Dem candidates at HPR ForumThursday, Oct. 4, 2007V14 N8

By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS-TherewasasurrealerainHoosierpoliticslastNovemberandearlyDecember.Itwasavoid. ShorlyafterElectionDay,IndianapolisMayorBartPetersonannouncedforathirdtermandtookhimselfout

ofthe2008gubernatorialrace.Thequestioneveryonebeganaskingwas,whichDemocratwouldrisetochallengeGov.MitchDaniels? EvansvilleMayorJonathanWeinza-pfelwasmum.FormerHousespeakerJohnGreggwasmakingtheJ-Jrounds,buttheperceptionwasthathewasmoreinterestedinmakingtheticketat

“I expect the 2008 session to be consumed by the property tax debate. The governor will have a proposal on the table.” - Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, to the Co-lumbus Republic, who said Gov. Mitch Dan-iels’ ‘long-term plan’ will come in 30 days

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Joint appearance for Thompson, Schellinger,LG Skillman to follow;Cillizza will keynoteBy BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS-Inwhatwillbethefirst joint appearance before the general publicofthe2008gubernatorialcampaign,DemocratsJillLongThompsonandJimSchellingerwillheadlinetheHPRForumfrom1to5p.m.TuesdayOct.23,attheMadamWalkerTheatreinIndianapolis. Lt.Gov.BeckySkillmanwillspeakafterthetwoDemocrats.Thompson,SchellingerandSkillmanwilltakequestionsfromtheaudienceandamediapanel.ChrisCillizza,whowrites“TheFix”politicalblogfortheWashington Post,willkeynotetheforum,talkingabouttheriseoftheInternetinpoliticsaswellas2008presidential,gubernatorialandcongressionalraces. AdmissiontotheHPRForumwillbeacannedfood

Sen. Young into a vacuum

itemthatwillbedonatedtoalocalfoodbank. “WiththepresidentialandIndianagubernatorial

Democrats Jim Schellinger (left) and Jill Long Thompson will make their first joint appearance before the general public on Oct. 23 at the HPR Forum. The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza (left) will give the keynote. (HPR Photos by Brian A. Howey)

Page 2 Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007

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lieutenantgovernor.FortWayneMayorGrahamRichardsaidhewasn’tinter-ested.HammondMayorTomMcDer-mottseemedtobebettersuitedasanLGpossibility.StateSen.ViSimpsonwasn’tsure. During this period,IndianaDemocratswererockedbythewith-drawalofSen.EvanBayhfromthe2008presidentialrace. JimSchellingerandJillLongThompsonwereponderingonlyamongatightgroupofadvisers.SowastheunsuccessfulsecretaryofstatecandidateJoePearson. ItwasstrangebecauseinthemoderneraofHoosierpolitics,thereisalmostalwaystheheirapparent.In1988and1996,itwasEvanBayhandFrankO’Bannon.In1976,itwasLarryConrad.In1980and1984,itwasJohnHillenbrandIIIandStateSen.WayneTownsend.Therewereprimaryopponentsduringthisera,buttheeventualnomineesenteredthesequenceastheonestobeat.Itwastheirturn.Iftheycouldn’tgetitdone,therewouldn’tbeanotherchance. Ofcourse,theloneexceptioncameinthe2004sequencewhenthen-Lt.Gov.JoeKernanbowedoutoftheraceinlate2002inafalloutoverO’Bannon’sselectonofPeterManousasstatechair.Thepartyenduredaharrowing,oftenbitter,showdownbetweenJoeAndrew(andBrenSimon)andSimpson,withthatwildridedisappearingintothemistofGov.O’Bannon’sdeathinSeptember2003,andtheascentofGov.Kernan.AsMitchDaniels’“freighttrainofchange”washittingthesmalltownsaroundthestate,Gov.Kernanhades-sentiallylostayear. But in the earlywinterof‘07,therewasnoheirapparent.Infact,therestillisn’t.

Butas2006waned,SenateMinorityLeaderRichardYoungsawandfeltthevoid,anditwasasifhelookedaroundandthensaid,“Well,ifnooneelseisgoingtogetin,Iwill.”

YoungcreatedabitofasplashbytellingtheLouisvilleCourier-Journalthathewasgettingin,andthatformerFirstLadyJudyO’Bannonwouldchairhiscampaign. Young’sproblemwasthatheheadedthelegislature’ssmallestcaucus,anditwasdividedashehadtofendoffaleadershipchallengefromSen.Simpson.AsHPRdescribeditinDecember2006,theYoungcandi-dacy“producedeitheramusementorgroans-theclassicwink-behind-your-backthing.”WedescribedSen.Youngas“widelyseenasnotcredibleatthe

gubernatoriallevel”andthatIndianaDemocrats“willlooktoitsmayoralclassand,ifacandidatedoesn’tma-terialize there, then past officeholders orthebusinessclass.”WhichiswhereSchellingerandThompsoncomefrom. Youngwashamstrungwhenhecouldn’traisemoneydur-ingthelonglegislativesessionwhileSchellingerwasgatheringupamillionbucks.Bysinedie,Thompsonwasgearingup.Youngcouldonlyraiseabout$200,000andraisedeyebrowswhenheappearedataStatehouseral-lywithAdvanceAmerica’sEricMiller. YounglefttheIndianaguber-natorialraceonMonday,sayinghefelthewasa“buffer”betweenThompsonand Schellinger, even though he fin-ishedsecondintheWISH-TVpoll. Young said hehopedIndianaDemocratswould“coalesce”aroundonecandidatebeforetheMay2008primary,aspartyChairmanDanParkerhadlongadvocated.Inthewin-terof‘88,theBayh-O’Bannonticketwasforgedthatwouldignite16yearsofDemocraticgubernatorialrule.BayhdefeatedKokomoMayorSteveDailyintheprimary,thoughO’Bannon’snameremainedontheballot. YoungsaidhedidnotplantoendorseeitherThompsonorSchellinger,butcalledboth“greatcan-didates.”YoungsaidataStatehousepressconferenceMondaymorning,“IwilldoeverythingIcantonarrowthemdowntoonecandidateassoonaswecan.”v

