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Mar
24
Don’t Forget People Are Running For Governor Also
Filed Under Andy Horning, Election 2008, Jill Long Thompson, Jim Schellinger, Mitch Daniels | 3 Comments
With all of the buzz about the first Indiana primary that might make a difference in American politics for the first time since 1984, it’s easy to forget that there is a governor’s race also.
Here are the major candidates, in no particular order:
Governor Mitch Daniels, Republican.
Jim Schellinger, Democrat candidate
Jill Long Thompson, Democrat candidate
Andy Horning, Libertarian
Here are my snap impressions of the 2008 Indiana governor’s race, from a Northwest Indiana perspective. They probably aren’t fair, so weigh in with your opinions and let me know where I’m wrong (or right).
Mitch Daniels has done a good job reaching out to Northwest Indiana. I can’t remember if we’ve gotten this much attention in the past from other Indiana governors.
Sure, there are some people who are critical that he leased the Indiana Toll Road to Cintra, but if you look at the interest that is being made from the deal, it is funding a lot of roadwork in the area and around Indiana.
Major Moves has been a major boon for Gov. Mitch Daniels as it relates to gaining union support in the region — a pretty significant feat.
Writes the Northwest Indiana Times’ Patrick Guinane about Mitch Daniel’s union supporters.
A bevy of Indiana labor leaders gathered at a five-star Indianapolis hotel Thursday to endorse the re-election campaign of Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels.
The union officials praised the massive “Major Moves” road building plan the first-term governor financed with last year’s $3.8 billion private lease of the Indiana Toll Road. And they took a jab at Democratic leaders in Illinois for failing to reach agreement on a similar public works program.
“Major Moves has brought in probably $4 billion now, with (accrued) interest, for infrastructure,” said David Fagan, the Merrillville-based financial secretary for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150. “Compare that to our neighbor to the west (Illinois). They’re looking at losing $6.5 billion (in federal road funding) if they do not come up with state funding for capital projects.”
Leaders representing union carpenters, masons, sheet metal workers and Teamsters also announced their support Thursday, with several of them standing behind the governor during an evening news conference at the Conrad Hotel in downtown Indianapolis.
Also, we can’t forget that Gov. Daniels signed property tax reform into law recently. Gov. Mitch Daniel’s ability to help out the increasingly over-burdened tax payer should bring him some votes from the Democratic side of the aisle.
Democrat Jim Schellinger has gotten some Northwest Indiana support from Democratic party officials, including the Lake County Democrat Central Committee:
At a press conference this afternoon in Crown Point, Hoosier native and businessman Jim Schellinger, Democratic candidate for Governor, received the endorsements of Crown Point Mayor David Uran, Portage Mayor Olga Velazquez and District 19 State Representative Shelli VanDenburgh.
Schellinger’s website also notes that he was endorsed by Rep. Julia Carson and has the full support of the Lake County Democratic Central Committee — pretty “progressive” endorsements suggesting Schellinger will support the old guard of Democratic politics.
Voting last night, the Lake County Democratic Central Committee formally and overwhelmingly endorsed Jim Schellinger as the Democratic nominee for Governor. The endorsement, comprised of votes from town and city chairman as well as city mayors, came after Jim Schellinger and his primary opponent made their case in front of the Central Committee members. “As Chairman of the Lake County Democratic Central Committee, I am gratified that our county party was unified in the endorsement,” said the Honorable Rudy Clay, Mayor of Gary. “Our next step is to plan an extensive voter registration and outreach program. Clearly, this endorsement enhances Jim’s momentum as the Democratic candidate that can win in November.”
Getting the endorsement from the Lake County Democratic Central Committee means that the political insiders in this area consider him a friend. Why do I feel like I need to hide my wallet when a politician gets the nod from the elite in the Central Committee?
Also, I couldn’t find Schellinger’s “issues” page — just a lot of endorsements from people who’ve been in power for a long time. Can you say higher taxes? I know you could.
Democrat Jill Long Thompson weighs in on a proposal to privatize the Gary / Chicago Airport:
“We can’t allow another Toll Road situation, where a private entity can buy the airport for far less than it’s worth and make huge profits off the state and our citizens for a long period of time,” added Long Thompson. “It’s unfortunate that the Governor’s first instinct when he faces a challenge is to try to get someone else to deal with it, even if that means taking potential revenues away from the citizens of Indiana.”
Jill Long Thompson does tell us what she plans to do for economic development and education on her website, so that’s a plus in her favor since her challenger doesn’t seem to have written up any plans on his campaign site.
Jill Long Thompson didn’t get the endorsement of the Lake County Democratic Central Committee, another plus in her favor, if you’re looking at the Democrats this year. This viewpoint probably means that I’m not going to get the $50,000/year point-and-shoot photography contract for our county’s largest city, but I probably wasn’t going to get it anyway.
Libertarian Andy Horning has a picture of his appearance at the Lake County tax protest tea party, so he’s a good guy — anyone who wants to reduce taxes deserves our support. I’m not sure if Indiana is ready to go libertarian yet, so I wish him all of the luck in running his campaign to educate people about taxes and other libertarian issues.
Let me know what you think of the various candidates. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that we’re not governed by “Public Official A” aka Gov. Rod Blagojevich. I need to remember to flip the TV over to WNDU every so often to keep in touch with what’s going on in the Hoosier state.
Feb
12
‘There Will Be Deaths,’ Say Firefighters
Filed Under firefighters, government spending, Hammond Indiana, Mitch Daniels, property tax crisis, property tax reform | Comments Off
Photo by kilt medic
Will property tax cuts result in the deaths of Hammond, Indiana residents?
Firefighters in that city say saving money will kill people.
About 60 Hammond firefighters traveled to Indianapolis to protest property tax caps that would trim about $21 million from Hammond’s budget next year, reports Patrick Guinane in the Northwest Indiana Times.
A throng of Hammond firefighters descended on the Statehouse on Monday in the hopes of heading off a financial emergency.
The city stands to lose nearly a third of its budget, or about $21 million next year, if lawmakers press ahead with property tax caps sought by Gov. Mitch Daniels. So roughly a third of the Hammond Fire Department, or about 60 firefighters, came out to show legislators what’s at stake.
Dozens more public safety officials from across Indiana, including a handful of East Chicago firefighters and paramedics, formed a dense crowd outside the House Ways and Means Committee. Inside the hearing room, Hammond Fire Chief Dave Hamm warned legislators that the budget cuts triggered by the tax caps would cost lives.
“One thing that I can assure you is our response time will worsen, and there will be deaths,” Hamm said. “Please, please do not take that as a threat. … It’s just a matter of fact. It’s going to happen.”
