former wife, Ellen Okeson.

John was preceded in death by his father, Harry Okeson, who died in November of 2005.

Arrangements are by Klaehn Fahl & Melton Funeral Homes of Fort Wayne - 260.424.1525.

(Read more below the fold) (more…)

Our prayers go out to the family and especially the children of John Okeson today as we have learned of the tragic news of his passing yesterday.  Mitch Harper has a way of saying it best in his tribute here.  Also, more at Fort Wayne News about John’s professional history as Indiana’s Clerk of Courts and top policy adviser to Governor Mitch Daniels.  Folks in Fort Wayne knew him best as a man who was dedicated to his state and to the Republican Party.  We will miss John greatly.

(Written by and re-printed with permission from Fort Wayne News)

Gary Snyder is running for State Representative and is saying all the right things to attract conservatives to his side in the District 50 Republican Primary in Huntington and Whitley Counties. Sndyer talks the talk and sounds like a good choice to send to Indianapolis where more conservative Republicans would be a welcome alternative to the squishes we have too much of right now. Problem is, Snyder has some skeletons in his closet that folks in Whitley and Huntington counties might not know about, especially since he just moved there about one year ago. So we’re going to do what we do best here at Fort Wayne News. We’re going to make the truth known and let voters know what Gary Snyder is hiding in his race to become the next State Representative in District 50.

(Find out what’s being hidden below the fold) (more…)

Okay, I admit it: I’m working on some other things but I want to get a blog post in so I’m copy-and-pasting from a campaign’s press release.  The major difference between a Hoosier Access blogger copy-and-paste and another bloggers copying-and-pasting is that we’re honest enough to tell you about it.

Bob Lee, Allen County Treasurer and Candidate for State Representative in District 85 has endorsed Fort Wayne City Purchasing Director Jim Howard for County Council At-Large.  “County Council will likely be asked to do more with less in the coming years,” said Lee.  “Jim’s fiscally conservative values combined with his proven record in local government will serve the citizens of Allen well on County Council.  I feel Jim has the skills necessary to make tough decisions by weighing competing interests for limited resources and make well thought out and fairly administered fiscal decisions for the taxpayers of Allen County.  Jim Howard is the right person at the right time to serve on the Allen County Council.” 

“I am honored to receive this support from Bob Lee who is a trusted and respected county official,” said Jim Howard.  “I will work hard on behalf of Allen County taxpayers on the County Council as I take the same fiscal conservative leadership to council meetings that I take to work every day to save tax dollars and make good decisions to run efficient government.”    

As City Purchasing Director, Howard has oversight of $100 million of city purchases every year.  Howard is credited with saving the city of Fort Wayne over $2 million over the past few years by employing unique practices of increasing competition, bundling purchase, and working with the schools and the county to buy fuel and energy needs.

I’ve already posted at length about the substantial problems that exist with HB 1153, the bill that would allow pull-tab gambling at bars (and create solid market share over night for a company in the district of the bill’s author).

Now, that measure is going to the Governor’s desk to be signed or vetoed.

I hope he vetoes it.

For too long, Indiana has seen a rampant and unchecked expansion of gambling.

Last year, it was slots at race tracks and paper games for charities and groups like the VFW.

In exchange, we were supposed to see a crackdown on illegal gaming machines and paper games at bars, and a move against so-called pea shakes.

This year, none of what was promised has happened.

None of it.

Why would the state legislature say no now?

Why would the Governor?

I hope Mitch Daniels will veto this.

Setting aside objections to gambling, there are significant provisions within the bill–like its 25% mandate provision and its distorted tax mechanism–that are bad public policy.

I suspect, however, that he won’t. (more…)

Fort Wayne Politics is reporting today that the Allen County Republican Party headquarters is up for sale. Pictures of the building with a “for sale” sign in the window can be viewed at Fort Wayne Politics and you can watch the story at Indiana News Center here.