Sen. Young withdrew from the 2008 governor’s race on Monday as Indiana Democratic Chairman Dan Parker looks on. (HPR Photo by Brian A. Howey)

Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007 Page 3

HPR Forum: From page 1

races now rapidly evolving, this will be the first chanceforHPRsubscribersandthegeneralpublictohearthecandidatestalkaboutthecriticalpublicpolicyissuesofourtime,”saidHPRPublisherBrianA.Howey.“IexpectanyonewhoattendswillcomeawaywithagreaterappreciationofthedialoguethatwillcontinuethroughNovember2008.” ThemediapanelwillincludeHPR’sHowey,FortWayneInkEditorVinceRobinson,andJackColwelloftheSouthBendTribune. HPRForumsponsorsincludeBosePublicAffairs,DLZ,Winston/TerrellGroup,JohnFrick&Associates AreceptionwillfollowtheForum,intheMadam Walker’s third floor ballroom.

HPR Forum Schedule1to5p.m.Tuesday,Oct.23,2007MadamWalkerTheater,FourthFloorBallroom,

1p.m.Welcomingremarks,BrianA. Howey1:15p.m.IndianaDemocratic gubernatorialcandidate joint appearance1:20 JimSchellingeropeningremarks1:30 JillLongThompsonopeningremarks1:50 Questionsfromaudience2:20 Questions from journalists: Brian A. Howey, VinceRobinson,JackColwelland MattTully.2:45p.m.BREAK:MusicbyBillLancton,Rusty HumphreyandKevinKouts3p.m.Lt.Gov.BeckySkillman3:30 p.m. Questions from journalists and audience4p.m.KeynoteAddress,ChrisCillizza, WashingtonPost5p.m. Reception

Past HPR Forums: top photo, OMB Director Chuck Schalliol, Gov. Daniels, Paul Mannweiler and Brian Howey talk at the 2005 Forum; Sen. Lugar at the 2006 Forum with WTHR’s Chris Proffitt; Prof. Larry Sabato at the 2004 Forum; and Gov. Joe Kernan talks with HPR Washington correspondent Mark Schoeff Jr. in 2004; 9/11 Commissioner Tim Roemer in 2006 and Fort Wayne Mayor Graham Richard in 2005.

Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007Page 4

Indiana.Jim’sgoalistovisitall92counties”byDec.31. SchellingercriticizedPresidentBushforvetoingtheStateChildren’sHealthInsuranceProgram.“PresidentBush’svetoisdisappointingwhenover97,000childrenareuninsuredinthestateofIndiana,”saidSchellinger.“Gov.Daniels’persistentrefusaltotakeleadershiponthiscriti-calneedinourstatehasleftourchildrenandtheirfamilieswithoutanysolutions.WhenGov.DanielsrefusedtosignabipartisanlettersenttoCongressearlierthisyearurgingtomaketheStateChildren’sHealthInsuranceProgramatoppriority,heleftthose97,000childrenwithoutthehopetoleadhealthyandproductivelives.” Indiana Republican Chairman J.MurrayClarkreactedbysaying,“JimSchellingerhasabsolutelynoideawhathe’stalkingabout.SchellingersaidhewouldbringbusinesslikesensetotheDemocratParty,butnogovernorwithanybusinesssensewouldsupportaprogramthatcostsIndiana$250milliondollarsayear.”Clarksaidthatformorethanageneration,Indianahasdealtwithlowincome

children’shealthcareina“bipartisanfashionandwithsuccess.”ClarksaidtheHealthyIndianaPlan,Gov.Daniels’landmarkhealthcarelegislationsup-portedbyDemocratslikeSenatorViSimpson,andRep.CharlieBrown,willprovide132,000uninsuredHoosierswithhealthinsurance.AccordingtotheCentersforDiseaseControlandPre-vention,underthisSCHIPlegislation,Indianawillseeanetlossofmorethan$250millionayear.Thismoneywillgotootherstatesthathaven’tman-agedtheireffortstoinsurechildreninneed,attheexpenseofHoosiers.Thatisn’tequitable.“That’swhyGovernorDanielsandPublicHealthCommitteeChairmanCharlieBrown(D-Gary)haveopposedSCHIPinitscurrentform,”Clarksaid. The Schellinger campaign

announced theendorsementsofLaborers’InternationalUnionofNorthAmerica,StateofIndianaDistrictCouncil,MarionCountySheriffFrankAnderson,HancockCountyDemocraticPartyChairMichaelAdkins,GrantCountyCountyChairKemLinn,VigoCountyDemocraticPartyChairJoeEtling,ClarkCountySheriffDanRodden,ClarkCountyAssessor,VickyKentHaire,JeffersonCountyCommissionerJulieBerry,VigoCountyCommissionerPaulMason,DaviessCountyChairBillWalton,MorganCountyChairDay-monBrodhacker,HancockCountyChairMichaelAdkins,CharlestownMayorMikeHall,StateRepresentativeDavidCrooks,RipleyCountyDemocraticChairCharlieCook,andFortWayneCityCouncilorTimPape.Democratic Primary Status: LEANSLONGTHOMPSON.General Status:LeansDaniels.

