Archive for the ‘Local Elections’ Category

Today I had the opportunity to attend the launch of the Mark MacKillop for State Representative campaign in Knox, Indiana. MacKillop, a young Republican who has been twice elected to county-wide office as surveyor, is currently the only candidate running on the Republican side against freshman Representative Nancy Dembowski (D). Dembowski is a former mayor of Knox and was appointed to fill out a term in Senate District 5. She ran for reelection in 2004 but lost to Vic Heinhold (R) who recently resigned due to business opportunities and was replaced by Ed Charbonneau.

In this Republican leaning district during a season of anti-incumbency, Dembowski is vulnerable. MacKillop has the energy, the vision, and the ideas needed to win this race in House District 17. His experience in local government and his vision for a better Indiana combined with the fact that he has won elections in Rep. Dembowski’s strongest areas of support mean that his victory will contribute greatly to a Republican takeover of the House.

Here is his announcement speech:

Greetings! Welcome! Thank you for coming. It’s great to see so many friends and supporters. I want to express my sincere gratitude to those who have helped put this event together and to you for taking time out of your busy schedule to be with us today.

Today is an exciting day. Today begins a new chapter in my life and in the lives of my family, friends, and neighbors.

Today we collectively recognize the problems that face our communities. We recognize that for many people property taxes have increased at a rate which skyrocketed beyond any acceptable limits. We recognize that families are struggling to find the resources to meet the financial burden of these property tax increases. The status quo of tinkering with numbers and sending rebate checks that cost even more tax dollars to produce and mail is no longer acceptable. We recognize that it is time for a change.

We also recognize that families and individuals fight the ever increasing high costs of medial services. We recognize and believe that patients must be provided good care at reasonable costs and we support efforts to that end.

Together we recognize that this is a pivotal time in Indiana history. There are significant structural changes being suggested in the way government operates at the local level. We recognize the necessity for efficiency and speed in county services so individuals have their needs met in a timely manner. We also recognize that with this efficiency, speed and streamlining of government services, we must be vigilant to protect against a loss of accountability in government.

We must be careful to retain a strong system of checks and balances which are so vital for the strength of our democracy and republic. Public oversight is never a bad thing. Public comment and public involvement must forever be protected in any reorganization efforts of local governments. It is this public involvement and alertness that is the bedrock to good government.

We recognize that the time has come for an honest and open debate about the issues that affect us most. The status quo of limited debate or a lack of public involvement is no longer acceptable. It is time for a change.

What should we do when we recognize these problems? Should we run away and hide? No my friends! I present to you that it is our duty to respond with ideas for a solution and work towards that end. We call it a campaign. The journey of the campaign will not always be easy. The struggles we face will not always be easily overcome, but we know that at the end of the journey, we will be able to look back at this moment in time and realize that our collective journey towards good representative government began here.

Therefore I hereby publically declare my candidacy for the Republican nomination for Indiana State Representative District 17.

Allow me to make one thing perfectly clear. I am the “common sense conservative candidate” who is pro-life, pro-family, and pro-marriage. I know you value these principles as well.

A few years ago I presented myself to you as a candidate for Surveyor.

They said we couldn’t succeed. They said I was too young and inexperienced to get the job done. You responded with support, new ideas, and encouragement as we endeavored to provide quick courteous service with limited county resources. You responded with appreciation evidenced by your support and encouragement. Together we proved them wrong.

I know that as we go forward from this day you will once again provide guidance, helpful suggestions, and needed encouragement as we run towards the prize that is set before us. To borrow a passage from the book of Isaiah, “We shall run and not be weary; we shall walk and not faint.”

You can rest assured that the high ideals, goals and personal conviction that I brought to the office of Surveyor will be the same high ideals and conviction that I intend to represent in the Indiana State House.

It is with resolute conviction that I present to you the fact that our goals are noble, our cause is just, and our actions are necessary for the betterment of generations to come.

We will fight towards those ends, we will debate the issues that matter, and with your support we will prevail.

Thank you and God Bless.

It seems Calypso Louie’s endorsed Congressional Candidate Andre Carson wants to finish off what is left of Indiana industry. He wants to adopt the really bad (bad for us, good for China) treaty known as Kyoto.

Then he, just like his grandmother, WILL cut and run from Iraq. Of course he’s just being a good, peace loving, devout Muslim, right?

[There. Fixed. @%$&#$le.]

Hoosier Access Director, and Whitley County GOP Chairman Jim Banks announced his candidacy for the Whitley County Council today.  Pledging to be a fiscal conservative and an advocate for the taxpayer, Banks said that when he is elected he will not vote for any proposals that will increase the tax burden on residents of Whitley County.

