Archive for the ‘Shout Out’ Category

I just have to take a minute to give a big shout out to a good friend of mine who I worked with in Washington, D.C. His name is Chad Bungard and before we worked together on Capitol Hill for Congressman Burton and the Government Reform Committe he got his start right here in the Hoosier state working for Jim Bopp’s law firm in Terre Haute before heading out to DC.

I received an email from him today saying that he’s getting a nominated by President Bush for General Counsel for the Federal Labor Relations Authority, for a five-year term.

Chad has always been a good friend and I just have to say way to go Buddy!

Read Chad’s portion of the official White House press release below the fold. (more…)

I love to brag on my friends. I really do. In the past I’ve bragged about Jim Banks and his wife Amanda, and now I have the chance to brag on another Northern Indiana pal in Chris Faulkner and his family.

Via GOP Grunt where Chris is too humble to brag about his wife elsewhere.

South Bend Tribune: BUSINESS PEOPLE: “GRANGER — Angela Faulkner, president of Granger based Faulkner Strategies, has been selected to sit on the board of the newly formed Indiana Women Business Owners PAC. Established in 2007, the IWBO PAC’s goal is to support the economic development of women-owned businesses within the state.

The nonpartisan PAC committee will target and talk with state legislators about several initiatives, including the possible MBE/WBE designation of nonprofit organizations and affordable health care for small businesses.”

Congratulations Angela!

A little off topic here, but I wanted to give a shout out to my high school alma mater, Heritage Christian School, and say congratulations to the girls basketball team for winning their third straight 2A girls state title. Way to go girls!

Heritage Christian wins 3rd straight girls 2A title
March 1, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS — A third-quarter blowout gave Heritage Christian its third straight Class 2A championship.
Liz Stratman and Kelly Faris had 10 points and 10 rebounds each and the Eagles used a 19-2 run at the end of the third period and start of the fourth to crush previously unbeaten Oak Hill 53-31 today.

Heritage Christian (27-1) held Oak Hill (26-1) to 22 percent shooting for the game and did not allow the Golden Eagles a point from midway through the third quarter until almost 3 minutes into of the final period. By then, the game was out of reach.

The Indianapolis school took a 37-20 lead after three straight baskets by Claire Freeman at the end of the third quarter and stretched the lead to 39-20 with a pair of free throws by Stratman at the start of the final period. A free throw by Heather Hicks ended Oak Hill’s scoreless streak with 5:23 to go.

Heritage Christian took its biggest lead at 48-22 on a basket by Emily Anderson with under 3 minutes left.

Hey all you Heritage fans, read the rest of the recap below the fold. (more…)

As I’ve mentioned in this space before, we love to brag on our own. One person we especially love to brag about is Jim Banks. Recently, Jim was interviewed by National Journal’s “The Hotline”. Is it right to say that we’re plugging this because his interview mentions Hoosier Access? In true political fashion, I say “no comment!” Way to go Jim!

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CONSULTANT CANDIDS: All Hail The Hoosier

Jim Banks is pres. of The Wabash Group, LLC, a full-service public affairs firm dedicated to serving conservative causes and political candidates. Banks began his political career with Rep. John Hostettler (R-IN-08) where he served in several different capacities — manager, press sec., grassroots dir. and fundraising dir. — on Hostettler’s successful re-election campaigns of ‘00 and ‘02. He has also worked for Focus on the Family and Focus on the Family Action as a nat’l grassroots organizer. In the ‘06 election cycle, Banks served as an assoc. to Patrick Davis Consulting, LLC. And today, he is our “Consultant Candid.”

What was your first job?
I was the head hotdog chef at a drive-in root beer stand during the summers in high school in Columbia City, Indiana.

What is your proudest moment professionally?
I’m still looking for that signature victory but to this point my proudest moment was realizing that I could actually make a living doing what I love — helping good people pursue their dreams and good organizations grow their influence.

What one event in a candidate’s past would pose the biggest problem in a campaign?
Getting caught in a lie, big or small, can ruin the trust a candidate has with the voters.

If you could be in any other line of work, what would it be?
Summer golf pro and winter hunting guide.

Negative campaigning — good or bad?
I’ve come a long way on this subject since spending two rounds managing Hostettler races in Indiana’s “Bloody 8th”. Perhaps I’m getting soft, but today I believe that voters are hungry for substance and less political bashing. Nonetheless, negative campaigning is still necessary and effective but the best consultants are the ones you can take the negative out of negative campaigning.

Where is your happy place?
Assembly Hall at Indiana University.

What is your favorite restaurant to meet clients?
South Bend Chocolate Factory on the circle in downtown Indianapolis.

What campaign (past, present or future) would you most like to be a part of?
Jeff Crank for President (candidate for Congress in CO-5) or Amanda Banks (my wife) for Mayor of Columbia City, Indiana, our hometown, population 6,000.

What is the ideal number of clients to have at one time?
7

What firm/individual who does your kind of work for the other party do you respect the most, and why?
Eric Sonderman of SE2 in Denver, Colorado. He is as kind and respectful as any consultant you’ll ever meet and he understands the creative art of communications. He has left a big foot print on Colorado politics and is liked and respected by everyone.

What is the first section of the newspaper you read?
I heard a pastor say once to never read the newspaper sitting down. I follow that advice and only skim the headlines. I receive my news from the Internet in its many forms, most importantly from blogs including one that I help run — www.HoosierAccess.com.