2008 Indiana Governor Governor 2008:Republican:Gov.MitchDaniels,LaRonKeith.Democrat:JimSchellinger,JillLongThomp-son.1996 Results: O’Bannon(D)1,075,342,Goldsmith(R)997,505,Dillon(L)35,261.2000 Results:O’Bannon(D)1,230,345,McIntosh(R)906,492,Horning(L)38,686.2004 Results: Daniels(R)1,302,912,Kernan(D)1,113,900,Gividen(L)31,644.2008 Forecast:WhatwillbetheimpactofSen.Young’swithdrawal?AJulyinternalpollfortheThompsoncampaignshowedahead-to-headbetweenherandSchellingerat33-8percent.ThompsonadviserChrisSauttersaidtheformercongresswomanpickedupmoreofYoung’ssupportthanSchellingerdid.“InourpollYoungpickedup22percentinSouthernIndianaandJillhad17percent,”Sauttersaid.“Inthehead-to-headwithSchellinger,shepickedup6percentandSchellinger1percent,”SauttersaidoftheWISH-TVpollthathadThompsonwith41percent.“Itdidtwothings:Itblewawaytheper-ceptionthatthepartywouldunitebehindSchellingeranditendedtheassumptionthatGov.Danielswillhaveaneasyrace.”Asformoney,SauttersaidthatsincetheWISHpoll,“thingshavebeenbrisk.We’recatchingup.”ThompsonannouncedtheendorsementofStateSen.EarlineRogersonWednesday.ThompsonsaidofYoung,““IwanttopubliclythankandcommendSen.RichardYoungforthegracewithwhichheconductedhiscampaign. Senator Young is a first-rate public servant and anhonorableandgentleman.HebroughttothecampaignanimportantpointofviewandacommitmenttomakingIndianabetter.IintendtostayintouchwithSenatorYoungandseekhisadvicethroughoutthecampaign.” Schellinger said of Young’s departure,“Sen.YounghaswagedhiscampaignontheissuesandapositivevisionforwhatIndianacanbeinthefuture.IthasbeenagreathonortobeonthesameplatformasSen.Young.” SchellingerspokeswomanCandaceMartinsaidthatYoung’swithdrawalhasnotalteredthecampaign’sfocusorexecution.NotingthatJimandLauraSchellingerhadmadeacoupleofcampaignswingsthroughSouthernIndiana,Martin said the campaign isn’t “just focused on Southern

Senate Minority Leader Richard Young talks to the press as Indiana Democratic Chairman Dan Parker looks on. (HPR Photo by Brian A. Howey)

Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007 Page 5

*19%experiencedhikesoflessthan15%; *9%hadincreasesofbetween30%and50%,and *8% reported jumps of over 50%. Attheotherendofthespectrum,8%saidtheirtaxesdidn’tincreaseatall,whileonly2%notedade-crease. Voters believe marketvalueisthecorrectas-sessmentstandard,buttheassessmentsystemisbroken.Nearlytwo-thirdsoftherespondents(65%)agreedthatpropertyassessmentshouldremainbasedonthemarketvalueoftheirproperty,whichIndianaswitchedtoin2002.Meanwhile,20%reportedunhappinesswiththemarket-basedappraisaland15%feltuncertain.Additionally,aclear majority of voters - 58% to 29% - supported equity andfairnesswhenitcomestowhopayswhat,agreeingthatabusinessandresidencewiththesamemarketvalueinthesametaxingdistrictshouldpaythesameamountof

propertytax. Foranoverwhelmingnumberofrespondents,thecenteroftheproblemistheassessmentsystemthathas1,100assessorsallworkingindependently.Atotalof71%saidthecurrentpropertyassessmentsare“notuniformandequitable,”whereasonly12%believetheyare“uniformandequitable.” Votersmisunderstandwhereprop-ertytaxesareraisedandspent. Perhaps the most revealing finding is that a significant number of voters don’trealizethatthepropertytaxdollarscollectedactuallygotofundlocalgovernmentbudgets,withlessthan1%designatedforstategovern-

mentuses.Whenasked“whereismostofthepropertytaxrevenuespent,”overone-third(37%)saidschools,20%tappedstategovernmentand18%namedvariouslocalgovernmentunits(8%city/town,7%countyand3%township).Morethan20%saidtheydidn’tknowwheretheirtaxdollarswent.Additionally,whenasked,“whatiscausingpropertytaxestoincrease,”nearlyhalf(46%)incorrectlysaidstategovernmentspending. By a margin of nearlytwotoone,votersholdstatelegislators,at38%-aboveanyothergrouporleader- as the most responsible for finding a solution for the cur-rentpropertytaxproblem.Gov.MitchDanielswasidenti-fied by 16%, while 13% turned their attention to local government. Ironically,votersheldthemselvesthesecondmostresponsibleat20%,whichmaytranslateintothemgettingmoreinvolvedinlocalgovernmentmeetingsand/ortakingactionintheupcomingNovembermunicipalcontestsandthe2008generalelection.MarketResearchInsightcon-ductedthepollof800voters,witha3.5+/-errorrate.v

Indiana Chamber statewide pollshows severity of tax problemVoters most blame flawed assessmentsystem and government spending

INDIANAPOLIS-Astatewidepollof800regis-teredvotersindicatesthemagnitudeofIndiana’spropertytaxdilemma,withanoverwhelming90%ofrespondentscharacterizingitas“acrisis”(56%)or“animportantissue”(34%). This is among six significant themes that emerged fromasurveycommissionedbytheIndianaChamberofCommerceandconductedduringthelastmonth. Specifically, voters: *perceivethereisapropertytaxcrisisandtheywantaction; *believemarketvalueisthecorrectassessmentstandard,buttheassessmentsystemisbroken; *misunderstandwherepropertytaxesareraisedandspent; *arelookingtotheGeneralAssemblyandgovernortosolvepropertytaxproblems; *wantgovernmentspendingtobecontrolledandreducedversusaddingmoretaxesofanykindtooffsetthespending;and *wantlocalgovernmenttobeoverhauled. Askedtoname“themostimportantissuefacingIndianatodaythatyouwouldliketoseeactiontakenontohelpyouandyourfam-ily,” fiscal concerns were top. By a wide margin, the lead answerwastaxes/budget/spendingat35%,economy/jobs/wages ranked next with 15%, followed by education/schoolsat8%andhealthcareat5%. “Since 1993, we’ve conductedannualpollsthatcapturevotersentimentonthestate’smostimportantissues,butneverbeforehasanyoneissuerankedashighastaxes/budget/spendingdidthisyearwith35%,”offersIndianaChamberPresidentKevinBrinegar.“Thatreinforceshowdeepofaconcernvotershaveonthattopic.” Goinghand-in-handwithwhyrespondentsmostwantedtoseeactionontaxes/budget/spendingishowmuchtheirpropertytaxbillschangedthisyear.Atotalof64%saidtheyexperiencedincreasesintheir2007bills,withanother26%uncertainhowthisyear’samountscom-paredtolastyear’s(inmanycasesbecausetheyhadnotreceivedtheirbillsyet).Ofthe64%withincreases: *28%sawchangesbetween15%and30%;

