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INDIANAPOLIS – Jill Long Thompson’s first TV ad of the general election cycle wasn’t even on the air yet when the Indiana Republican Party labeled it a negative attack.
“Jill Long Thompson is keeping with past practice,” GOP state party Chairman Murray Clark said in a prepared statement. “She has a long history of negative campaigning and we’re not surprised in the least that the first ad from her Washington D.C.-based campaign would choose cynicism over substantive policy ideas.”
To be clear, there was only one line in the 30-second ad that is even close to being an attack: “When this governor says our economy is in great shape, he is out of touch with the challenges facing Hoosier families,” she said.
But consider this. Gov. Mitch Daniels used similar words in his first commercial of the 2004 campaign.
“The people who have been in power now for so long aren’t bad people. I know they aren’t hard-hearted,” he said then. “I just think they have been in Indianapolis so long that they have lost touch with the severity of our problems.”
Tension at the all-Democratic Wayne Township Advisory Board was palpable last week as the group met to discuss borrowing $1 million for relief to the poor.
The heightened media attention only enflamed the situation, as board member Maria Parra took every opportunity to speak out against the township’s spending. She spent close to 20 minutes trying to get the minutes of the last meeting changed to accurately reflect her feelings, but board President Tony Henry objected, saying the minutes should reflect only what was said, not Parra’s reasoning behind what she said.
Parra tried to ask tough questions of the township and its spending, but her devil’s-advocate role took an odd turn when she opposed a plan to cut costs by offering unpaid vacation to employees. She said the plan should limit the amount of unpaid time available, but township officials argued that would limit their flexibility to save money.
The tension came to a boil when Parra dogged Trustee Rick Stevenson with questions about how much money the unpaid vacation plan would save, and she was visibly frustrated when told they didn’t know.
The normally calm Henry, brother of Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry, then went after Parra, telling her it would be impossible to know what a plan like that would save, because it would be up to employees to use it. He said if it saves $10,000 it would be great, and it would still be worthwhile if it saved only $1,000.
Parra, the Democratic nominee for Allen County treasurer, has been previously accused by township officials of being critical for political gain, and it was fairly clear last week those feelings about her remained.
Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels said last week he has agreed to three debates to be conducted in the northern, southern and central parts of the state.
“Governor Daniels is looking forward to the debates as a way to discuss with Hoosiers the great progress Indiana has experienced in the last four years and as an opportunity to further share his positive vision for the future,” said Cam Savage, communications director for the campaign.
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jill Long Thompson said Wednesday she would prefer even more debates – perhaps one in every major media market in the state.
“But I’m happy he agreed to at least three,” she said.
The debates will be handled through the newly formed Indiana Debate Commission. There is no word yet on exact locations, dates or the format of the events.
The Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics at IPFW has applied to host a debate and has made the short list for northern Indiana sites.
One referendum could be possible next year for Allen County voters, and we’re not talking about bridges. Two of the three Allen County commissioners last week said they would support putting a single county executive on the ballot: giving people the choice of reducing the number of commissioners from three to one.
The issue came up when the commissioners were discussing legislative priorities with the Allen County Council. Commissioner Nelson Peters said there might not be consensus about whether to have a single executive, but he supports at least putting it on the ballot. Councilman Darren Vogt, R-3rd, then put the other commissioners on the spot by asking whether they also supported a referendum.
After some discussion, Commissioner Bill Brown said he would support a referendum on the topic. Although Commissioner Linda Bloom never answered, Vogt said he was satisfied because all it takes is two to get it there.
The City Council call-in show will begin airing the first Wednesday of the month, beginning this week. The show, hosted by Councilman Tom Smith, R-1st, and county Commissioner Nelson Peters, previously aired every fourth Wednesday.
The pair will launch the new date this week by hosting Rich Davis, new president of the Downtown Improvement District. The show still runs from 7 to 8 p.m. on City TV, Comcast 58 and Verizon 28.
Viewers wanting to ask a question during the live program can call 422-8708.
