Politics Indiana V14 N22 By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS - As a political writer watching the presidential race get started this month, I’ve been envious of my colleagues in states like Iowa and New Hampshire. They get to see the presidential candidates up close and personal. The candidates visit their newsrooms and editorial boards. They appear at cafes and bowling alleys. It’s been since 1976 that an In- diana primary in the first week of May meant anything. That’s when President Ford and Ronald Reagan were in a dead heat. Reagan won Indiana, then headed into the convention at Kansas City trailing by 187 delegates, eventually “Woe unto anyone who under- estimates Jon Elrod.” - Republican Tom Rose after losing the 7th CD caucus to State Rep. Jon Elrod last Sunday See Page 3 The Hoosier primary Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008 Daniels, Bayh head 2008 Top 50 Tax crisis shapes top of the list By BRIAN A. HOWEY MARK SCHOEFF JR. and MARK CURRY INDIANAPOLIS - We enter 2008 in crisis and yet with high expectations. Indiana’s political establishment has been turned on its ear by a populist uprising and yet another stunning election upset. There is an unpopular war and while the Iraq troop surge appears to have brought success, there are consider- able doubts as to whether it can be sustained. Last week, there were 16 American soldiers killed in battle. The 2008 Howey Poli- tics Indiana Top 50 List is like its nine predecessors going back to 1999: we weigh the potential contri- butions in relation to our times. In 2007, we featured U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts - an Indiana na- tive - who presided over a series of 5-4 votes on topics that profoundly impact Hoosier politics such as abortion and the voter ID law. We had UAW Presidents Ron Gettelfinger and Mo Davidson, both of whom played huge roles in new Gov. Daniels at the Tipton County Courthouse last July to announce the Getrag plant. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)
Transcript
Politics Indiana V14 N22
By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS-Asapoliticalwriterwatchingthepresidentialracegetstartedthismonth,I’vebeenenviousofmycolleaguesinstateslikeIowaandNewHampshire.Theygettoseethepresidentialcandidatesupcloseandpersonal.Thecandidatesvisittheirnewsrooms
andeditorialboards.Theyappearatcafesandbowlingalleys. It’sbeensince1976thatanIn-diana primary in the first week of May meantanything.That’swhenPresidentFordandRonaldReaganwereinadeadheat.ReaganwonIndiana,thenheadedintotheconventionatKansasCitytrailingby187delegates,eventually
“Woe unto anyone who under-estimates Jon Elrod.” - Republican Tom Rose after losing the 7th CD caucus to State Rep. Jon Elrod last Sunday
See Page 3
The Hoosier primary
Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008
Daniels, Bayh head 2008 Top 50Tax crisis shapestop of the listBy BRIAN A. HOWEYMARK SCHOEFF JR.and MARK CURRY INDIANAPOLIS-Weenter2008incrisisandyetwithhighexpectations.Indiana’spoliticalestablishmenthasbeenturnedonitsearbyapopulistuprisingandyetanotherstunningelectionupset.ThereisanunpopularwarandwhiletheIraqtroopsurgeappearstohavebroughtsuccess,thereareconsider-abledoubtsastowhetheritcanbesustained.Lastweek,therewere16Americansoldierskilledinbattle. The2008 Howey Poli-tics Indiana Top 50 Listislikeitsninepredecessorsgoingbackto1999:weweighthepotentialcontri-butionsinrelationtoourtimes.In2007,wefeaturedU.S.SupremeCourtChiefJusticeJohnRoberts-anIndianana-tive-whopresidedoveraseriesof5-4votesontopicsthatprofoundlyimpactHoosierpoliticssuchasabortionand
the voter ID law. We had UAW Presidents Ron Gettelfinger and Mo Davidson, both of whom played huge roles in new
Gov. Daniels at the Tipton County Courthouse last July to announce the Getrag plant. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)
losing. ThemostepicIndianapri-maryoccurredin1968whenBobbyKennedy and Eugene McCarthy spent mostofAprilcampaigninginIndiana.IstillrememberBobbyandEthelKen-nedycomingthroughmyhometownofPeruontheWabashCannonball.PeruwasmostlyaRepublicantown,butseveralthousandpeopleturnedoutattheN&WtrackstohearRFKspeak.Wewatchedhimpullaway,wavingtousasthetrain-andultimatelyRFKamonthlater–disappeareddownthetracks. Over the past coupleofweeks,we’veheardHoosiersweighinonhowwemightgettohaveasayinpresidentialpolitics.DemocratAnnDeLaney floated the idea of adopting acaucussystemsimilartoIowa’s.ThebigreasonIndianastillhasitspri-mary in May is that the legislatureisreluctanttomovethedate.That’sbecauseduringitsshortsession,theiradjourn-mentdoesn’toccuruntilmid-March in presidential electionyears.Thatgiveslegislatorsameresixweekstocampaignandfewerifthere’saspecialsession.SoIndianawon’tmoveitsdateduetothemanyself-preservationinstinctsoflegislators. Gov. Mitch Daniels floated aplan:havetheIndianapresiden-tialprimarythesamedayasNewHampshire’sandlevyasurtaxonanycampaign-relatedsales(suchasTVadsanddirectmail)topayforthecostofholdingtheelection.Greatidea. There’s a historical aspecttothegovernor’sproposal.Earlyinthe20thCentury,Indianaactuallyhadtheearliestprimary...beforeprima-riesweresosexy.ButwegaveitupdecadesagoandNewHampshiretookover.SoundertheDanielsproposal,wewouldjustreclaimwhatisright-
fullyours.Ofcourse,theironyinallofthisisthatwithnocurrentDemocraticandRepublicanfrontrunner,there’sachance-perhapsagoodchance-thatour May 6 primary may actually mean something. On the Republicanside,Mike Huckabee (Iowa), John McCain (New Hampshire) and Mitt Romney (Iowa)havesplitthethreeprima-ries.Despitealltheearlybadnews,Romneyactuallyleadsindelegates.ThereisplentyofspeculationthatFredThompsoncouldwintheSouthCarolinaprimary,andontheFeb.5SuperTuesday,RudyGiulianicouldfind the winner’s circle in states like Florida,CaliforniaandNewYork.Republicanscouldeasilyseefouror
five different winners by Feb.5andthepotentialofnoclearfrontrunneronthedatemanyexperts-andmy,howthey’vebeensowrong this year - figured thetwonominationswouldbewrappedup.Thingsareasun-settledontheDemocraticside.U.S.Sen.BarackObamahasaonedelegateleadoverSen.HillaryClin-ton,withJohnEdwardsinthirdameresixdelegatesbehind. Again, Feb. 5 wassupposedtobethedayof
aknockoffpunchforeitherObamaorClinton.Idon’tseeeitheroneofthemrunningthetable.Obamahasa38-33percentleadoverClintoninaRasmus-senpollinSouthCarolina.HillaryhasbigleadsinFlorida(56-23),California(47-31)andNewJersey(42-30)inbigSuperTuesdaystatesandwilllikelywinArkansas,Connecticut,probablyNewYork(thoughthatiscompeti-tive).ObamawillwinhishomestateofIllinois.Thetwowilllikelysplittheremainingstates. Maybe, just maybe, it will all come down to Hoosiers on May 6 anyway.v