Gov. Daniels with Kevin Brinegar of the Indiana Chamber. (HPR Photo by Brian A. Howey)

Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007Page 6

Carson’s health predicamentignites new round of rumors;Myers says he ‘supports’ JuliaBy BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS-U.S.Rep.JuliaCarsonwasbackinthenewsthisweekaftertheblogospherediscoveredshewashospitalizedandwastakingaleaveofabsensethroughoriginallyOct.1,nowextendedtoOct.15. ItbroughtmorespeculationonthedurabilityofthecongresswomanandrumorsthatDr.WoodrowA.Myers,whoservedasIndianaandNewYorkCityhealthcommis-sioner,mightmovetochallengetheincumbent. MyerstoldHPRinaWednesdaye-mail,“Thepeopleofthe7thCongressionalDistrictinIndianahaveanelectedrepresentative.IcontinuetosupportCongresswomanCar-son,andlikemanyothers,prayforherswift,completerecovery.” CarsonwashospitalizedatMethodistHospitalwithaleginfectioninSeptember,butherabsencewasn’tacknowledgedbyher office until last Friday. Aides saysheisnowrecoveringinarehabilitationfacility. SeveralblogscriticizedCarson’s office for not being more openabouttheillnessandthenewsmediaforbeingsolatetoreportthatfact.WhentheIndia-napolis Star finally got around to it lastFriday,itreportedthatCarsonhadmissed42outof77votesinSeptember. Apredictablepatternemerged. Roll Call reported that CarsonworksontheHouse floor in a wheelchair and often needs help from oth-ermemberscastingvotes.“Ordinarily,whatsheasksforishelpgettingitoutofthecardholder.Butonaparticularlybadday,shemightasksomebodytoputitinthemachineandthenshe’llpushthebutton,”ChiefofStaffLeonardSistektoldtheIndianapolisStar.“It’shervote.She’scast-ingthevote.She’saskingforassistancetoplacethecard.” MarionCountyDemocraticChairmanMichaelO’Connor reaffirmed the party’s loyalty to Carson. “If Julia Carsonhasadesiretorunagain,Iwillbe,andIbelievethepartystructurewillbe,supportingher,”hesaid. ThencamequotesfromformercongressmanAndyJacobsJr.:“Peoplewilltellmethatthey’llseeJuliacomeinandsheseemsveryfeeble.She’llgethelpuptothepodium.Thenwhenshegetstothepodium.....bam!The

firecracker goes off and she has them rolling in the aisles.” IndianapolisStarMattTullyonceagaincalledforRep.Carsontoretire,butindoingsoapologizedforhowheposedthatdemandlastwinter.“Carsonislettinghercareercometoasadconclusion,”TullywroteinWednes-day’s edition. “She needs to put her city first and accept whatmosteveryoneelseknows:Itistimetoretire.ThosewhoknowCarsonsaysheworriesretirementwillleaveherlonelyandforgotten.Sheneedn’tworry.Themanypeopleshehashelpedovertheyearswillalwaysrememberher.” Tully added, “In a fit of angerinFebruary,IwrotethatCarsonwasanembarrassmenttothecity.I’veregrettedthatcolumneversince.There’snothingembar-rassingaboutawomanwhobuiltacareerbyfocusingonpeoplewhoaresooftenforgotten.” ItisallindicativeofwhatHPRcallsthe“Queen”syndrome.Carsonisapoliticalbosswithloyalallies.Any-

onewhoencroachesintothesucces-sionzonedoessoatconsiderablerisk.PotentialsuccessorsarecastigatedbytheCarsonmachineforappearingtoevenpondermovesthatwouldposi-tionthemforthedayCarsonnolongerserves.Almostnoestablishedpoliticalfigure would dare challenge Carson in theprimarybecausetheycan’tguar-anteetheycanbringdowntheQueen,andiftheycan’ttheyaretoast. Itwouldtakesomeonewhodoesn’tcareaboutthatpoliticalstruc-tureandcouldmakeanappealingcasetoindependents,whiteliberalsandpartsoftheAfrican-Americanestablishmentworriedthatapost-Car-sonprimaryfeaturingmultiplecandi-datesmightbesounpredictablethattheseatwouldpassfromitsminority

moorings. Someoftheblogsandeven Congressional QuarterlyhavementionedMyersasplayingthatrole.MyertoldHPR,“Iamproudtohaveestablishedthehomebaseformycompany,MyersVenturesLLC,inIndianapolisandtobeanactiveparticipantinthecontinuedgrowthofcentralIndiana.” The Carson machineisn’tasformidableasitoncewas.Itsabilitytoturnoutthevotein2006,withDemocratsretakingCongressinreactiontotheIraqWar,Carsonpostedamere7.5percentvictoryoverEricDick-erson,anunderfundedRepublicanwhoseautodealershiphad just collapsed while he fended off published stories of decade-olddomesticabuse.Thatcomparestothefully-fundedenergeticchallengefromBroseMcVeyin2002thatCarsonthwarted53-44percent.v