Here is the press release annoucing the start of the campaign:

Columbia City – Local small business owner Jim Banks announced his candidacy for Whitley County Council At-Large today.  Banks is running for the Republican nomination in the May 6 Primary Election for which three Republican candidates will be chosen county wide.  Banks is the President of The Wabash Group, a public affairs and public relations company he founded in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 2005 and then moved to Columbia City in early 2007.     

Banks pledges to run a campaign on issues and ideas to build a better Whitley County for its businesses and taxpayers.  “I am excited to bring new leadership to Whitley County government and on the County Council,” said Banks.  “I believe strongly that we can bring more jobs to our county and build a better environment to foster and grow local businesses already here.  I will be an advocate for local businesses and vow to find ways to lessen the tax burden on businesses and families in Whitley County.  I will meet regularly with local businesses to make sure they are represented well in county government.”  

Taxpayers in Whitley County will find an advocate in Banks who will work to be a leading fiscal conservative on the Council.  “As many families struggle throughout our county to make ends meet, we must make sure that local government spends our tax dollars wisely.  I will closely examine every spending initiative that comes before the Council to determine if it is justified and necessary and will never support a measure that would increase the tax burden on Whitley County families.”  

Jim is married to Amanda Banks, communications manager at the American Red Cross Indiana-Ohio Region.  Both Bankses previously worked at Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs in the public policy department.  Jim is a graduate of Indiana University in Bloomington with a degree in political science.  He is a native of Whitley County where he graduated from Columbia City High School and Whitko Middle School.  Banks is active in the community as a member of several organizations including Rotary, Columbia City Chamber of Commerce and Whitley County Shrine Club.  He is a board member of Allen County Right to Life and Indiana Family Action PAC and Chairman of the Whitley County Republican Party.

Dr. Phil apparently contacted “the Anderson Mayors” to get them to work out their little squabble. Great, that’s what electoral politics has come to in Indiana. The situation in Anderson has become such a joke it’s now bordering on Dr. Phil levels of ridiculous. Thankfully the Mayors turned him down.

H/T - INdiana Systemic Thinking

According to the Indianapolis Star, the Governor has set March 11th as the date of the Special Election to complete the Congressional term of the late Julia Carson.

The late Julia Carson’s grandson, Andre Carson, is officially in the race for the 7th Congressional District. He was seen earlier today by MSM sources leaving State Democrat headquarters with papers to file for the Congressional seat. He declined an interview as he is contacting the Democrat precinct committeepersons that will vote on his anointment to Congress.

Considering this will be his first election where he actually faces an opponent this will be interesting to see.

PS. Thanks Gary Welsh. Bouncing Patrice Abdullah played right into Democrat hands with the anointment of Prince Andre.

The list of those running for the 7th Congressional seat seems to always be growing for Republicans and Democrats, thanks to the ever churning rumor mill. But no one has thrown their hat into the ring for the Libertarians. That is, until now?

According to Bart Lies:

Another hat in the ring?

We hear rumblings that Melyssa Donaghy is considering running for the 7th District congressional seat as a Libertarian. Melyssa recently won the Sam Adams Alliance’s “Sammie” award for her tireless efforts protest the ever-increasing property tax burden in Indiana. She also worked many long hours as part of the grassroots effort that successfully replaced the evil Bart Peterson with Greg Ballard. Perhaps it’s time we sent a fighter to Congress, instead of a ?’er

Melyssa was able to create quite the following when she helped establish the Hoosiers for Fair Taxation this past year to protest the rising property taxes here in Indiana. She also helped garner support for current Indy Mayor-Elect Greg Ballard during his race to unseat Bart Peterson.

Libertarians haven’t been able to crack more than a few percentage points in any major elections in Indiana, but Melyssa could break the mold should she run. She would be quite the candidate to watch in this upcoming cycle making 2008 all the more interesting politically in Indiana and in the 7th CD in particular.

I think a logical question has to be asked in would she make a bigger impact in the race running as an Independent rather than a Libertarian? (Libertarians, please take no offense, but it is a logical question as more Independents have been elected to major offices in Indiana and nationally than Libertarians.)

(H/T - Bart Lies and the Digital Farmer’s Blog)

WTHR-TV is reporting the mayoral recount is complete and Sharon McShurley (R) has emerged victorious by 13 votes.

It turns out a precinct of absentee votes in favor of the Democrat, votes for Jim Mansfield (D) were disallowed because the ballot envelopes were not signed as required by law. This swung the pendulum to Ms. McShurley and continues a tradition of GOP mayoral leadership in Muncie since 1987.

Poor Lonnell “King Ro” Conley. He just can’t catch a break. After garnering the fewest amount of votes between the Republican and Democrat At-Large Candidates for the Indianapolis City-County Council as an incumbent in the recent municipal election, his own Democrat party gives him the shaft and denies him the opportunity to take over the State Representative seat left open by the retirement of Mae Dickinson.