(YES!!! Thanks for the plug Jim!)

If you could only watch one news show, what would it be?
The Colbert Report.

We’re ending this feature with a question posed by the last interviewee. This is from Strother-Duffy-Strother’s Dane Strother: Where is the political consulting business ten years from now?
Bigger and better. Political consulting will be more focused and less “general”. There will be experts who control different technologies and consulting will be driven by who can best utilize those new tools. Hopefully political consulting will be more ethical too. Our industry could use a Better Business Bureau to keep track of dishonest and deceptive consultants.

Pose a question for the next interviewee.
What is your best advice to a new consultant who is starting out in this business?

More information here.

(Photo courtesy of Mitch Harper and Ft. Wayne Observed)

Make sure to check out the new website for the House Republican Campaign Committee.  Some of the new features to the redesigned site include a section for “Victory Bloggers“.  You can also download buttons to promote the Victory Bloggers program.  Make sure to check it out!

On January 3rd Governor Mike Huckabee shocked the Republican establishment by winning the Iowa Caucuses by a very strong margin.  Outspent and outgunned on air time and party favoritism, Huckabee nevertheless proved he can connect with the one group that matters: the voters.

For several months I have considered openly tossing my hat into the ring in support of the second man from Hope, Arkansas.  To date, my support has been limited to private e-mails and vigorous discussions with friends and fellow politicos.

Read more.

To the veterans in Indiana and all over our nation, thank you for risking your very lives for the freedoms we hold so dear in this country. I especially want to thank new Indianapolis Mayor-Elect, Col. Greg Ballard.  Happy Veterans Day!

-The Directors of Hoosier Access

Dan Heiwig of RepublicansRadio.com and Darla Williams of the Indiana Minority Report and I had a great time this morning talking with Chris Spangle about the blog influence in the recent municipal election in Indy.  I have to admit, it was unprecedented and the local paid politicos and reporters didn’t really know how to react other than to step back and let us be vocal.

Lost in the midst of our segment running short, I didn’t get to acknowledge some of the other internet fighters who helped take down Bart such as Sir Hailstone of the Digital Farmers blog and Melyssa Donaghy along with her faithful supporters with the Hoosiers for Fair Taxation crowd.

A lot of deserving attention goes to Bartlies.com and Indy Undercover, but their brothers and sisters in keeping the citizens of Indianapolis safe, Indy Flashover, though a recent addition to the fight, were instrumental in making this election about the people and not the parties and the powers that be.

This is my shout out to you all anybody else I forgot to mention.  But remember this, we didn’t do this for recognition.  We did this to save our city and now our attention focuses on state and federal races.

People, most likely liberal bloggers though I’m sure some GOP insiders wonder, what’s going to happen now that Ballard is elected.  They may think our jobs are done.  Far from it!  There will always be changes that need to be made in government and it’s our duty to make sure that our government is transparent.  IndyU talks about the revolution.  Well, my fellow readers and bloggers, the revolution has only just started.

Hoosier Access plans to give you in depth coverage of what is going on in the State House and to inform our readers of Pat Bauer’s antics to further keep Indiana in the 19th century as well the elections coming up in 2008.  Stay tuned.  We’re far from finished!

My county chairman asked me to pass this on, and I was more than happy to oblige.
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Join us for A Young Professionals Event in support of Governor Mitch Daniels

Greet Governor Daniels
Network with other young professionals
Learn more about Indiana’s comeback

Thursday, November 15, 2007
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Emmis Communications Atrium
40 Monument Circle, Indianapolis

See the official invitation - Young Professionals Event in support of Governor Mitch Daniels.

I want to thank Sir Hailstone of the Digital Farmers Blog for live blogging the Indy Mayoral debate this past Sunday on behalf of Hoosier Access.  We were unable to do it ourselves, but he was able to step up to the plate and pinch-hit a great performance while keeping our loyal readers in the loop and updated at all times during the debate.  Thanks again Sir Hailstone!

-Josh Gillespie on behalf of the Directors

It’s been a while since I last posted links to some quality posts from other political and conservative blogs in Indiana. So take the time to check some of these out on this dreary Indiana evening.

Frugal Hoosiers keeps us up to date about the goings on of former Indiana House Speaker John Gregg. Remember, this was the guy who tried to convince Jill “I’m crushing all of my primary opponents” Long Thompson to extricate herself from the governors race so Jim”Scoring way below the now defunct Richard Young Campaign” Schellinger could become the nominee.

Here’s a post written by Thomas Lasher at My Voice News which takes a pointed look at the Christian Conservative movement in Republican politics.  It’s a good, but challenging read.

Also from My Voice News is a staff report written about the removal of “God” from a young boys request for a flag for his grandfather. Here is Congressman Burton’s floor speech in response to this controversy.

Kristen Luidhardt made some keen observations regarding hate-crimes legislation over at Veritas Rex. Definitely worth your time to read.

I’ve been meaning to post this for a while. But Andy Horning wrote an interesting blog piece about times of peace and times of war during the reigns of our Presidents and how very few actually were president when their was peace.

Indy Undercover takes a look back into Aaron Haith’s background. It’s lengthy, but very informative about a person who is the lawyer for the Marion County City-County Council.