U.S. Rep. Julia Carson with Marion County Sher-iff Frank Anderson in October 2004. (HPR Photo by Brian A. Howey)

Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007Page 7

2008 Indiana Congressional Congressional District 2: Republican:DavidC.“Chris”Minor.Democrat:U.S.Rep.JoeDonnelly. Geography: SouthBend,MichiganCity,Mishawaka,Elkhart,Kokomo,Plymouth,Logansport;LaPorte,St.Joseph,Starke,Marshall,Pulaski,Fulton,Cass,CarrollandpartsofHoward,Porter,ElkhartandWhitecoun-ties.Media Market:SouthBend-Elkhart,Indianapolis,Lafayette,Chicago.People: Urban/rural73/27%;medianincome$40,381;Poverty9.5%;Race84%white,8%black;5Hispanic;Blue/whitecollar:34/50%.2002 Result:Chocola95,081(50%),LongThompson86,253(46%); 2004 Result:Chocola140,496(54%)Donnelly(D)115,513(45%)2006 Result:Donnelly103,561,Chocola88,300.2008 Forecast: ChrisMinor,39,launched his fledgling 2nd District congressional campaign hereTuesday,askingGOPsupporterstoreturn“averystaunchconservative”toWashington(Wensits,SouthBendTribune).Theblue-collarRepublicanfromKokomo-hismotherwasaUAWworkerandhisdadisaretiredpolice officer - said in an appearance at the Mishawaka BrewingCo.thatheishopefulthatRepublicansnationallycanregainthe16seatstheyneedtore-takecontroloftheHouseandoustNancyPelosiasspeaker.MinorsaidhewouldliketoreplacePelosiwithRep.MikePence,R-Ind.,“the pride and joy of the conservative movement.“ Pence “livesandbreathesChristianval-uesweallrespect,”saidMinor,aretiredU.S.ArmycaptainwhocontinuesservinginIraqasanintelligenceanalystfortheStateDepartment.Minorsaidhe’dliketo return the House not just to Republicans,buttoconservativeRepublicans.“Ourcountry’satwarrightnow,”saidMinor,explaining why he is running. “Unfortunately, the major-ityofAmericahasforgottenaboutwhywe’rethere,whoattackedus,howwewereattacked,thenatureoftheattack.”MinorsaiditistimeforAmericanstoreawakentothefactthat“wearethreatened”andthatthereisascourge“thatwantsnothingmorethantodestroyus.”The new candidate also criticized fiscal values in Congress, politelyapologizingtotheNavyaftersayingthatmem-bersofthelegislativebody“spendmoneylikedrunkensailors.” “It’s not just Democrats doing it, it’s our fellow Republicans,”saidMinor,addingthatitistimetosendamessagethatconservativesaresickandtiredandthatCongressneedstolivewithinitsmeans.Minorcalledforsecuring U.S. borders, both to fight illegal immigration andtoprotectthenationfromitsenemies.“Ourborders,right now, are an open sieve,” he said. In his job as an intelligenceanalyst,Minorsaid,hehasseenonadaily

basis the firsthand nature of the fight in Iraq and the sup-portthattheenemygetsfromSyriaandIran(SouthBendTribune). To fight this war successfully, Minor said, the nationhastotakeonIran,“whetherthatmeansdiplomati-callyor,ifdiplomacydoesn’twork,thenthereisanothercourseofaction,andthat’swhatweneedtostartexamin-ingveryseriously.Iranhasbeendirectlyresponsibleforthedeathofhundreds,ifnotthousandsofoursoldiersand they must be notified this will no longer be tolerated,” hesaid.Minorpredictedthatthewaronterrorwillbe“along, challenging difficult war” that could last for genera-tions.ThecandidatesaiditistooearlytopredicthowhewillfareagainstDemocraticincumbentJoeDonnellybutbelieveshehasagoodchanceandpromiseda“veryener-getic”andcleancampaign.MinorsaidhewillbeinIraqformostofthenextseveralmonths,butplanstoreturnearlynextyeartobegincampaigninginearnest.Accordingto Minor, his intelligence job requires him to work out of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, and he is fluent in Arabic. Minorsaidhedoesnotbelieveitwillbenecessarytoreturntoamilitarydraft,butwouldencourageincreasingthesizeofthemilitary“forcestructure”byanotherthreetofourdivisionsof15,000to20,000troopseach.Askedtoreconcilethecostofthetroopincreasewithhisdesiretoreducegovernmentspending,Minorsaidthatthemili-tary is a necessary function of government. “You find the meanstopayforit,”hesaid,whetherthatmeansborrow-ingorwhetheritmeansareductioninotherspending. Minor finished a 20-year stint in the U.S. Army last year,buthe’ssoontoleaveonanewassignmentinIraq,as a contractor with controversial security consulting firm BlackwaterUSA(KokomoTribune).MinorsaidWednesdayhecan’tdiscussBlackwater,oreventhebroaderpolicydiscussionontheuseofcontractorsinIraq,duetothetermsofhisupcomingcontractwiththecompany.Status: LIKELYDONNELLY Congressional District 9:Republican:Open.Democrat:U.S.Rep.BaronHill.Media Market: Evansville(11%),Indianapolis(23%),Louisville(55%),Dayton,Cincinnati(10percent).People: urban/rural52/48%,medianincome$39,011;racewhite94%,2.3%black,1.5%Hispanic;blue/whitecollar:34/50%;2000 Presidential:Bush56%,Gore42%;CookPartisanVotingIndex:R+8.2004 Presidential: Bush59%,Kerry40%.2002 Results:Hill96,654(51%),Sodrel87,169(46%).2006 Results:Hill110455,Sodrel100,469,Schansburg9,893.2008 Forecast: “Candidate”SodrelcouldannouncethisweekendattheHarvestFestival.Status:LEANSHILL.

