Sosbe a question mark

With State Rep. Ron Herrell, D-Kokomo, facing a strong re-election challenge from Republican Kokomo Common Councilman Mike Karickhoff, pressure has been building on Chuck Sosbe to bow out of the primary.

Sosbe, a lobbyist for the Professional Firefighters of Indiana, made a Labor Day announcement of his intention to challenge Herrell.

Thursday, Sosbe confirmed he’s been approached about running instead against District 21 State Sen. Jim Buck, R-Kokomo.

“There are people that want that to happen, and I’ve been in discussions with them. And that’s as far as I’ve gone,” Sosbe said. “I haven’t decided.”

Looking to 2012

Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels still has three years left in his second term, but speculation over a successor already has begun.

Daniels returned the governor’s office to GOP control in 2004, breaking 16 years of Democrat control.

The Howard County Republican Party Web site, www.howardcountyrepublicans.org, includes a pulse poll asking “Who would you like to see as Indiana’s next governor?”

There are eight potential candidates listed. Not a surprise is the inclusion of Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, who is also in her second term. Current Statehouse officeholders on the list include Indiana Treasurer Richard Mourdock and Secretary of State Todd Rokita.

State lawmakers Brian Bosma, Luke Kenley and David Long are on the list. Bosma, R-Indianapolis, is currently the House Minority Leader, while State Sen. Kenley, R-Noblesville, has been a leader in the property tax discussions, and State Sen. Long, R-Fort Wayne is Senate Pro Tem.

Murray Clark, chairman of the state Republican Party and a former lieutenant governor candidate, is included, along with U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, the Republican representing Indiana’s 6th Congressional District.

All quite interesting, but the question most Republicans are asking these days involves a higher office.

Do you think, they’ll ask The Public Eye, that Mitch will run for president?

Donnelly down to the wire

U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly was keeping his cards close to his chest Friday, as House Majority Whip Steny Hoyer was desperately trying to secure enough Democrat votes to pass the health care reform bill.

With the knowledge no Republican will vote for the bill, it’s safe to say this vote could make or break Donnelly politically. At least six times in the past week, the National Republican Congressional Committee has sent out e-mails to media, reminding them Donnelly hasn’t yet taken a stand.

It’s all reminiscent of Donnelly’s fence-sitting during the 2008 Democratic presidential primary. He didn’t endorse Barack Obama until after Hillary Clinton failed to carry Indiana by a wide margin. Clinton’s failure to pick up enough delegates in Indiana was considered by many pundits to be the final nail in her candidacy.

Where’s our share?

During Monday’s meeting of the Howard County commissioners, a business owner wanted to know why county tax dollars are going to the Kokomo Downtown Association.

The business owner wanted to know why no funds are provided to areas like Markland Avenue and Main Street and the west side, to help market those areas?

The commissioners didn’t really did have a good response, other than stating the concern was legitimate.

The Kokomo Downtown Association receives a portion of the county’s $90,000 annual contribution to the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance, meaning the county doesn’t directly support the KDA.

Random thoughts

When county residents (i.e. people who don’t pay the city property tax rate) complain about their tax dollars being used to “plant flowers” downtown, two thoughts come to mind.

First, county elected officials are so against using any county money for downtown beautification that they wouldn’t pay $1,500 to install a spigot at the Courthouse. The offending spigot-funding request was an attempt to secure a convenient source of water for the new plants around the Courthouse.

Second, city residents (who pay the majority of county taxes) sometimes wonder why their county taxes go to pay for the Howard County sheriff, who doesn’t patrol the city, and the Howard County Highway Department’s snow plows, which don’t plow city streets.