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Allen County Republicans will have a rematch on their primary ballots next spring.
During last week’s Lincoln Day Dinner fundraiser, Allen County Council President Roy Buskirk made no secret of his intention to challenge County Commissioner Linda Bloom for her seat in 2010.
While a number of potential candidates at the event quietly worked the room for support, Buskirk brazenly politicked for the post. Attendees were greeted by a pile of Buskirk-for-Commissioner signs before entering the reception hall. When inside, Buskirk stood by the door handing out emery boards and asking people to support him for commissioner.
Bloom was reportedly displeased with the overt campaigning a year out. Friday, she said it seemed early to be campaigning for the job, but she is “absolutely” committed to seeking a fifth term in office. She took nearly 54 percent of the vote when the two ran in 2006, even though Buskirk raised almost no money. Bloom said she wasn’t as focused during that election but is ready for the rematch.
“I’ll take him on again,” she said.
It’s unusual when one member of the Fort Wayne City Council can kill a bill, but that is what Councilman Mitch Harper, R-4th, did last week.
Two weeks ago, Harper was the lone dissenting vote against a computer-maintenance system for City Utilities. But when the council was set to take a final vote last week, only five council members were in attendance. Council rules stipulate that five votes are needed to approve an ordinance, meaning Harper’s opposition caused the vote to fail.
Harper was concerned about the contract’s warranty provisions, which the city’s IT director admits were limited. Harper said the city should renegotiate the contract to get better protection from the company.
Councilwoman Karen Goldner, D-2nd, joined Harper’s opposition last week, saying his arguments swayed her to change her vote, making the final count a 3-2 failure.
Councilmen Tom Smith, R-1st, Tom Didier, R-3rd, and Marty Bender, R-at large, supported the contract. Councilmen Tim Pape, D-5th, Glynn Hines, D-6th, John Shoaff, D-at large, and Liz Brown, R-at large, were absent.
During his keynote address to the Allen County Republicans during last week’s fundraiser, Rep. Mike Pence joked that he knew to keep his speech short to get everyone out in time to watch “Dancing with the Stars.” He then more seriously said the television program “24” also is on that evening.
The Fox drama features counterterrorism agent Jack Bauer trying to save the world from various plots to set off nuclear weapons, take control of the country and other general misdeeds. With the urgency he faces, Bauer has hit, shot and electrocuted prisoners to extract information. He also killed one of his captors by biting through his neck, but Political Notebook digresses.
Pence said the show gives the best depiction of real-life security briefings and touted it to his audience.
“ ‘24,’ that’s the best Republican show on television,” he said.
Pence’s speech, however, stretched precariously close to the show’s start time, leaving fans few minutes to get home for its start.
In a show of good will, new State Budget Committee Chairman Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, took a moment last week to recognize outgoing Chairman Rep. Jeff Espich, R-Uniondale.
He presented Espich with a plaque in recognition and appreciation for his leadership and service on the budget committee over the years.
“I have a plaque here, Jeff, that I paid for,” Kenley said, poking at the state’s poor fiscal condition.
He also said Espich is known for his sense of humor and true modesty, and he looked to Espich several times during the meeting for guidance on the rules and procedure of the committee.
Espich voluntarily gave up the chairmanship two months early as the committee begins work on the budget process for the special legislative session.
Attorney General Greg Zoeller has filed four lawsuits in the past week targeting companies making illegal, prerecorded robo-calls about car warranties – often to people on the do-not-call list.
There have been hundreds of complaints. But what really got Zoeller’s attention? It was when they dialed his cell phone, which is registered on the telephone privacy list since he uses it regularly at home.
“By the time you start calling the state attorney general, I’d say you blasted out one too many calls,” Zoeller said.