2007 Mayoral Crown Point: Republican:GayleVanSes-

Page 8 Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007sion;DemocratDavidUran.2003 Republican Primary Results: Klein1,447,VanSession1,157,Roth760.2003 General Results: Klein(R)4,289.Isailovich(D)2,158.2007 Forecast: UransaidonTuesdayhewouldappointPete Land and Greg DeLor as police and fire chiefs, respec-tively,ifelected.Bothmenheldthesamepositionsunderpreviousadministrations.Status: TOSSUP. Elkhart:Democrat:DickMoore.Republican:CouncilmanJimPettit.2003 General Results:Miller(R)4,730,Perron(D)3,533.2007 Forecast: ARepublicansforMoorecommitteehassurfacedandtherewas significant Republican cross-overintheprimaryforMoore(pic-tured,right).WethinkthiselectionisMoore’stolose.Status: LEANSMOORE. Fort Wayne:Republican:MatthewKelty.Democrat:TomHenry.2003 Results:Richard(D)27,251,Buskirk(R)19,701.2007 Forecast: SpecialprosecutorDanSiglerheardad-ditional testimony before the Kelty grand jury, but said it wasmorealongthelinesof“dottingi’sandcrossingt’s.”TheFortWayneJournalGazettelaudedapublicsafetyplanthatKeltyreleasedlastweek.HenryonMondayunveiledhisplantostrengthenthecity’soldercommercialcorridors(Fort Wayne Journal Gazette).Dubbed“StrengthentheHeart,”theplancallsforprovidinggrantstooldercommer-cialbuildings,enactingimprovementplansforthecorridorsandchangingcityrulesregulatingtheareas.Henrysaiditiscriticalthatoldercommercialareasremainvibrant,becausethatleadstomoreinvestmentinsurroundingresidentialareas.“Theireconomicvitalitymakesourentirecitystronger,”hesaid.Thegrantswouldrangebetween$25,000and$125,000,andwouldfocusonstructuralandmechanicalimprovements.Henrysaidthemoneyfortheprogramwouldcomeinitiallyfromfederalgrantsandpos-siblyfromlocaleconomicdevelopmentincometaxes,ifneeded. Kelty said Henry’s proposal was fine, but it didn’t reallyincludemuchnewthanhowthingshavebeendoneinthepast.Hesaidheworkedonneighborhoodplansandstreetscape projects as an architect for years. “I’m trying to figure out what is different than what we’ve been doing overthelast15years,”hesaid.Status: LEANS HENRY. Mishawaka:Democrats:CouncilmanMikeHayes.Republican:MayorJeffRea.2003 Results: Rea(R)5,691,Bodle(D)4,225.2007 Forecast: Apollcon-ductedfortheSouth Bend TribuneandWSBT hasfoundMayorRealeadingHayes45-33percent.Twenty-twoper-centofthepeoplepolledSept.24and26wereundecided.Themarginoferrorforthepollis5percent."It'sRea'sracetolose,"saidDelAli,ofResearch2000,theRockville,Md.,companythatconductedthepoll.Alisaidanswers

tootherpollquestionsshowthatmorepeoplearepleasedthandispleasedwithRea.Ofthosepolled,46percenthaveafavorableopinionofReaand35percenthadafavorableopinionofHayes.Status:LIKELYREA. Muncie: Democrats: Jim Mansfield Jr. Republi-can:CSharonMcShurley.2003 Results: Canan(R)7,211,Tyler(D)6,758.2007 Forecast: Ourlocalsourcessaythat Mansfield is poised to reclaim this for the Democrats, whohavebeenoutofpowerfor12years,butwhohavemadeimpressivegainsinthecountyoverthelasttwoelec-tioncycles.Status:LEANSMANSFIELD. South Bend:Republican:JuanManigault.Democrat:MayorStephenLuecke.2003 General Re-sults:Luecke(D)10,598,Schmidt(R)4,188. 2007 Forecast: LueckeappearstohaveacomfortablebutnotinsurmountableleadoverRepublicanchallengerJuanManigault,accordingtoapollconductedbytheSouth Bend Tribune andWSBT-TV.ThepollshowedLueckewitha12-point,44to32percentleadoverManigault,with1percentindicatingtheymightvotefor"other"and23percentundecided.Thereisno"other"ontheballot,butGreenPartycandidateTomBrownisrunningasawrite-incandidate.Thepoll,byResearch2000,ofRockville,Md.,queried400likelyvotersinthecitybetweenWednesdayandFridayandhasaplus-or-minus5percentmarginforerror.ThosepolledgaveLueckea42percentfavorableand35percentunfavorablerating,with23percentunde-cided.ForManigault,thenumberswere36percentfavor-able,21percentunfavorableand43percentundecided."Whatittellsmeisit'stheincumbent'sracetolose,"saidpollsterDelAli,whoheadsResearch2000,addingthatthepoll also indicates that, "voters are not overjoyed with the incumbent."Alisaidthatwhenanincumbentpollsunder50percent,he'svulnerable.Thereasoningisthatifpollsindicatepeopleareunhappywithanincumbent,"itmaybetimeforachange."Ontheotherhand,Aliindicated,thefactthatLuecke'sunfavorableratingsareinthe30sisnotbad.Whenyou'vebeenaroundawhileasLueckehas,youhavearecord,Alisaid.TheproblemforManigault,Alisaid,isthathe'snotnear40percentinthepoll.Evenifyouallowforthemarginforerror,Luecke'sahead,thepollsterstated."Clearly,hehasn'tmadethesale,"Alisaid. Luecke’svisionforSouthBendtobetheregion’scenterforartsandculturehashelpedcreatearenaissancedowntownandfueledanexpansionofentertainmentanddiningpossibilities.And,accordingtotworecentstudies,Luecke’seffortshavehelpedtheregionreapmillionsineconomicspending.Thecity-ownedMorrisPerformingArtsCenterwillgeneratea$5.9millionindirecteconomicimpactthisyearonthecommunity,notincludingitsownticketsales,accordingtoastudyconductedbySaintMary’sCol-lege.Status:LEANSLUECKEv