contracts for the flagging U.S.autoindustryand,inDavidson’scase,wasin-strumentalinlandingtheGetragplantatTipton. Thisyearthelistisweightedtowardthegovernor’srace,whichwillbeimpactedbythepropertytaxcrisisandpendingsolutions.Thus,wehavetheGovernor,legislative fiscal and chamberleaders,andEric Miller, who has fannedtherepealmove-ment.Webringupourjuniorsenator,whobytheendofsummercouldfind himself on the presidential ticket. All of these people andeventscouldhaveprofoundrepercussionsonIndianapolitics. Wehaveseenoldnames-BartPeterson,JuliaCarsonandGrahamRichard-fade.Therearenewchar-acters on the scene like Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, who will certainly influence events and remind us of the consequencesforfailingtoact,oractingwithcouragewiththeconsequencesbedamned.Andwecitevisionarieswhosawthingsothersmissedandtheiractionssteeredeventsinwaysnoonecouldhaveeverpredicted. Our10thTop50Listisanopportunityforustostepback,listentoourreadersandcolleagues,andat-tempttoaddsomecontexttotheday-to-day,week-to-weekeventsthatshapeourprofessionallives.Judgingfromthevolumeofe-mailandphonecallswereceivedfromHPIsubscribersandfriends,therecontinuestobegreatinterestinthisannualcompilation. Thethingwelikebestaboutitisthatitfuelsconversations,debatesandaltersperspectives.Some-timesthereactionwegetaltersourownperspectives.Andeveryyear,adayortwoafterourlistispublished,thereisalwayssomethingor
1. Gov. Mitch Daniels: Thegovernorisatthefulcrumofthe2008politicalprocess.Ifhecanforgea historic property tax reform in March orAprilofthisyear,that,intandemwiththerecord$6.7millioncash-on-hand,wouldbeenoughtoplacehimonfirm political turf. His state of the state addresssummedupothersuccesses:re-cordjobcreationandinvestment(manyofthesejobsarestillinthepipeline),atrend-settingtelecommunicationsact,
more families with health insurance, shorter BMV lines (remember how BMV was a lightning rod two years ago?), afullyfundedtransportationprogram,anewColtsstadiumnextSeptember,andtheinevitableTVadsthatpromiseatriptoIndyfromSouthBend/Elkhartwithnostoplightswillbepowerfulcampaigntools.ButstopforamomentandlisteninyourmindtohisspeechTuesdaynight:itwasbrimmingwithoptimismwhilethrowingoutagauntletofchallenges.WeexpectDanielstouse2008notsimplyasareaffirmation of his power, but a referendum on where this stategoesfromhere.Thisisagovernorwhospentmorepoliticalcapitalthanhisthreeprecedessorscombined.Indoingso,heispickingupimpressivelaborendorse-mentsthatnoRepublicanhaseverhadbefore,withmore
ontheway.There-electwillbeaboutvision,vision,vison,somethinghisop-ponentscurrentlylack.Thegovernorisamasterstrategistandcommunicator.Weexpecthewillbeattheheightofhismojowhenhiscampaignisrollingfull steam come late March (depending onwhenthelegislatureadjourns).Hispotentialopponentsaren’tanywherecloseinmoney,messageandgonads.He will possess the money to define thembeforetheycansweepuptheprimarynightconfetti. 2. U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh:Indiana’s,andperhapsthecountry’s,most cautious politician finds himself involvedinariskywagerthisyear.
HPI Top 50,from page 1
Gov. Daniels visits citizens in a cafe in Crawfordsville last summer. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)
Sens. Clinton and Bayh last in January 2007 after traveling to Iraq and Afghanistan. (HPI Photo by Mark Curry)
WhenheendorsedSen.HillaryRodhamClintonforpresident,shelookedlikeashoo-infortheDemocraticnomination.She’s now in a fierce battle with Sen. BarackObama.ForBayh,thisprovidesanopportunitytocampaignforClintonandboosthischancesforavicepresi-dentialnomination.Butit’snotreadilyapparentwhathebringstotheticket.ClintonandBayhoccupythesamemoderateleft-of-centerpoliticalspace.Hecan’tguaranteeawininIndiana.Besides,bythetimetheconventionrollsaround,Clintonmightneedsome-onewhocanhelphealwoundsintheAfricanAmericancommunity.ButBayhcontinuestousehiscommitteepostings-armedservices,intelligence,banking-toburnishhisnationalsecurityandeconomiccredentials.HeisviableasaClintoncabinetsecretary,ifhe’snotvicepresident. HPI telephoned the senator’s office yesterday andspokewithPressSecretaryJonathonSwain.“[Sen.Bayh]wantedtobehelpfultoSen.Clintonbecausehefeelsstronglyabouthercandidacy,”Swainsaid.“Idobelieveyouwillcontinuetoseehimworkonherbehalf.”Butwhatabout all the rumors? Does he want to be considered for vice president? “He’s certainly flattered by it,” Swain said. “I’veheardhimsaythatmanytimes.Heknowsthattheelectionisofgreatconsequence,soforpeopletospeculatethat he might be beneficial to the Democratic nominee is certainly flattering .... What he’s doing now is concentrating onbeingthebestsenatorfromIndianathathecanbeandtherestofitwillplayitselfout.” 3. House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer: Thespeakerisattheheightofhispower.He’sgonefroma“carbomber”(asthegovernorputitin2005)toatruestatesmanashehassignalledaconsistentwillingnesstoforgeacompromiseonpropertytaxes.Hoosiersaremoretrustingwhenpoliticalfoescometogether(asFrankO’BannonandStephenGoldsmithdidin1997onConsecoFieldhouse;asDanielsandGov.Kernandidin2007)andfind solutions. Bauer faces an uphill battle to maintaincontroloftheHousewithanumberofopenseatsindistrictswhereBush/Danielshadbigpluralitiesin2004.TheremaybemoreretirementsrevealedbetweennowandFeb.22.StatescraftwiththeGovernorwillatleastkeephimandhiscaucusinthegame,turningmanyoftheseHouseracesonlocalissuesifheforgeshistorictaxreforms.IfBauerdoesn’t,hebecomesatarget. 4. Senate President Pro Tempore
David Long:ThetallFortWaynesycamoreturned in a gracious and inclusive first year of power,inwhichthefaceoftheSenatewentfromgrizzledoldwhitementoanewgenera-tionthatgavewomenseatsatthetable.Thisyear,PresidentLongisonatightrope,seekingtobalancethegoalsoftheDanielsadministra-tionfromarestiveconservativewingofhisowncaucusseekingamoreradicalcourse.IfyoureadthisonThursdayafternoon,theSenateMajority Caucus will be making a fateful deci-siononwhetherSJR-8getsoutofSenateRulesforavote.Ifit’skilled,he’llhavetoweatherthepopuliststorminthecomingdays.Couldthe snuffing ignite an Eric MIller candidacy for governor? Or endanger Senate incumbents? If it hits the Senate floor, the repeal will probably pass,multiplesourcestellus.IfLongemergesin March or April with good reviews and power
intact,hebecomesagiantbeyondhisownphysicalstature.In2009,weseehimasperfectlyplacedtohelpinstallthethrustoftheKernan-Shepardreforms.ShouldLongemergefromthe2009long-sessionthishighlyregarded,heendsuponourshortlistasweheadintoapost-Danielsera. 5. State Sen. Luke Kenley: TheNoblesvilleRepublican(andWestTexasrancher)hasnotonlybeenthemanofthehourintheearlyweeksofthissession,buthewillbeahugeplayerinthehourspriortosinedie.HehasanexcellentworkingrelationshipwiththeGovernor.Someofhiscautionarystatementshavebeenmadewithaneyetovariousconstituencies.Thegovernor’sstaffhashightrustinhim.Thenettlesunderhissaddlearetheconser-vativeSenateRepublicans,whofelthecavedtoBauerandChairmanCrawfordonthepropertytaxreform/rebatecheck fiasco that lit the tax crisis last June. We, too, wished
KenleyhadstucktohisgunsafterthatlateLSAreportinAprilthatkilledwhatwethoughtwasacredibleplanthatwouldhavesavedmanyhomeownersmuchangstandfear.Kenleyisasbrightastheycome,buthispoliticalinstinctsaren’taskeen. 6. U.S. Rep. Baron Hill and Mike So-
Speaker B. Patrick Bauer
Mike Sodrel and Baron Hill debate in 2006 at Vincennes University-Jasper.