The television story from Indiana News Center interviews a former legislator who is part of an effort to elect several new precinct committeemen in Allen County to challenge current leadership as reported at Fort Wayne News here.

The below post was submitted to me by one of the attendees at last Saturday’s Allen County Right to Life Legislative Forum. I was honored to play the part of moderator for the well-attended event.

Lawmakers Discuss Family Legislation before theIndiana General Assembly

Senate Leadership Solid in Support of Family Legislation, House Leadership to Act on Senate Bills in the Next 2-weeks

Saturday morning, Indiana legislators and third district Congressman Mark Souder attended the 6^th annual Allen County Right to Life (ACRL) legislative forum on the campus of Concordia Theological Seminary attended by a crowd of over 80 attendees who registered for the event. The annual event is a town hall forum where legislators have an opportunity to give the public an update on the status of pro-life/pro-family legislation before the Indiana General Assembly and take questions from the audience.

State Senate Pro Tem and Fort Wayne resident David Long headed the ticket of Hoosier legislators along with State Senator Dennis Kruse of Auburn, State Representative Randy Borror of the 84^th District and Matt Bell, State Representative from District 83. The Governor, Mitch Daniels, Lieutenant Governor, Becky Skillman, and Secretary of State Todd Rokita all sent letters of greeting and encouragement to ACRL and those in attendance. State Representative Marlin Stuzman from District 52 was also scheduled to attend but cancelled due to sudden illness and Indiana Right to Life (IRTL) Legislative Liaison Sue Swayze, who works with the legislature on family and life issues, was also scheduled to be there but like Stuzman succumbed to sudden illness and could not attend. Whitley County Republican Party Chairman and ACRL Board Member, Jim Banks moderated the event.

Notable were the number of other elected officials and candidates also attending the event;

John Becker, former Indiana State Representative

Nelson Peters, Allen County Commissioner

Roy Buskirk, Allen County Councilman

Mitch Harper, Fort Wayne City Council Member

Bob Lee, Allen County Treasurer

Al Frisinger, Allen County Surveyor

Adam Mildred, Allen County Deputy Prosecutor

Mark Roach, Candidate for Whitley County Commissioner

Jim Banks, Candidate for Whitley County Council At-Large

Jim Howard, Candidate for Allen County Council At-Large

(more…)

Jim Howard Announces Allen County Council At-Large Campaign

Fort Wayne City Purchasing Director Pledges to be Fiscal Conservative Leader on Council

            Fort Wayne – Jim Howard, Fort Wayne City Purchasing Director, announced today that he will run for Allen County Council At-Large in the May 6^th Republican Primary Election.  Howard is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and has been a practicing attorney for the past 14 years.  Howard also served as a Deputy Prosecutor in the Allen County Prosecutor’s office and as an Associate City Attorney for Fort Wayne before becoming the City Purchasing Director in 2003. 

            “I am running for County Council At-Large because I believe Allen County can do a better job to serve families and taxpayers during this difficult time in the state of Indiana,” said Howard.  “As a Councilman, I will work to cut wasteful and redundant spending.  As a matter of fact, it is what I do for a living as City Purchasing Director and I will apply the same passion and expertise to the job on the council of being a watchful advocate of the taxpayer. Additionally, I want to make sure that, in this time of transition, the County takes care of its most valuable resource—its employees.” 

            As City Purchasing Director, Howard has oversight of $100 million of city purchases every year.  Howard is credited with saving the city of Fort Wayne over $2 million over the past few years by employing unique practices of increasing competition, bundling purchase, and working with the schools and the county to buy fuel and energy needs.  

            Howard is married to JoEllen and has five children ages six to ten.  Howard is an Alliance Defense Fund attorney and is a member of the Indiana and Allen County Bar Association and Indiana Municipal Lawyers Association.  Howard is the Vice President of the Allen County Right to Life Board and attends Heartland Community Church.  He founded and served as Corporate Counsel to the Public Safety Foundation of Northeast Indiana for the past three years.