Debt collection can add tostrained government coffersBy BEVERLY PHILLIPS INDIANAPOLIS - As government officials respond topublicdiscontentoverrisingtaxes,they’reincreasinglylookingathowtheycanslashbudgetsandincreaserevenue.Caseinpoint:TheMarionSuperiorCourt(Indianapolis)announcedthisweekthey’verecovered$3.7millionworthofunpaidticketsformovingviolations,somenearly10yearsold.Thetwo-year-oldprogramworkswithprivatedebtcollectioncompanies,includingIndianapolis-basedPremiereCreditofNorth America. Court officials say there are approximately 90,000unpaidticketsdatingbackto1988thatrepresentaround $17 million in potential revenue. It’s pure profit for governmentgiventhatcollectionagenciesarepaidthroughtackedonfeestothedebtors,generallyupto25percentofthedebt. ToddWolfeisthePresident&COOofPremiereCreditlocatedonIndianapolis’eastside. HPR:Whatarethedifferenttypesofdebtthatgovernmentagenciesaretryingcollect? Wolfe: Amongfederal,state,andlocalgovern-mentagencieswecollecteverypossibletypeofdebtyoucanimagine.Forexample,wehavegovernmentcon-tracts collecting everything from unpaid traffic violations tostudentloans.Theplacementofthedebtforcollectionwithanoutsideagencyisdirectlyrelatedtothepoliticalclimate of the jurisdiction. Some states that have been cashstrappedforseveralyears,havebeenoutsourcingforquite some time, while others that are just now beginning to realize a financial crunch are just beginning to look at theiroutsourcingoptions.Ultimately,allgovernmentagen-ciesareunderincreasingpressuretodomorewithless,sooutsourcingtheirbaddebtwillonlyincreaseoverthenextfewyears. HPR:Inthepast,howdidtheycollectthisdebt? Wolfe:Pastcollectioneffortsaredirectlyrelatedtotheagency.Alotofgovernmentagencieshavenevertriedtocollectandtheirwrite-offcriteriaissoinvolvedthatthe bad debt is never written off and just sits on the books. Someagencies,suchastaxdepartments,haveusedavariety of methods, such as call center campaigns and field agentswhileotheragencieshavereliedmoreuponadmin-istrativeoptionssuchassuspendingalicenseandwaitedforthedebtortocomeforward.Moreandmoreagenciesareusingbothacollectioncontactcampaigncomplimentedbyadministrativeactionslikelicensesuspension.

HPR: Arethereeverbarriersthatpreventcollect-inggovernmentdebt? Wolfe:Therearenumerousbarriers.Everythingfrom the RFP process to laws that make it difficult, if not impossible,tooutsourcethedebt.Forexample,somestatesactuallyhavestatutesthatprohibitoutsourcingthecollectioneffortstoaprivatecollectionagency.It is difficult to understand why such a restrictive law wouldbepassed.Iamsurethatithassomethingtodowith privacy concerns, harassment, or some other flawed perspective.However,attheendofthedaydebtrecoverycompanies are subject to huge liability if they fail to comply withthemyriadoflawsthatprotectindividualrights. HPR:Whatistheoldestdebtyouhaverecovered? Wolfe: Manydebtstothegovernmentarenotsubject to the statute of limitations, so it is not uncommon toseedebtswellbeyondseventotenyearsindelinquency.IcanrecalladebtowedtothestateofIdahothatwasoriginatedin1974,defaultedin1979thatwecollectedin

2001. HPR: Thatwasa22-year-olddebt!Whatisthetypicalreactionwhenyoucontactpeopleconcerningveryolddebt? Wolfe:Mostpeoplethathaveanout-standingdebtthattheyowetoagovernmentagencyknowtheyoweit,somostofthetimeitisasimpleprocessofexplainingwhoweareandwhatoptionstheyhave.

HPR:TheU.S.federalgovernment,followedbyindividualstates,reducedthepracticeofdebtor’sprisonin1833.Aretherestilldebtsthatcitizen’scanbeimprisonedfor? Wolfe: Yes,butit’sverylimited.Youcan’tbejailed for failing to pay your credit cards or defaulting on your student loans, but you can be jailed for disregarding childsupportoralimonyobligations.Fortheexampleofchildsupport,ittypicallyonlyhappensinthemostegre-gious cases or when a judge or official wishes to make a boldstatement.Debtsrelatedtofraudorcriminalactscanalso result in jail time. v

TODD WOLFE

Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007Page 10

Candidate advocatesabsentee voting in IndyBy BEVERLY PHILLIPS MarionCountyCityCouncilcandidateRyan Vaughn(R)pennedaconstituentletterthisweekthatarrivedinHPR’sIndianapolisBroadRipplemailbox.Itreminded the voting pubic that “Your taxes just went up65%,again!”(referringtoanOctober1incometaxincrease).Hesays“skyrocket-ingtaxincreases,anexplod-ingcrimerate,anddiminishedservices”havealloccurredunderthewatchofthecurrentCouncil.Vaughn,whoreplacedaseatleftbyaquick-exit-ingJim Bradford earlierthisyear,alsoremindseveryoneofMay’sMarionCountyelectiondebacleoflateornon-openingpolls.DespiteDemocraticClerk Beth White’s assurancethatitwillnothappenagain,Vaughnincludesinhismailing,notonebuttwo,absenteeballotsandself-addressedenvelopestoheroffice. “Voting by absentee is thebestwaytobecertainthatyourvotewillcount.Absenteeballotsareprocessedearlyandare not affected by staffing problemsthatariseatpollinglocations,”hesaid.

