You Asked, We Answer: What does the Dem walkout mean to local 2011 elections?

February 24, 2011 9 Comments

We have had a few comments asking our opinion on what the effect the Democrat walkouts over at the Statehouse will have on local races here in Marion County. 

At Ogden on Politics, Paul says, “You betcha.”  He argues that these issues will motivate the Democrat base and predicts Mayor Greg Ballard will lose by more than ten percent.  To that, we ask if he is a part of the marijuana legalization study the State Senate just passed.  We’re not saying it is crazy to predict a victory by either candidate–everyone has the right to their opinion.  We’re saying a ten percent victory for either side is a bit over the top.  As an aside, Paul said, “Opinion polls do not measure the intensity of one’s views.”  That is incorrect.  Nearly every poll we’ve ever seen has an intensity question.  Not all do but most that are done by reputable pollsters include an intensity question.

Over at Indy Democrat, Jon Easter says yes. He makes a valid argument that some of the controversial issues being brought up over at the Statehouse could put local officials in a tough spot.  Honestly, we think that it is all a matter of how the issues are addressed.  That said, those issues are not what the walkout is centered on.  We believe the walkout is going to overshadow a lot of those issues at this point and become the issue.   And we believe the House Democrats overplayed their hand. We said it yesterday but Capitol & Washington referenced a poll saying that 67% of Americans disapprove of the walkouts like in Wisconsin.  That isn’t an Indiana only poll but it shows a general trend.

Our view is that they overplayed their hand and it will end up being a negative for Democrats in the Statehouse.  We really aren’t sure that it is going to have any effect on local candidates.  We did read on IBJ reporter Francesca Jarosz’s twitter that Democrats plan to skip the State of the City address as a show of opposition.  If local Democrats start taking their cues from the Statehouse then this trend could definitely have an effect on the upcoming elections.  Voters typically expect legislators to show up and vote.  They do not always have to agree with the vote but just not voting doesn’t seem to be acceptable.  And there is always a danger for any candidate to get on the wrong side of an issue and have a problem–but that is something a candidate can control or at least minimize the damage.  

But to say you know definitely how any of this will actually play out and affect elections while we are still in the middle of it is a bit of a stretch.  As Michael Douglas says in The American President, ” I drop five points when Wisconsin doesn’t make the Rose Bowl.”  Our point?  Voters are unpredictable and this situation is volatile.  Who knows what is going to happen.

Filed under 2011, Democratic Party, Indiana Legislature, Indianapolis City-County Council, Mayor Greg Ballard, Politics

Mayor’s Race Round-Up: Weinzapfel and Wright Out for Mayor. Weinzapfel in for Governor?

January 4, 2011 2 Comments

There have been a few interesting developments regarding Mayor’s races around the state and we’ll plan to do some periodic coverage of what is happening outside of the Indianapolis Mayor’s Race.  If you have friends that want their local race or candidate to get a look from us, have them email us at washingtonstreetpolitics@gmail.com.

This week, we have Evansville and Beech Grove. Today, Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel announced he will not be seeking re-election as Mayor.  Weinzapfel has widely been speculated to be a potential candidate for Governor and this announcement should increase the chatter.  We’re betting that Weinzapfel will run.  As Eric Bradner said, “the question now isn’t if, but when Jonathan Weinzapfel will announce he is running for governor.”

Last night down in Beech Grove, Mayor Joe Wright surprised almost everyone by handing in his resignation at the council meeting.  Abdul noted there is speculation that it is regarding the finances and over on channel 6 news they are saying it is due to his private sector employment requiring more time.   We’re hearing that Mayor Wright is quite vulnerable and was not expected to be slated or able to win a primary challenge. 

Indianapolis City-County Councilor Susie Day has been eyeing a run at Beech Grove’s top spot for the last several months and, from what we’ve been told, would probably be able to win a slating contest. We’re hearing Mayor Joe Wright didn’t appreciate being challenged and is resigning in an effort to get his chosen successor in office and an upper hand in slating.  His position will be filled in a caucus of Beech Grove precinct committeemen.

Filed under 2011, 2012, City Government, Indianapolis City-County Council, Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel, Mayor's Race Round-Up, Politics, Republican Council, State Government, WSP Public Service Annoucements

City Agency Re-Appointments and Musings from the Always Entertaining Vernon Brown

December 21, 2010 8 Comments

Last night, the City-County Council voted on what normally is the mundane, routine re-appointments of city agency directors.  The Mayor appoints the agency directors, but the Council votes to approve them.  The vote is merely symbolic however, as the Council has no authority to remove an appointee from their job – the appointee would serve until a replacement is nominated by the Mayor and approved by the Council.  Channel 16 viewers learned this after Councillor Vernon Brown (D) noted that the Mayor could “appoint Satan and we wouldn’t have any authority to get rid of him.”  Councilor Brown, we heard Bart Peterson tried it and that’s part of why he lost re-election.  Okay, okay—that may have had something more to do with income taxes. 

Back to the point. For the last few weeks, the FOP has tried to derail the re-appointment of Public Safety Director Frank Straub.  The FOP was all over the news in the days leading up to the committee vote trying to rile the public up against Straub.  They were unsuccessful in preventing his re-appointment from passing out of committee…perhaps because the FOP voted just days before the committee hearing to pay for Bisard’s legal representation, the public didn’t take them seriously?

Despite the FOP’s attempts to foil Straub’s reforms of IMPD by booting him out of office, the Council voted 16-13 to re-appoint him in last night’s full Council meeting.   Democrats Brown, Mansfield and Nytes voted in support of Straub’s re-appointment, and Republicans McHenry and Scales voted against it.  While the FOP was hoping Straub would go down in flames he didn’t – and according to Brown, even Satan couldn’t go down in flames anyway.

Brown himself was on fire last night.  Councillor Ed Coleman (L after being elected as an R with R support) opened discussion on Straub’s re-appointment noting that he was the only Councillor to oppose Straub’s initial appointment 11 months ago.  Brown reminded Coleman that since the Council had no real authority to remove appointed directors, that “if you don’t like Straub, don’t vote for Mayor Ballard again.”  We here at WSP chuckled at Brown reminding Coleman how he got his seat on the Council in the first place.

Filed under 2011, City Government, Ed Coleman, Frank Straub, Indianapolis City-County Council, Mayor Greg Ballard, Vernon Brown

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