drel:ArecentWallStreetJournalarticledemonstratesthatIndiana’s9thCDwillonceagaindrawnationalattention.It’sabitterfeudthatencompassesfourcyclesandnowincludesSodrel’sallegationthatHillpunchedhimafteradebateintheir2002tilt.Hilldeniesthestory.Theinterestinthisracebecomesmoreintensethisyearbecauseit’soneoftwointhestate-theotherbeingthe7thCD-thatislikelytobecompetitive.HillhasusedhisseatontheHouseEnergyandCommerceCom-mitteetodevelopanautofueleconomybillthatputhimattheheartoftherecentenergypolicydebateinCongress.He’salsogotachancetofortifyhisbudget-cuttingcred-ibilityifheinsiststhataneconomicstimulusbillisoffsetbyfuturespendingreductions.Hillseemstobesendingsig-nals,likejumpingoutearlyonabillthatwouldcurtailU.S.involvementinIraqlastspring,thathewantstojoinHouseleadership. He helped Majority Leader Steny Hoyer win his position in a battle against Rep. John Murtha, who was backedbyHouseSpeakerNancyPelosi.WithHill’shugefundraising lead and a tepid GOP presidential field that may depressRepublicanturnout,SodrelfacesabigchallengeinwinningbackthisseatandimprovinghisrecordagainstHillto2-2. 7. U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar: IfBarackObamacontinuestowinDemocraticprimaries,Lugarcouldeclipse Bayh as the most influential Indiana senator in thepresidentialrace.AsObamanearsthenomination,questionsabouthisexperiencecouldstarttodominatetherace.That’swhenhemightbeginhighlightinghisworkwithLugar.Indiana’sseniorsenatorhasteamedwithIllinois’juniorsenatoronweapons-reductionlegislation.Obama’sworkwithLugarinthisareamaybecomeoneofthemostimportantexamplesofhisun-derstandingofinternationalsecurityandgeopolitics.Theseniorsenatorresidesinthisspotonlybycircumstance.WhenwecompileourDecadeList,Lugarwouldcer-tainlybeatthetopbecauseofthemanywayshehas
impactedIndia-napolis,Indiana,ournation,ourworld.Ihadtheopportunityonlyafewgettosee-LugarworkinganinternationalstageinRussia,UkraineandAlbania.Itwasanunforget-tableexerperienceandonlyheight-ensourregardforhisbodyofworkandcausesusto reflect on the manywayshehaschangedsomanylivesforthebetter.Hewasviewedasastatesman,adiplomat,anintellectual,andakeenhumanitar-ian.Lugarcon-
tinuestobeactiveinareasrangingfromweaponsofmassdestruction,conventionalweapons,toIraq,toenergy,toagriculture,ourburgeoningnationaldebt,tocompliationsoftheactionsofourwarriorsandourteachers.Apressre-leaselatelastyearoneducatorsgotmetothinkofalltheteacherswhohadimpactedmylife.Fewpoliticiansaresoadeptatpromptingnotonlyintrospection,buttheintercon-nectedworldwideview.WithoutDickLugar,IndianaandAmericawouldbeverydifferentplaces.Hadhebeenpresi-dent,webelievewecouldhaveavoidedsomeofthetragicmistakesoverthelast12years.Withtheelevationofthenextpresident-particularlyifitisaRepublican-therewillbecallsforhimtojointheadministration.Wedon’tbelievehewouldeverdothat,thoughpartofuswisheswecouldsharehimmorevividlywiththerestofthiswrithingworld. 8. Eric Miller: Themanrunningcontroversial
Sen. Lugar and staff on the Potempkin Stairs on Odessa, Unkraine last summer. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)
AdvanceAmericahasbeenonthecuspofbreakingoutofhis25-percentChristianrightfringeintoa populist prairie firestorm main-streamonthepropertytaxrepealeffort.Atthiswriting,it’sunclearhowthiswillturnout,butthere’snodoubt that Miller has made him-selfarealplayer.IfPresidentLongdenies him a floor vote on SJR-8, thepoliticalrepercussionscouldbeenormous.WhileheinsistedpersonallytoGov.Danielsthathewasn’tgoingtochallengehiminthe2008GOPprimary,herefusedtodotheGen.Shermanthingwithus,sayinghewasn’tacandidate“at this time.” Miller has made himselfsomeonewhohastobetakenseriously.Havingsaidthat,thewayheconductsAd-vanceAmericaasatax-shel-tered non-profit when it truly isapublicpolicyadvocacygroup means Miller is walking alegaltightrope.Regardlessofhowthetaxrepealturnsout, we expect Miller to run for governorin2012. 9. Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard:WehaveaRepublicanmayoroftheCirlceCitywhenthiswassupposedtobeaconglom-eratingDemocraticbastion.Hetrulyisamanwhofoundhimselfintherightplaceattherighttime.AlliestellusheknowsheismayormoreforwhatBartPetersonhadbecomeasopposedtowhoheis.Hewasunslated;hiscountychairmanrepeatedlytoldcrowdsinhispresencethattheCity-CountyCouncilwasthetoppriority.HewasmostlyignoredbythestatepartyandmanytopGOPoperativesandmoneypeople.InproducingoneofthemoststunningupsetsinHoosierhis-tory(NewtGingrichwasstilltalkingaboutitonthe“TodayShow” on Monday), Ballard has become the poster boy ofwhatcanhappenwhenanincumbentlosesthevoiceofthepeople.The“BallardRules”arethedarkshadowshauntingeverylegislatortheseveryhours.ThebeautifulthingaboutBallardisthatheowesnoone.Hewonwithoutflinging a speck of mud at his opponent. He gets to define himself when most incoming officeholders have had to spraythemselveswithdisinfectant.Ballardhassurroundedhimselfwithgoodpeople(i.e.JoeLoftus,LisaKobe,Scott
Newman,PaulOkeson).He’sbeenabletocasthisshowdownwithSheriffFrankAndersonincivil,publicpolicyterms.It’sgoingtobefascinatingtowatchBallardinthecomingyears.SemperFidelis.10. Councilman Andre Carson and State Rep. Jon Elrod: Thesearethemainplayersthatwillgiveusanearlylookat2008electiontrends.Thetwofaceoff on March 11 in the special elec-tiontoreplacethelateU.S.Rep.JuliaCarson.AndreCarsonwonan impressive first ballot victory lastSaturday,thoughhegotjust
over50percentofthevote.Thattellsushehasacoalitiontobuild.WithStateRep.DavidOrentlichervowingtorunintheprimary,andperhapsotherswilljoinhim,Carsonbeginshispoliticalcareerwithbigchallenges.Hepassedhis first test admirably, but Democratic critiques such as Bilerico’s Bil Browning were alleging a fix by the Carson machine.We’veheardpersistenttalkthatsomeDemocratsareurgingsupportersofothercaucuscandidatestovoteforElrodinthespecialelection.We’llbelievethatwhenwesee it. If Carson emerges on March 11 and then again on May 6, he will have navigated troubled waters and should be in good shape for the fall. This seat is crucial for Marion CountyDemocrats,wholosttheprosecutor’sracein‘06,themayorandthecouncilin‘07.Tolosethiscongressionalseatwouldbedevastatingforwhatwassupposedtobethecomingmajorityparty.WebelievethatifBarackObamaistheDemocraticpresidentialnominee,thatbodeswellforDemocratstoholdontothisseat.Havingsaidthat,Rep.
