Election Selection: Round 1
Below are some of my final choices for local races. My decisions were made after reviewing the positions and performance of a given candidate/incumbent and their opponent, to the extent available. In addition, I have personally spoken to all of the candidates/incumbents listed below, to get any questions answered, in addition to three of their collective four opponents.
State Senate, District 46 – Connie Sipes (D)
Senator Sipes has done a wonderful job representing the interests of all her constituents, ready to lend a willing ear regardless of party affiliation. She also has a proven independent record, taking stands on issues that may put her in opposition to the power-that-be (like eminent domain), and even those in her own party. Coupled with her connections in the capital, Connie is best able to continue to serve the interests of her district in Indianapolis.
County Commissioner, District #1– Randy Stumler (D)
Randy has demonstrated leadership skills, especially in the area of financial controls, in addition to a track record of independent thinking. This coupled with his stand on proper development in rural Floyd County, and the rebirth of New Albany itself, sets him well above the competition. Only one note of caution. As Chairman of the Floyd county Democrat Party, should Randy fall in with the extreme radical wing of his party, all bets for future support are off. I find this prospect, however, highly unlikely.
Frank Loop - Floyd County Sheriff (R)
Frank is a very proficient law enforcement officer, with a personal and professional career track of increasing self-development and responsibility. Coupled with his clearly articulated vision of future improvements for the department, including but not limited to the critical issue of more officers on the street, Frank is the only choice in this race.
Keith Henderson – Prosecuting Attorney (R)
Professional, tough on crime and an extremely proficient attorney, Keith has brought to the office of the Prosecutor everything that was both desperately needed and sorely lacking in his predecessor. Sending Camm up the river only adds icing to the electoral cake!
An interesting article of note in the C-J: Key state races draw little attention.
More personal selections to come in a few days ……..
State Senate, District 46 – Connie Sipes (D)
Senator Sipes has done a wonderful job representing the interests of all her constituents, ready to lend a willing ear regardless of party affiliation. She also has a proven independent record, taking stands on issues that may put her in opposition to the power-that-be (like eminent domain), and even those in her own party. Coupled with her connections in the capital, Connie is best able to continue to serve the interests of her district in Indianapolis.
County Commissioner, District #1– Randy Stumler (D)
Randy has demonstrated leadership skills, especially in the area of financial controls, in addition to a track record of independent thinking. This coupled with his stand on proper development in rural Floyd County, and the rebirth of New Albany itself, sets him well above the competition. Only one note of caution. As Chairman of the Floyd county Democrat Party, should Randy fall in with the extreme radical wing of his party, all bets for future support are off. I find this prospect, however, highly unlikely.
Frank Loop - Floyd County Sheriff (R)
Frank is a very proficient law enforcement officer, with a personal and professional career track of increasing self-development and responsibility. Coupled with his clearly articulated vision of future improvements for the department, including but not limited to the critical issue of more officers on the street, Frank is the only choice in this race.
Keith Henderson – Prosecuting Attorney (R)
Professional, tough on crime and an extremely proficient attorney, Keith has brought to the office of the Prosecutor everything that was both desperately needed and sorely lacking in his predecessor. Sending Camm up the river only adds icing to the electoral cake!
An interesting article of note in the C-J: Key state races draw little attention.
More personal selections to come in a few days ……..
posted by blogtastic at 2:03 PM
19 Comments:
It really depends how each party get's the voters out. Love your blog-blogtastic.
Hmmm, we agree on these four.
I would be interested in your definition of the "extreme, radical wing" of the Democratic party. Are you speaking locally or nationally?
Really, I am serious in your take on this. Thanks in advance.
iamhoosier,
You and your progressive group need a real education on politics. Seems like to me your trying to box blogtastic in. But knowing blogtastic like I do it will never happen.
Good try!
What I like the most about blogtastic blog they always seem to think outside the box.
Question blogtastic what's your thoughts of spliting you ballot?
I like you (I think) believes in voting for whom will represents you the best?
Anon 3:49,
If I thought Blogtastic was stupid enough to fall for something like that, I would not care what he thinks. Unlike my feelings toward what you think.
iamhoosier,
I am referring to the national Democrat Party. From what I have been able to discern the last twenty-ish years I’ve lived here, neither the Floyd County Democrat nor Republican Party has really established any type of “local platform” or position on the issues. Then again, that also is really not the purpose of such a local party.
My parents are staunch, dyed-in-the wool Democrats to this day. My Mom, however, has begun to openly long for the Democrats of old. I was very recently rereading some of JFK’s speeches; many almost Reaganesqe in tone and content.
I believe that the Democrat Party is at a serious point of reflection in its life. Which direction they intend to head could either be disastrous, or very beneficial. If the Republican Party continues to move away from its conservative core principles, it too will face such a fork in the road in the not-too-distant future.
anon at 3:53,
I’ve pretty much split the ballot my entire voting life. I can only remember on one occasion, decades ago, where I pulled the party lever. I consider the latter an ignorant, nearly dangerous vote; hence my change. Of course, this is exactly what the given D or R party wants a voter to do.
