Kokomo Tribune; Kokomo, Indiana

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November 21, 2009

Public eye - Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009

By Scott Smith and Ken de la Bastide

The unions are coming!

Earlier this year, Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock gained national headlines by trying to block Chrysler’s emergence from bankruptcy.

Mourdock maintained secured creditors, such as the Indiana pension funds he administers, were not being treated fairly and bankruptcy laws were not being followed.

If Mourdock had succeeded in his expensive legal battle, it would have meant Chrysler’s liquidation and, ironically, a smaller settlement for the state investment funds.

In a fundraising letter mailed this week, Mourdock said his actions have been seen as a direct challenge to the “union bosses” and the administration of President Barack Obama.

He said he expects a re-election challenge from a union-funded, Democratic candidate in 2010.

“I’m not backing down,” Mourdock wrote. “I have no regret in taking the actions I’ve taken, but I know that to counter these Democrat attacks, I must fund my re-election campaign to meet their challenge.”

Do the math

Businesses have come and businesses have died over the years in downtown Kokomo.

And in our age of Wal-Mart and vast, strip-mall parking lots, our automotive society doesn’t like trying to find open parking spaces downtown.

Getting parking spaces to open up won’t be as easy as chalk-marking tires either. By some estimates, Howard County government has 320 employees working downtown on a daily basis. But the county lots only hold 260 vehicles.

So why hasn’t the county purchased additional off-street parking? Probably because there isn’t any left available within a block of the Courthouse. Support for building a parking garage is non-existent.

Until a way is found to keep government workers out of public parking spaces, we don’t expect any new businesses downtown.

Messer rounds out staff

Luke Messer, who is beginning to look the likeliest of the candidates seeking to defeat 14-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Dan Burton, has hired some well-known staffers.

Megan Robertson was announced as campaign manager. She has served as the Indiana Victory Director for the Republican National Committee during the 2008 presidential campaign, as well as deputy regional campaign manager for John McCain in the Great Lakes Region, campaign manager for State Rep. Mike Murphy for Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett.

Ashley Gutwein, a life-long Hoosier, will serve as finance coordinator and will coordinate all campaign fundraising. And Jennifer Hallowell, a well-known player in Hoosier Republican politics for the past decade, will continue in her role as general consultant for the campaign.

Messer, Brose McVey, State Rep. Mike Murphy and 2008 primary candidate John McGoff are all looking to challenge Burton.

Stutzman tags Bayh

The oddsmakers may not favor Tea Party/Republican candidate Marlin Stutzman’s chances of beating U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh this year, but Stutzman tried to make a splash this week with a limited television ad buy.

The message was rather entertaining.

“Senator Bayh is the definition of an ‘empty suit,’ Stutzman’s campaign said. “Indiana’s junior senator is a Washington Millionaire who has proven incapable of making tough decisions. Senator Bayh is simply more interested in the idea of being senator and enjoying the lifestyle ....”

The good news for Bayh is that Stutzman attacks him mainly for doing next-to-nothing. Next year, however, Bayh may actually be forced to take a stand on health-care reform.

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