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard as a candidate at a tax protest rally on Monument Circle last July. Below, Councilman Andre Carson minutes after his first ballot caucus nomination last week. (HPI Photos by Brian A. Howey)
Elrodcomesintothisraceasagiantkiller,defeatingStateRep.Ed Mahern, the man who drew themaps.Elrodisanimpres-sivegrassrootscampaigner,havingwontworacesinveryDemocraticdistricts.Asamod-erateRepublican,heisabetterfit than his caucus opponent TomRose.SomeintheGOPhierarchyweretepidonElrodbecausetheysaidhecouldn’traisemoney.That’sdisingenu-oussincehis2006HD97racewasn’ttargeted,andthusputhimatadisadvantageonthemoneyfront.WebeganhearingwhispersaboutHD97comingintoplayearlythatOctoberanditwasn’tuntillaterthatmonth that resources began to flow in what was one of the biggestupsetsofthe‘06cycle.AnyonedismissingElrodisplaying with fire. 11. Gary Mayor Rudy Clay: Claysucceed-ed Mayor Scott King when King resigned and won his own termin2007.AsLakeCountyDemocraticchairman,hehasconsolidatedpowerandwrestledtheparty’sbasefromEastChicago,whereitresidedforhalfacenturytotheSteelCity.That’sanimpressivefeatandthat’swhyhe’supthisfaronthelist.WiththeNorthwestRDAinplace,andtheGary-ChicagoAirporthotproperty,Claybecomesthebig-gestRegionpowerbroker. 12. Jill Long Thompson/Jim Schellinger:BetweenthetwooftheseDemocratcandidates,wedon’thaveafullcampaign.Schellingerre-ported$2.4millionforhisyear-endreportwith$1.8millioncashonhand.Butifyoulookathis$10,000donors,heraised$650,884im the first half and $543,033 in thesecondhalf,andmanyofthosedonorsweresecondandthirdtimecontributorsfromhispartnersatCSOArchitectsandtheSimons.Thatisnotagoodtrendline.Afterreport-ing $1.2 million in the first half, we figured a decent year-end total would be$3million,andhecameupwayshortofthat.Gopastthemoneysituationandwehaveacandidatewho“listens”buthiscampaignisinturmoil.NamethephrasethatJimSchellinger stands for? We can’t think ofone.Thereisnocampaignman-ager less than five months from the
primary.Wehaven’thadanykindofmeaningfulaccesstothecandidateinalmostayearwhenhecouldhaveusedalltheearnedmediahecouldget.Towinin May, he will not onlyhavetobuilduphisnon-existentnameID,buthewillhavetoteardownJillLongThompsonintheprocess.Addtothisscenariothattwoofhiscampaignco-chairs-Bart
PetersonandJuliaCarson-havebeendefeatedandde-parted.Thisisnotagoodscenario.AsforThompson,she’shadhalfayeartogetintothemoneygameandraised$634,000with$200,000cominginonDec.31fromtheSEIU.Shehasonly$430,000cashonhand.Notimpres-sive.Ontheissues,shegivesagoodcritiqueoftheGov-ernor’sfailings,butthereisnovision.Nowhitepaper.Nodefinitive stance on property taxes (ditto for Schellinger). Sheseemstowanttogobacktothedayswhengovern-mentdidallthework(shewantstoreviewallout-sourcing)andthepre-daylightsavingtimeera.Wejustdon’tthinkeitherofthosethrustsareenoughtotoppleanincumbentdespitewhatthepollssaidlatelastyear.Remember,Gov.JoeKernanhadadouble-digitleadonDanielsatthebegin-ningof2004.Awinningcampaignhastohaveacompellingmessagewithavision,raisemoney,unitetheirparty,andprovidemediaaccess.It’slikelyoneofthesecandidateswillemerge(thus,the12thranking).Atruefront-runner
shouldhavebeenupintheTop5andweresistedtheargumentthatthesetwocandidatesreallyneedtobeinalowerpercentile.Oursourcesaretellingusthatasof now, there are no unification talksunderwaybetweenthetwocampaigns,aswasthecasein1988whenEvanBayhandFrankO’Bannonjoinedforces. 13. Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi:Asthispastweekhassadlyrevealed,crimeisahugeissueinthestate’scapitalcityandBrizziwillplayacritical role in working with Mayor Ballard and public safety officials to staunch the flow of blood. His
Jill Long Thompson and Jim Schellinger at the HPI Forum last October.
Prosecutor Brizzi with a student at Shortridge Middle School. (HPI Photo)
decisiontoputasatel-lite resource office in the Meadows sends a criticalmessage.Thecontinuedperceptionofacrimeproblemwillonlyenhancetheout-migrationofpeopleintothesuburbs.WIBC(93.1 FM) that reaches mostofcentralIndiana,recentlyofferedhimalivemiconhisownweekly“CrimeBeat”show.Whilefew,ifany,elected officials across thecountryhavetheirownshowsonmajormedia,afriendofBrizzi’sdid.From1994-2001Mayor Rudy Giulliani hosted his own radio program, “Live fromCityHall.”AndwhileBrizzineedsnomediacoaching,asGiulliani’sIndianaStateFinanceChairhecertainlyhasVIPRudyaccess. 14. Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel: Ifhehadwantedit,thesecond-termmayorofEvansvillewouldbetheunanimousgubernatorialhopefulforIndianaDemocratsin‘08.Hemadeanastutejudgmenttogoforasecondtermandawaittheopenracein 2012. If he does, Mayor Weinzapfel will probably enter thatraceasafrontrunner.Andweexpecthisnametocome up in the LG derby come May and June. He’d be a greatgeographical,generational,localgovernmentbalancefor either JLT or Schellinger. We suspect fulfilling a second termisawisercourse.Weinzapfel’supsidesandpromisesaretowering.IfhecanstabilizeCasinoAztar,developanewsheenfordowntownEvansvilleandavoidthesecond-termcontroversiesthatcanpockmarkamayor,thesky’sthelimit. 15. House Minority Leader Brian Bosma: The House Minority Leader wants the speaker-shipsobadlyhecantasteit.Anditshows.Ifheplayshiscardsright...butnottoofarright...hehasadecentshotatreturningtothegavelin2009.It’sbeeninterestingtowatchhimadvocatefortheGovernor’staxreforms,whileplayingtotheaspirationsofcaucusmemberswhodreamofapropertytaxrepeal.Itistheartofrelievingpressure.Bosmahaslargelyresistedsomeofthesetugstotheright(i.e.intelligentdesign)andhasbecomeatrueplayerwitheconomicRepublicans.Bosmahasalsodonemoretomaketheprocesstransparent(I-Span,comingtoaTVsetorcomputernearyou)thananyoneelse.Hemadeaseriesofbolddecisionsonhealthcareforlifethathistorywilljudge
kindly.Areturntothespeaker-shipin2009whileforginghistoriccompromisesontheKernan-Shepardreformswillmakehimarealplayerasthepost-Danielseratakesshape. 16. State Sens. Brent Waltz and Mike Young:ThisfreshmanandveterantandemhavedonemoretopushthepropertytaxrepealagendaamongSenateconser-vatives.Indoingso,theyarecreatingheadachesforPresidentLongandGov.Daniels.Waltzisbeginningtoemergelateinhisfirst term as a player. We see in Sen.Youngapotentialmap-mak-erwhenredistrictingcomesintoplayin2010-2011.