My wife and I also vote D or R in primary elections on occasion, depending upon who is, or is not running. Because of this, we get TONS of mail from both parties and candidates. (Also because we financially support candidates from both parties.) Such voting in the primary labels one, in electoral parlance, as a ‘weak’ D or R. To those trying to effectively target mailings, this means we are supposedly open to influence (as opposed to a ‘strong’ D or R.) It is also a good way to get invites to both party’s events!
I do not, or at least try not to vote for whomever best represents my personal interests, but instead for whom I believe represents the best interests of the city/county/country. I believe you would agree.
blogtastic
I'd phrase it the other way:
I was very recently rereading some of RWR's speeches; many almost Kennedyesque in tone and content.
Incorrect....
It was Reagan that fleshed out the modern conservative agenda, originally initiated by Goldwater, and turned it into a true national political movement.
Kennedy did not, and dare not, go so far (as a contemporary of, and in competition with, Goldwater.) Astute politician that he was, however, Kennedy saw the eventual writing on the wall, and incorporated some of Goldwater's principles into his personal political philosophy and hence speeches (I also believe that Kennedy indeed believed in some of these values.) Other parts of the same JFK speeches were alternatively quite liberal.
That being said, it was Kennedy's speeches that were almost Reaganesque in tone and content, as I originally stated, and not the other way around. Reagan espoused the complete modern conservative agenda; Kennedy was not (quite) there.
blogtastic
Blogtastic,
Thanks for the clarification. Again, we agree, at least about the local parties.
You specified tone and content, nor merely content. In terms of tone, and chronologically, most of Reagan's best work followed Kennedy's relatively brief time on the stage.
Of course, content's a can of worms, although yours is a good explanation. Go back far enough, and Democrats are the voice of Southern racism rather than the party generally supported by African Americans.
I'm reading a fantastic book called "Letter to a Christian Nation" by Sam Harris. Good stuff, and I'll report back later.
Good luck getting those press credentials pseudonymously.
Endorsing Connie Sipes strikes me as a no-brainer; no danger of her aligning with the feared leftist pinko agenda any time soon.
On the other hand, her opponent identified himself with family values and a marriage protection act, and said these are two priorities of his.
Are these not certain planks of the conservative/GOP platform?
BT, you should do a marquee piece on such a topic.
new albanian, when did you become a political expert? Hell you can't even admit our current mayor has made any bad choices. Just curious you surely are not going to support current Mayor Garner next year?
"I feel like the local democrats" have forgotten us middle class taxpayers and voters. This so called new democrat central committee is turning all the local democrats off. I heard they damaged the tote board which has been used for years and refuse to replace it. If I wanted to sit and watch WNAS I'd do it in the confort of my recliner at home.
I plan to split my vote and go for who can do the job. And I am a solid x-blue dog.
Of course the incumbent mayor has made some bad choices; anyone in the job would. We've discussed the good with the bad at NAC, and will continue to do so.
Overall, I continue to regard the mayor's performance as worthy, given a few instances of bad luck and the opposition of outdated community elements for reasons that apparently transcend human reason.
But what does it matter? The little birdies continue to coo that Mayor Doug will return to save us from ourselves. If so, let's hope that the comeback goes better than Michael Jordan's. Do the Republicans even have a credible candidate in mind?
Politics is entertaining, but as in war, it is well that we not grow so fond of them.
(Sherman? Lee?)
new albanian,
Good luck getting those press credentials pseudonymously
What makes you think I would get them pseudonymously? I may elect just to use them in that fashion.
On the other hand, her opponent identified himself with family values and a marriage protection act, and said these are two priorities of his.
Are these not certain planks of the conservative/GOP platform?
Yes, and your point is?
blogtastic
My point was to ask you to write a column on the topic of a Republican candidate's wielding of family values and marriage protection as "important" issues. I asked because it sounded like something ripe for you, uh, spin on the world.
You forget -- my entertainment matters, especially when it comes to your blog.
Cheers - see you Thursday?
My point was to ask you to write a column on the topic of a Republican candidate's wielding of family values and marriage protection as "important" issues. I asked because it sounded like something ripe for you (sic), uh, spin on the world.
1. I have never expressed my personal opinions on family values or marriage protection on this blog nor any other southern Indiana blog.
2. You therefore have no idea of my spin on the world, as it relates to the same.
3. As the two aforementioned issues seem to be 'embraced' as much by Baron and other Democrats, as by Republicans, it seems that they are no longer the sole province of the latter.
As fate would have it, I am helping to facilitate a meeting this evening to help explain 'voter guidelines' to a group of forty or so folks. Perhaps I will make the issue a subject of a post in a day or so, time permitting.
As for Thursday, I appreciate the invite, but I will be at the UofL - WV game. As I said in my post on the game, Cardinal athletics supersede even the upcoming elections in importance.
blogtastic
Great job Blogtastic! Tell it like it is.
Does Mr. New Albanian really think he can pin you in a corner with your thoughts and opinions?
Good luck roger!
Hey, forgot about the game.
Good luck to your team -- mine got taken down by the Tigers in the LCS.
And the roundball Cards are going to be dominant in another year or so.
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