Election cycle turns into continuous loop

Even if Allen County's next general election is more than a year away, local political parties are already preparing for the busy campaign months ahead. 

In anticipation of the next race, some candidates keep an eye on positions and votes that could become central issues on the campaign trail, while some incumbents make moves to make it easier to prove to their constituents how much time they spend at work as a public servant. 

But for some, it can feel as if it's too early to think about. 

That's probably the mindset of many Americans just nine months after a contentious and lengthy 2016 presidential contest, which dominated the airwaves and internet for more than a year. But like the annual holiday shopping season, it can seem as if the next election cycle begins earlier each time around.

“They do to a degree, and part of that is the amount of effort it takes to become an elected official,” said Andy Downs, director of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics. “There's a lot a candidate has to accomplish. They have to meet voters, raise their name recognition, and doing that takes work. It's not something you do at the drop of a hat.” 

President Donald Trump, for example, filed for re-election on Jan. 20, hours after taking the oath of office. Less than nine months into a new presidential administration, there have been numerous candidacy rumors ranging from other elected officials to billionaire tech moguls to celebrities. 

In Allen County, things move at a much slower pace. Local elections are typically only visible for a few months and the most heavy campaigning lasts just a few weeks in the fall. But major issues, like the Fort Wayne City Council's move last month to increase the county's local income tax, may still play a role when council members come up for re-election in 2019.

In July, the council approved a 0.13 percentage point income tax increase, drawing condemnations from some residents and the Indiana chapter of a national conservative political action group. Although opponents were vocal in their dissent, there was large support for the proposal, including from area schools. A portion of the additional funds generated by the income tax increase will pay to repair or replace sidewalks throughout the city, particularly neighborhoods near schools. A larger portion of the revenue will go toward future downtown riverfront development. 

Because the income tax vote happened early in this council term, incumbents are better able to get out in front of an issue, Downs said. They may also be able to answer questions about why they voted a certain way, or point to successes that have happened since, he added.  

“Take the smoking ban for example,” Downs said. “In some respects that was very painful for (Councilman) John Crawford, but today most people can't imagine smoking inside.” 

It's also never too early for politicians to provide themselves some political cover. The Allen County commissioners, for example, recently approved a measure requiring all three commissioners keep track of the number of hours worked in their capacity as elected officials. A log of hours could prove useful next year when two out of three commissioners will be up for re-election, Downs said. 

When the requirement was approved in July, Commissioner Nelson Peters, a Republican, described it as a way for the office to be more transparent for constituents. Currently, commissioners are the only county elected officials that are required to track their hours. There are no minimum work hours required for members of the City Council, nor is that body required to clock in or out. 

“There's nothing that stops the commissioners from already keeping track of their hours. This forces individuals into doing it who wouldn't otherwise,” Downs said. “A lot of people will say there's a political motive behind this concept.” 

Although residents may be enjoying a respite from local political contests, the Democratic and Republican parties have been working since election night to prepare for the next cycle. The Republican Party, which has control over all city and county elected bodies except the mayor's office, has been striving to reach voters for the 2018 and 2019 elections, county party Chairman Steve Shine said. 

“There has been no break from the 2016 election cycle to 2017, even though this is not an election year,” Shine said. “We are the busiest we've ever been in a non-election year.” 

Shine has been chairman of the county Republican Party for 24 years. 

The Republican Party is focused on next year's races, Shine said, which not only involves the congressional race for the seat Jim Banks currently holds but also all four district seats on the Allen County Council, two positions on the Allen County Board of Commissioners, sheriff and the Allen County coroner.

The party plans to focus its efforts on County Council District 1, Shine said, which is currently occupied by Councilwoman Sharon Tucker, the body's sole Democrat. Tucker's district includes parts of eastern Allen County, including Monroeville and New Haven – areas Shine described as “strong Republican areas.” 

Shine said he's spoken to Allen County Prosecutor Karen Richards, who has committed to running for re-election. Richards has been prosecutor since January 2003. Shine also said he'll be excited to see Sheriff David Gladieux's name on the ballot again next year. Those two races, particularly the sheriff's race, often draw a lot of Republican voters to the polls, Shine said. 

“The sheriff's race is always a very popular race on the ballot every four years because that is basically the magnet for Republican voters in the county. It attracts law-and-order Republican base voters,” Shine said. “I don't think we've ever had a Democrat as sheriff.” 

In an email Thursday, Tucker said she does plan to run for re-election and said she's not surprised that she's a target for Republicans in 2018. Tucker said she'll spend time focusing on successes made over the past three years of her term, including the fight to keep taxes low and bring responsibility to the tax abatement process. 

“Even with the successes we have received, I still have additional work to do and will work to continue to earn the voters' trust,” Tucker said. 

Despite their parties' eagerness to jump-start the next election cycle, the politicians themselves can sometimes be less than thrilled with the idea.

Currently in his fourth term, City Councilman Tom Didier, R-3rd, said he's never really understood why some rush to start. The amount of money a candidate needs to raise to mount a successful campaign might play a role, Didier said.

Asked about his own plans for 2019, Didier said although he's thought about running for mayor, or seeking a fifth term on the City Council, he spends most of his time focusing on what's happening now.

“There's just so many variables that go into running in the first place. One, you have to make sure your family is on board with what you're going to do, and two, you have to be clear on what your goals are,” Didier said. “It's never about me, it's about what's good for the community as a whole.”

Messages seeking comment from Misti Meehan, chair of the Allen County Democratic Party, were not immediately returned. 

dgong@jg.net