17. Betsy Burdick:Whoisthegovernor’senforcer? Many legislative and gubernatorial sources point toBurdick,thedeputychiefofstaffwhohasbecomeatrustedtrouble-shooteranddelivererofmessagesofdis-ciplinedownattheSausageFactory.Herageandgendercreateabeguilingveneerthatcancatchtrouble-makersoffguard.AndsheknowsherfootballaswellasCondiRice. 18. Bob Grand: WhennooneelsewascomingtothesideofGregBallard-notGov.Daniels,notChairmanClark,notaGoldsmith,HudnutorLugar-hardlyanyoneofstature,therewasBobGrand,hostingalate-summerfundraiserthatlitthefuseonthegreatestupsetinHoosierhistory.FromhisperchasmanagingpartnerofBarnes&Thornburg,tohisroleinthePhoenixGroupthatrevital-ized the Kittle era GOP and created the scenario for Mitch DanielstocomebacktoIndianaandrunin2004,Grandhasproventobeaninstrumentalplayer...fromPennsyl-vania Avenue to Market Street. In writing this, we simply ask Grand to show some humility to Bill Moreau (who may beclosertotheBayhmotherlodethanmanythinkthesedays). 19. U.S. Rep. Mike Pence:PenceisnolongerthechairmanoftheHouseconservativecaucus.ButheremainsaRepublicantouchstone.Hedoesn’tlimithisinteresttosocialpolicy.Heventuredoutonimmigrationtoforgeanalternativeapproachthatmighthavemovedthedebatefartherthanhisenforcement-onlyGOPcol-leaguesallowedittogo.Withhispenchantforreducingthesizeofgovernmentandhissqueaky-cleanbackground,he can help Republicans overcome the profligate spending andscandalsthatcausedthemtolosetheircongressionalmajorities.Inaddition,hecanworkthemediaaswellas
Sen. Waltz congratulates Mayor Ballard on Election Night as Mely-ssa Donaghy looks on. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)
anyoneinWashingtonandhasanaffablepersonalitythathasdrawnpraiseevenfromhispoliticalopponents.ButhowmanypeoplewillfollowPenceisaquestion.HewasblownoutbyRep.JohnBoehnerintheirracelastyearforRepublicanleaderintheHouse.HisprospectsforbecomingSpeakeroftheHouseareslim,eveninthehighlyunlikelyeventthattheGOPreclaimsthemajority. 20. Lee Hamilton: He has more influence and a higher profile in his congressional retirement than he did duringmostofhislongtenureintheHouse.HamiltonistheDemocrats’topelderstatesmanoninternationalrela-tionsandnationalsecurity.Asco-chairofthe9/11Com-missionandaparticipantontheIraqStudyGroup,hehashelpedshapethenationaldiscussionaboutthetwomostimportantissuesofthenewcentury.Hispositionaspresi-dentoftheWoodrowWilsonInternationalCenterensureshe’llcontinuetohaveaforumtoweighinonpolicymat-ters. 21. Chief Justice John Roberts:RobertsandJusticeSamuelAlitoarethenewadditionstotheSu-premeCourt.AsPresidentBushhoped,theyhavepushedthe court in a conservative direction. Roberts’ influence can beseenincrucial5-4decisions.ObserverscredithimforhispoliticalskillinpersuadingJusticeAnthonyKennedy,thekeyswingvote,tosidewiththecourtconservatives. 22. U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky: NobodybringshomethebaconlikeVisclosky.Evenwhenhispartywasintheminority,ViscloskywasadeptatusinghispositionontheHouseAppropriationsCommitteetofundprojectsinnorthwestIndiana.Hisstaturehasonlybeenenhancednowthathispartyisinchargeandhehasasubcommitteechairmanship. 23. U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth:TheEvansvilleDemo-cratisthenewsheriffonCapitolHill.Hehascarvedanimageforhimselfbytakingadvantageofhisback-groundinlawenforcement.Heisoneof the leading first-year Democrats callingforacrackdownonillegalimmigrationattheborderandintheworkplace.Thisisoneofseveralstancesthatwilllikelyplaywellinhisre-electionbidinthisconservative8thCD.HealsocanusehisperchontheHouseAgricultureCommitteetoconnectwithfarmers.He’svotedagainstHouseleadershipenoughthathecanclaimsomeindependenceandhe’sworkingthedistricthard.Heseemstobeheadingtowardasolidre-election.
Donnelly:Atthebeginningofthe2006electioncycle,Donnellywasseenasasecond-tiercandidateatbest.Nowhe’sformidable.Hehas$700,000incashandnodeclaredopponentinablue-collardistrictthatleansDemocraticany-way.HehasvotedagainstIraqwithdrawalbillstobolstertheindependentimagehe‘stryingtopromote.He’sontheHouseAgricultureCommittee,whichhelpshiminthedistrict,andontheHouseFinancialServicesCommittee,whichhelpshimonfundraising.LikeEllsworth,heopposeshisparty’sleadershiponenoughvotesthatitmightbedifficult to portray him as a lackey to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
25. U.S. Rep. Mark Souder: WhentheGOPwasincontroloftheHouse,Souderwasoftena central figure in shaping and promoting conservatives’ socialpolicypositions.Intheminority,heisrelegatedtocriticizingwhatheseesastheDemocraticdrift.Buthisarguments-insomecaseshisharangues-intheHouseEducationandLaborCommitteeoutlinetheprimarylinesofattackthattheGOPpursueagainstthemajority.HealsocontinuestobeoneofthemostpoliticalsavvypolsinIn-diana.He’llneedtouseallhisskillsthisyearinwhatcouldbeoneofhisclosestracesyet.He’sraisingmoneyearlierthanheeverhas. 26. U.S. Rep. Steve Buyer: The Mon-ticelloRepublicanhasfoundhisnicheinmilitarymatters- specifically policy toward former soldiers. As the highest rankingRepublicanontheHouseVeteransAffairsCommit-tee,Buyerhasnotendearedhimselftoallveteransgroups.Buthispositionallowshimtohighlighthisownmilitarybackgroundwhilereachingouttoahighlymotivatedpartoftheelectorate.LiketheRepublicansintheHoosierdel-
egation, his influence is severely limited intheminority.ButheservesoneofthesafestGOPdistrictsinthecountry. 27. U.S. Rep. Dan Burton: AnothercasualtyoftheDemocratictakeover of Congress, Burton’s profile hasdiminishedconsiderablyonCapi-tolHill.WhentheRepublicansruled,he could be eccentric and influential, especiallywhenhechairedtheHouseOversightandGovernmentReformCommittee.Now,he’sjusteccentric. 28. Lt. Gov. Becky Skill-man: IfGov.Daniels’taxpackagegetsthroughthelegislatureandstilllookslikethegovernor’soriginalplan,agoodpartoftheaccoladeswillgotoSkillman,whoplaysacrucialliaisonrole.She’splayedaconspicuousroleonenergyissues,whicharecrucialtothestate’sfuture.Lookingahead,weaskifshehas
Rep. Ellsworth with Sen. Barack Obama. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)
gubernatorialaspirations.Thosewe’vetalkedwithinsidetheadministrationsaythesubjectnevercomesup, 29. Chief Justice Randall Shepard and former Gov. Joe Kernan: Inunprecedentedfashion,Gov.DanielschargedasittingchiefjusticeandthemanDanielsdefeatedtoheadaBlueRibbonCommissioninLocalGovermentReform.Their25-pointrecommendationsareacredibleblueprinttofashionHoosiergovernmentforthe21stCentury.Whilethelegislatureisobsessedwithpropertytaxreformthisyear,wehopeatleastsomeoftheirrecommendationsarebroughtupforvotesthisyearandmostoftherestin2009.Weseeboththesestatesmenplayingacontinuedroleincoaxingarelunctantlegislaturetoleavethe19thCenturybehind. 30. Democratic Chairman Dan Parker: He’s kept the party afloat without the personallicenseplatemoney,helpedholdontotheHouseandhismayorsrulemostofIndiana’sbigcities.HesteeredresourceswhentheSouthBendmayorwasontheropes.HisattemptstounitethepartyagainstDanielshavefailed.Hemaybecalledupontodothesamethinginthe7thCD.We’llseehowhedoesatcrisismanage-ment.Hisverbalattacksonthegovernorareoftenshrillandextremelypartisan,but...that’swhatthechairmanisfor. 31. Ways & Means Chairman Wiliam Crawford: The Ways & Means chair-man will have an influential role in the governor’s taxpackage,ashedidonWednesdaywhenGov.Daniels testified before his committee. While he has signfi-cant influence over the process, we still think his tax rebate wasoneoftheworstpiecesofpublicpolicywe’veeverseen.Perhapsthisyearifhecanhelpsteeracompromiseonthegovernor’staxpackage,hecanrenewthelusteronhiscareer.AndweseeCrawfordblockinganyattempttogetSJR-8throughtheHouse. 32. Chamber President Kevin Brin-egar and IMA President Pat Kiely:Inayearwhenpropertytaxesarefrontstagecenter,Brinegarhasemergedasthechiefbusinessadvocate,takingonthegovernoroverthedifferentcaplevelsforhomeowners,rentersandbusiness.Iftherepealmovementsomehowgetsunleashed,Brinegarwillbeakeypersontotryandtamp it down, Kiely, the former Ways & Means chairman is a compelling voice on taxes and heads the Indiana Manu-facturersAssociation.Hisanalysisonthatvolatilepartoftheeconomyandpersonalincomecouldmakehimakeyvoicein2008. 33. John Hammond III: A key confidant ofGov.Daniels,HammondisRepublicanchairmanofthe