According to Abdul:

Labor leader John Bartlett will take over the Indiana House seat being vacated by Mae Dickinson. Dickinson resigned on December 7, saying she wants to spend more time with her family. She had been in the legislature since 1991. Bartlett overwhelmingly beat outgoing City-Council member “King Ro” Conley. According to party insiders, many of the precinct committeemen wanted someone other than Conley saying it was time for the party to go forward.

Don’t worry King Ro, there’s always that open congressional seat you could go for.

Hoosier Access and RepublicansRadio.com are teaming up together a second time for a radio feed this Saturday, December 1st at the South Bend Chocolate Company in Indianapolis on the Circle. We will be recording from 12-2pm (please note time change below). With the recent developments of what’s going in the 7th Congressional as well prep for the upcoming General Assembly, we certainly have plenty to talk about.

This is an open invitation to candidates who are running for office as well as to the bloggers out there and anyone else who wants to be a part of the discussion.

If you want to send in a question, you can either leave it in this post or email me at contact@hoosieraccess.com. The feed will be heard on Republicansradio.com. Check it out!

Update - Due to scheduling conflicts, we are moving the time to start to 4:30pm and going to 6:30pm.

Update #2 - On Saturday we will have a special segment featuring Ryan McCann of Veritas Rex and Bil Browning of the Bilerico Project participating in a Point/Counter-Point discussion on the issues facing the upcoming General Assembly as well as talking about the bet that they made. I’m looking forward to this one. It’s going to be fun!

You’ve just come off a very heated campaign that you won by the narrowest margin you’ve ever had.  The main issues in the campaign were jobs, crime, and high taxes.  Your city has the second highest amount of violent crime in the state, property tax assessments are poorly done, and a number of major companies have left your city for a neighboring one because your administration wouldn’t help them.  With all of these factors in play, what would you be doing right now?

If you would have immediately begun the process of trying to bring more jobs to your city you would be a smart mayor.  That’s not what Steve Luecke (D-South Bend) is doing though.  After winning a third term as mayor, Luecke and the Democrat controlled Common Council are now preparing to focus their attention on trying to pass an ordinance that would require local employers (or what’s left of them), landlords, and businesspeople to not discriminate on the basis of sexual-orientation.  If a man walked into your restaurant but proceeded to use the women’s bathroom and you tried to stop him, and he informed you that he “felt” like a woman or had a sex-change operation, you could do nothing to prevent him from using the woman’s bathroom.  If one of your male employees showed up for work dressed as a woman you couldn’t fire them.

Word has it that the South Bend Common Council will be holding a first reading on the ordinance (which was defeated in 2006) as early as Monday afternoon.  Apparently supporters of the measure are trying to pass it while they still have a strong friend in Councilperson Charlotte Pfiefer (D).  Ms. Pfiefer was defeated in the ‘07 primary.  Stay tuned to Hoosier Access to learn more about this developing story.

For more information on this issue please visit: www.nospecialrights.net

Here is the article I mentioned earlier that ran in the Bethel College student newspaper, the Bethel Beacon, about efforts by Mishawaka Democrats to intimidate student voters.

Click here for the scan.

Several Bethel students learned a lesson about voting and politics when they went to the polls on Tuesday Nov. 6. For many it was their first voting experience. They were surprised to encounter challenges as they attempted to exercise their right to vote. Some claim they were intimidated during the process.

Many of the students had registered to vote using a Bethel College address. The college is located in Mishawaka’s sixth district, where Bethel professor Dave Schmidt was running for the common council seat against incumbent [Democrat] Ron Banicki.

“Somehow the Banicki campaign got a Bethel housing directory and had identified all of the students who lived in Logan Village and on Donaldson Street and were challenging their right to vote at John Young School,” said Mark Root, Schmidt’s campaign manager.

Rita Glenn of the Saint Joseph County election board said the board issued a challenger certificate to a Banicki representative named Dan Baltimore.

Students, however, felt intimidated by the process. They questioned some things they claim were said to them.

“A gentleman informed me that I had to sign an affidavit before I could vote. I questioned him on this and refused to sign it. He became very rude and told me that unless I signed this, I couldn’t vote because he was ‘opposing/going’ against my vote,” said junior Hope Grame.

Grame said he told her that if his appeal of her vote went through, her vote wouldn’t matter and she could be prosecuted for falsifying her address.

“There was also mention that I could lose my financial aid,” she said.

Glenn said the election board did receive complaints about what was going on at John Young and they sent representatives from both parties to the school to monitor the situation.

“On two occasions the St. Joseph County election board was called to John Young School, and on both occasions worked out a process for the students to vote and also told this man that he was not to speak to the voters,” Root said.

Root said that the man continued to cause problems.

Am I the only one that sees the dark irony?

Democrats want students to vote for them because they say their party will increase student aid.

But when those students might not be voting for the “right people”, the Democrats challenge their votes and threaten to take their student aid away.
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