7thCD,whichwillbeakeystateandnationalbattlegroundearlyinthe2008electioncycle. 34. Paul Mannweiller: TheformerHousespeakerisnowarespectedlobbyistwithBosePublicAffairsand is an influential voice with not only legislators, but the Danielsadministration. 35. Republican Chairman Murray Clark:We’velongadmiredClarkasasenatorandlieuten-antgovernornominee.Ifherunsforgovernorin2012,we
wouldwelcomehiscandidacyandtakeitseriously.HeheadsthestatepartyatthebehestoftheGover-noranditfunctionswell.Welikehimper-sonally.Buthistenureasstatechairmanhasbeenextremelytrou-bling.Wehavehadanumber of influential Republicanstellusthatthestatepartyturnedacoldshoul-deronGregBallard,inpartduetoClark’srelationshipsatBaker&Daniels.Thisisthesecondtimewe’veseenaGOPchairfrom that law firm (JohnKeelerwith
the Marion County GOP being the other) curry favor with thePetersonadministrationwhentheyshouldhavebeenperformingastheloyalopposition.AsaresidentofIndia-napolisandabusinessowner,itwasexceedinglytroublingthatthepartydidn’tputforthafrontlinecandidateatthebeginning,andthenwhenitdiscoveredonequitebyac-cident,didn’tgetonthebandwagonuntilextremelylateintheprocess.Thosekindsofdecisionsleaveussharehold-ersinthecitywithalackofchoice.That’sapoliticalsin.We think that lobbyists and people from the big law firms don’tmakegoodpartychairsbecausetherearetoomanyconflicts. 36. Eric Holcomb:HechairsGov.Daniels’re-electioncampaignthathasarecord(byfar)$6.7millioncash-on-hand(almost$4millionmorethanthetwoDemo-craticcandidatescombined)andhasalreadyturnedinballotsignatures.Thisisacampaigninstride. 37. Farm Bureau President Don Villwock: Whilehecontinuestobealeaderinthenationaldebateonfarmpolicy,Villwockemergedthisyear
Democratic Chairman Dan Parker watches Senate Minority Leader Richard Young pull out of the gubernatorial race, a scene he’d like to see happen one more time. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)
asanarticulatespokesmanforrationalandresponsibleproperty tax reform in Indiana. Farm Bureau was the first toplacearesponsibletaxreformplanonthetableandhasbeenaggressiveinadvocatingthebasicprinciplesofthatplan.WithFarmBureau’semergenceasoneofthetrulybipartisanbigplayersinIndianapolitics,Villwockisinapositiontochallengeleadersofbothmajorpartiestocraftapropertytaxsolutionthatprovidesrealreformnotjustshort-termrelief.Hehasmadeacompellingpointthattheclassification of taxpayers should be repugnant to them. “WebelieveinFarmBureauthatourforefathersgotitrightin the Constitution the first time around – that property taxesshouldbeuniformandequalforall,”hehassaid.“ItseemstomethatsomethingiswrongwhenyouneedtoamendtheConstitutiontodiscriminateagainstfarmers.” 38. FSSA Commissioner Mitch Roob:WeexpectFSSAtobeoneofthe‘08battlegroundswhentheDemocratstakeon“privatization.”Roobwillbeoneofthepointmentodashthosecriticisms. 39. State Rep. Jeff Espich: He’stheranking minority member of Ways & Means. Many House RepublicanstaketheircuesfromEspichontaxandbudgetissues.Andhestilllooksthesamewayhedidbackinthe1970swhenHPI’sHoweypagedforSpeakerKermitBurrous.Cometothinkaboutit,Bauerlooksmuchthesame,too.Saay,youdon’tsuppose...no...nevermind. 40. State Sen. James Merritt:TheRepub-licanchairedBallard’scampaigncommittee,makinghimoneofthefewintheGOPestablishmenttoseethelight,earlyon.Hemixedit with with Mayor Peterson over consolidationissuesoverthepastcoupleofsessions.Nowhehastakenupthegovernmentreformmantlehimselfandwillbecomeasignficant player on this issue this yearandin‘09whenweexpectmajorsegmentsoftheKernan-ShepardreformstobedebatedinthepublicandGeneralAssembly. 41. Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry: Hepre-servesathree-termlockoncityhallinanelectionmanybelievedwouldgototheRepublicansduetotheheavilyGOPannexedareas.ButestablishmentfavoriteAllenCountyCommissionerNelsonPeterslosttheprimary to Matt Kelty, who went on to self-destruct in ways we’veneverseenbefore,ultimatelyfacinga9-countindict-
ment on finance and perjury counts. Henry didn’t have to sayabadthingaboutKelty,andthetwoevenpraisedeachotherduringdebates.SoHenry,whowasalateentryintothisrace,nowleadsIndiana’ssecondlargestcity.It’sascenarionoonewouldhavepredictedayearago. 42. South Bend Mayor Stephen Leucke: Thethree-termDemocratwasinatoughre-electionbattleandhepulleditout.Asmayor,heisacommandingpresenceintheSouthBend/Elkharttelevisionmarket. 43. Marty Morris:Lugar’schiefofstaffmakesLugarWorldtheCadillacpoliticaloperationofHoosierpoli-tics. 44. Tom Sugar:Aschiefofstaffandgate-keeper to Sen. Bayh, Sugar could find himself in a crucial positionifthere’saClinton-Bayhticket,whichisadistinctpossibilityatthiswriting. 45. State Sens. Teresa Lubbers and Connie Lawson:Lubbers,alongwithSens.BevGard,Connie Lawson, Pat Miller, Sue Landske and Vaneta Becker, playedahugerolein2006ininstallingtheregimeofDavid
Long.Hehassharedthispowerwiththefemalesenators.Lawsonis cited here because she is Major-ityFloorLeader.ButsourceaftersourcetellusthatLubbers’staturecontinuestogrowandthatshehastheearofLongandotherleaders,includingtheGovernor.Lubbersisaneducationexpertandwouldmakeacompellingsu-perintendentofpublicinstructionifsheeverwantedtoheadintotheexecutivebranch. 46. IEDC Director Nathan Feltman: Withthegovernor’sre-electcenteredonjobsandinvestment,Feltman-probablyinthetwilightofhisstintat IEDC - could find himself in the campaigncrosshairs.It’sarecordwesuspecthe’lllookforwardtodefending. 47. Rod Ratcliff: Hewasthedrivingforceforslotsattheracetrackthathaspumped$500millionintostatecofferswith
48. Budget Director Ryan Kitchell:Theman at OMB helped engineer the financial underpinnings of Major Moves, which, despite its controversy is going to be seen as a significant part of the Daniels’ legacy. He’s a voiceintheadministrationthatisn’tfullofyesmenthatcanproduceaseriesofcrediblescenariosforbigproblems. 49. Secretary of State Todd Rokita:JudgingfromcommentsattheU.S.SupremeCourtlastweek,Indiana’svoterIDlawislikelytosurvive.Rokitadeservescreditforthat,aswellaskeepingtheelectionprocessrunningrelativelysmoothlydespiteallthemajorchanges.Timetogivecreditwherecreditisdue. 50. Chamber Political Director Mi-chael Davis:OverlasagnaatAmici’sthreeweeksbefore the 2007 election, Davis confidently predicted that GregBallardwouldupsetBartPeterson.He’sbeenanastuteanalystfortheIndianaChamberandoneofthesourcesthatmakeHPIaworthwhileread.HisGaugeMarket Research firm is joining HPI inapollingalliancein2008andwethinkhisanalysisonourteamwillserveyouquitewell.IplacehimontheHPITop50aspublisher’sprerogative.
Honorable Mention(ListedAlphabetically) Karl Berron:ThetopRealtorattheStatehousewill be influential as a solution for the property tax crisis finds its way, State Rep. Randy Borror: BeyondHouseleadership,weseeBorrorasaHouseRepublicanwithrealsubstanceandpoten-tial.WecouldseehimasafuturemayorofFortWayne,inCon-gress,oronastateticketsomeday. Attorney Gen-eral Steve Carter:Hecouldhaveatoughre-electionbattleonhishands. Dan Clark: ISTA’stoplobbyistwascaughtoffguardonacommitteecapitalprojectreferendumvoteintheopeningweeksofthesession. UAW President Mo Davidson: Astheautoindustrygoesthroughmoreroughseasofredink,he’slabor’spointmanhereinautorichIndiana. Ann & Ed DeLaney: She’stheDemocraticvoice
onIndianaWeekinReview;hisnameiscomingupasapossiblecandidatetoruninStateRep.DavidOrentlicher’sseat. State Sen. Mike Delph:WeseeDelphasanemergingforceintheconservativewingoftheSenateRepublicans. Melyssa Donaghy:ThePetersonadministrationcrackeddownonherhomebasedCentralAvenuedomi-natrixbusiness.Shechanneledherangerintotheearlieststages of the tax revolt last June - she organized the first demonstrations at the Governor’s Residence and Monument CircleinJuly.She’sourcitizenactivistoftheyear. Rex Early: Let’ssee,heplayedabigroleinBrentWaltz’upsetofLarryBorstin2004.HehadahandinGregWalker’supsetofBobGartonin2006,AndhewasoneoftheonlyonestolendahandtoGregBallardin2007.Notabadtrackrecordfortheoldhognutsveteran. Mike Gentry: He’sheadingtheHouseRepublicanscampaign, though his private consulting firm (as well as Rep.Elrod’sdecisiontorunforCongress)havesomeinthepartynervous. Earl Goode: Thegovernor’schiefofstaff. John Gregg: He’llbeonshortLGlists. Fort Wayne Councilman Mitch Harper:AfterservingmorethanadecadeintheIndianaHouse,Harperwonacouncilseatin2007andwillbewellpositionedifand when Rep. Mark Souder decides to retire. Paul Helmke: TheformerFortWaynemayornow
headstheBradyguncon-trolorganization. Andy Jacobs Jr.: PlayedakeyrolefortheCarsonmachineinhelp-ingtoposition“TheSeed”evenbeforethecongress-womanhaddied. Joe Loftus: OneoftheearlyRepublicanswhosawthepotentialinGregBallardandhelpedwiththetransition. J.D. Lux: He’lldirectHouseracesfortheDemocratsin2008. Morton J. Mar-cus: Thiseconomist/col-umnistiswritingsome
ofthebestperspectivesonthepropertytaxcrisisandtheeconomy,bothobviouslymajorissuesin2008. Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott: Hejustwonasecondterm,fendingoffcriticismoverhisclosureoftheHammondHealthDepartment.He’llbeonLGliststhisMay and June as the Democrats forge a ticket. Butch Morgan:TheSt.JosephCountyDemo-
Ed DeLaney, Linda Pence, Morton Marcus and Sarah Evans Barker in a mock trial. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)
craticchairmanhelpedhisleadingmayorsurviveandhasbeenanearlybackeroftheSchellingercampaignandhaspressedforchangesthere. State Rep. Winfield Moses Jr.:OneofthemorethoughtfulandseasonedvoicesamongHouseDemocrats.Wehopethere’salead-ershippositioninhisfuturesomeday. State Sen. Bob Meeks:A key Senate financial chair, but sourcessayhe’seasiertoout-ma-neuverthanKenley.Hismeander-ingsontheBardenGaryriverboatlicenseforSteubenCounty(butnotClark)isanexampleofnotfullythinkingthingsthrough,ashisquotesafterwardrevealed. Michael Montagano: The3rdCDDemocratpostedcrediblenumberslastJulyandhasspurredU.S. Rep. Mark Souder to uncharac-teristicallypickuphisfundraising.If people are talking about Monta-ganonextOctober,it’sanindicatorthere’saDemocraticwavedevelop-ing. Dr. John McGoff: Heraised$250,000inhisprimarychallengetoRep.DanBur-ton.Ifhecanharnesstheenergyforchangetherecouldbe two congressional districts in play come April and May. State Rep. David Orentlicher:HewillchallengeAndre Carson in the 7th CD May primary after finishing secondinlastweek’scaucus.Orentlicherisatirelesscam-paignerwhowilltestCarson’sskillandorganization. Jim Payne: TheheadofDepartmentofChildServices,oneofthemoresensitivepostsintheDanielsad-ministration,asstoriesliketheTaJanayBaileymurdercasereveals. Linda Pence: ThisDemocraticpowerattorneyistakingaimatCarterforattorneygeneral. Bart Peterson:Whilehisdefeatwasstunning,itdoesn’tmeantheendofhispoliticalcareer.ThesumofPeterson’sworkwilloutlivethedevastatingturnofeventslastsummer-muchofitbeyondhiscontrol.Wewerestruckbythefactthatacoupleofdaysafterhisdefeat,S&Pawardedthecityitshighestbondrating.Theironyis that the income tax hike he passed for financial, not political considerations, bailed out the city’s police and fire pensions,thoughmostofthecopsvotedagainsthim.Andremember,DickLugar,JohnBrademas,PhilSharpandMike Pence all absorbed defeats before the prime of their careers. Neil Pickett:OneofthemoreconspicuousDan-
ielslieutenantsattheStatehouse.Wordhasitthegovernormadehimwrite,“Iwon’tsaynastythingsabouttheprinci-pals”onablackboard100times. Jim Purucker: A top lobbyist who was influential
onlastyear’shistoricgaminglegis-lationaswellaswiththebeverageindustryandhealthcareindustries. Jay Potesta: TheSheet-metalunionchiefisbackingDaniels’re-election,butisavotingmemberoftheDemocraticCentralCommittee. Supt. Suellen Reed:Shehasservedthestateadmirably,buttherecomesatimetohangitup.WehearmoreandmorehowDOEhasbecomeadysfunctionalagency.Sheshouldavoidabruis-ing convention floor fight next Juneandretirewiththedignityshedeserves. Jim Robinson:Steel-workerschiefisaleadinglaborvoice. Tim Roemer: ShouldtherebeaDemocraticpresident,Roemeriscabinetmaterialonnationalsecurity,intelligenceoreducation.
Bren & Mel Simon:BigcontributorstotheSchellingercampaign,buttheyaregoingtoneedalotmorecompanybeforetheyseethatinvestmentpayoff. Steve Shine:TheAllenCountyRepublicanchair-manhadanightmareofayearwhenhisparty’schoiceformayor was defeated in the primary, and then Matt Kelty self-destructed.Shinehadtowalkalinewherehebackedthenominee,yetwasinstrumentalinconvincinghimtocomecleanbeforetheDemocratsusedtheallegationsagainsthimlastfall.Nowheisfacedwithrebuildingadi-videdpartywithkeygubernatorialandcongressionalracescomingup.Itwillbehisgreatestchallenge. Jennifer Wagner:TheIndianaStateDemocraticPartyCommunicationsDirectorhastoneddownthevenomatad(whew)butisadroitatundercover(i.e.theGlennMurphy case) and is the governor’s biggest daily critic. Gary Welsh: SuppliessomeofthebestoriginalreportingandanalysisintheblogworldonhisAdvanceIndianablog.It’samustreadeveryday. Charlie White: TheHamiltonCountyRepublicanchairmanislookingtorunstatewideby2010. Robin Winston:TheformerDemocraticchairmanexerts considerable influence in party circles and was one of the first to endorse Andre Carson after his caucus win lastweekend.v
State Rep. David Orentlicher handled a town hall meeting in Carmel with angry taxpayers adroitly. He will need to be on top of his political game to upset Andre Carson in May. (HPI Photos by Brian A.
governmentleaders(IndianapolisStar).
Peters working to spend down campaign debt INDIANAPOLIS-SincelosingtheRepublicanmayoralprimarylastspring,CommissionerNelsonPetershasbeenbusyrunningcountygovern-ment,buthehasn’tbeenbusyraisingmoneyforhisre-electionbid(Fort Wayne Journal Gazette).Annualcampaign finance reports for 2007 weredueWednesdaytotheAllenCountyElectionBoard.Petersreportedendingtheyearwith$1,059betweenhiscommissionerandmayoralcam-paignfunds.Heoweshisfatherandhimselfatotalof$14,293,accord-ing to his filings. He had transferred $6,500fromhiscommissionercam-paigntohismayoralcampaignlatelastyearinparttorepayaloanfromhismother,Peterssaid.PeterssaidifhehascompetitionintheRepublicanprimaryraceforhiscommissioner’sseat,hewouldworktoraisemoremoney. He’s confident in his ability toraisemoney,notingthatheraisedabout$385,000forhisbidforFortWaynemayor.
Daviess Commissionercharged with theft WASHINGTON,Ind.-ThepresidentoftheDaviessCountyCom-mission,wholastyearsurvivedanousterattemptwithintheRepublicanParty,faceschargesoftheftandof-ficial misconduct, accused of using thecounty’saccounttobuycrushedstoneforacompanyhepartiallyowns(EvansvilleCourier&Press).ThecountyGOPaskedCommissionerJimTruelovetoresignlastsummerafteraStateBoardofAccountsauditquestionedhisconductinthepur-chasebyTSPDevelopmentLLCofcrushedstoneatcountyrates,whicharesubstantiallylowerthanthosepaidbycontractorsorthepublic.“We
asked Mr. Truelove to resign then, but herefused.Itisnowinthehandsofthe court,” GOP chairman Martin L. Mumaw III said. Charges were filed TuesdayinDaviessSuperiorCourtbyspecialprosecutorDavidPowell,allegingthreecountseachofghostemploymentandtheftandtwocountsof official misconduct, all felonies.
Mayor Clay to campaignfor Obama in Carolina GARY - Mayor Rudy Clay plans totraveltoSouthCarolinanextweektocampaignforDemocraticpresidentialcandidateBarackObama(Associated Press).TheGarymayorsaidaftertalkingwiththeObamacampaignandmayorsfromaroundthecountry,hebelievesObamaiscommittedtohelpingpeoplelivingatorbelowthepovertyline,whileothercandidateshavehonedinonissuesaffectingthemiddleclass.“IcontinuetosaytothosemayorsthatAmericawillnotbewhatitneedstobeuntilGaryiswhatitoughttobe,”Claysaid.“IbelieveBarackObamaisthebestcandidatebecauseheembodieswhat’srequiredofthenextpresident.”
Clinton, Obama tiedin new Zogby poll WASHINGTON-BarackObamahaserasedaoncesubstantialdeficit to climb into a virtual tie with HillaryClintonintheDemocraticpresi-dentialrace,accordingtoaReuters/Zogby pollreleasedonWednesday.hasshowndeepvolatility.Clintonhelda21-pointedgeoverObamainOctober.Hecutthatto8pointsbylastmonth,andthenewsurveygavehera39percentto38percentedge.
Rep. Duncan to announceplans on Friday INDIANAPOLIS-StateRep.CleoDuncanwillannounceherpoliti-calplansinfourdistrictcountiesonFriday.v
Sen. Leahy endorsesObama for president WASHINGTON-SenateJudi-ciaryChairmanPatrickLeahy(D-VT)endorsedSenatorBarackObamaforPresident,citinghisuniqueabil-itytorestoreAmerica’sstandingintheworld,endthewarinIraq,pro-videhealthcareforallAmericans,andrallythisnationaroundacommonpurpose.ChairmanLeahysaid,“BarackObamaisthebestcandidatetoreintroduceAmericatotheworld–andrestorehopeinourcountry.BarackObamarepresentstheAmericaweoncewereandwanttobeagain.WhenBarackObamaisPresidentwewillleadwithhope,openingthedoorsofopportu-nitytoall,realizingthepotentialofourgreatnationforitscitizensandasaleaderofthefreeworld.BarackObamawillbeaPresidentwhoonceagainbelieves,‘Yes,wecan.’ThatiswhyIamendorsingBarackObamatobethenextPresidentoftheUnitedStates.”
Daniels open to mostproperty tax changes INDIANAPOLIS - Gov. Mitch DanielssaidWednesdayhe’sopentovirtuallyanychangestohisprop-ertytaxreliefplanaslongasthestateincometaxisn’tincreasedandthecornerstonesofhisproposalarepreserved.DanielsspentnearlytwohoursWednesdayansweringabout50questionsfromlawmakersonthepowerful House Ways and Means Committee. Minutes later and a block awayattheIndianaConventionCenter,Danielsspentanotherhourtoutinghisproposalandansweringquestionsfromsomeoftheplan’sstaunchestopponents--750local-