First Wednesday Series IndianapolisStarcolumnist Matthew Tullywillmoderatealunchtimepaneldiscussion“PrisonerRe-Entry:Whenisacrimepaidfor?”onNovember7,NoonattheIndianaHistoryCenter,450WestOhioStreet,Indianapolis,aspartofNUVOSocialJusticeSeries.TheFirstWednesdaySeriesisfreeandsponsoredbytheACLUofIndiana.Call(317)635-4059toRSVP.UpcomingonDecember5,“Im-migrationinIndiana:They’rehere,nowwhat?”

Pulaski official questions DNA collection TheIndianaStatePoliceoutsourcingefforttocollectandanalyzefelonyDNAfortheentirestateisinfull gear … well almost. A judicial officer in Northeastern IndianaPulaskiCounty,population13,755,believesthestate’sadministrativecodemustbechangedinorderforthecountytolegallycollectfelonyDNAforcriminalsnotsentencedtotheIndianaDepartmentofCorrection.Col-lectionsystemsareupandrunninginthe91otherIndianaCountiesthroughanoutsourcedeffortinvolvingStrandAnalyticalLaboratories,Indiana’sonlyprivateDNAlab.TheNationalInstituteofJusticeannouncedthisweekthatStrandwasrecentlyawardedcontractstoprovideanalysisservicesforthestatesofMaineandNevadatohelpreducetheirfelonyDNAbacklog.

First Ladies team up for heart health Thecollegeyearsareatimeofdiscoveryandgrowth-andoftenasenseofyouthfulinvincibility.Cheri

Daniels,FirstLadyofIndiana,andIndianaUniversityFirstLadyLaurie Burns McRobbiesayitistheperfecttimeforwomentostartthinkingmoreseriouslyabouttheircardiovascularhealth.“Heartdiseasetakestoomanypreciousliveseachyear.It’suptoustotellthewomenweloveaboutheartdiseaseandencouragethemtolivehearthealthylifestyles,”Danielssaid. Fortunately,saysMcRobbie,heartdiseaseis“almostcompletelyprevent-ablewithsimplelifestylechanges.”OnOct.4,Danielsisbringingher“HearttoHeart”programtoIUBloom-ington,wheresheandMcRobbiewillencouragestudents,facultyandthegeneralpublictoadoptlifestylechangesthatwillservethemwellfortherestoftheirlives.Theprogramwillbeginat5:30p.m.inIndianaMemorialUnion’sAlumniHall.Theeventisfreeandopentothepub-lic.Beginningat4:30p.m.,theeventwillfeatureexhibitsandfreehealthyheartscreenings.

InadditiontocommentsfromDanielsandMcRob-bie,theprogramwillincludeinformationabouthowtoliveahearthealthylifestyle,presentedbynursepractitionerCindy Adams,directoroftheHealthHeartCenterattheIndianaHeartHospital.Jeanne Johnston,anexercisephysiologistintheSchoolofHealth,PhysicalEducationandRecreation,willdiscussherresearchinvolvingyoungwomenandheartdisease.v Got a tip for the Boar’s Nest? Send it to: phillipscgroup@comcast.net

First Lady Cheri Daniels (right) will promote cardio-vascular health at IU. (HPR Photo by Brian A. Howey)

Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007 Page 11

Dems out-raiseGOP nearly 2-1By MARK CURRY WASHINGTON-Mostcampaignshavereleasedfundraising figures for the third quarter and the totals are notlookinggoodfortheredteam. Since January, the major Democraticpresidentialcandidateshaveraisedmorethan$200millionfortheircampaigns,nearlydoublethetotalamountexpectedtobereportedbytheirchiefRepublicancounterparts,JeanneCummingswroteinyesterday’sUSA Today. Duringthethree-monthperiodthatendedSunday,major Democrats raised a combined $63 million, compared toroughly$33millionexpectedfromthechiefRepublicans,accordingtoCummings,whosaidthelopsidedresultspres-entthelatestevidenceofafall-offinRepublicangivingthatiserodinghopesofgainsinthe2008elections. TheNew York Timesreportedstrategistsinbothpar-tiessaythefund-raisingimbal-anceshowsthatDemocrats,andtheirdonors,aremoreen-ergizedthisyearastheybattletoreclaimtheWhiteHouseafternearlyeightyearsofRepublicanrule.AndtheysaidPresidentBush’ssaggingpopularityishurtingtheRepubli-canswhoarevyingtoreplacehim. Inasignofpotentialmoneywoes,RudyGiulianifired his presidential campaign’s chief fundraiser. The New YorkDailyNewsreportedthatAnneDunsmore,whotookcontrolofGiuliani’sday-to-dayfundraisingoperationinMay,hasbeenreplacedbyJimLee,aTexasmoneymanandBush ally who is already one of Giuliani’s national finance co-chairs.TheGiulianicampaignhasyettoreleasethirdquarter figures. TheFederalElectionCommission’sdeadlineforcampaign finance reports is Oct. 15. Here’s what to ex-pect when the official data becomes public: Hillary Clinton ($22million)andBarackObama($19million)aredoingvery well. All others lag behind. The only major Republican candidatetoofferacluebytoday’sHPRdeadlinewasFredThompson,whoclaimedtohaverakedin$11.5million. OnesurpriseamongtheRepublicansisRep.RonPaul(R-TX)whoreportedyesterdaythatheraised$5mil-lionduringthequarter.TheHouston Chronicle statedthatthelibertarian-leaningRepublicanhasdrawnmedia

interestandagroupofdevotedfollowers,inpartbecauseofhisoutspokenoppositiontotheIraqwar,whichhassethimapartfromotherGOPpresidentialcandidates. Time Magazinereportedthatatleasttwocan-didates-DemocratJohnEdwardsandRepublicanJohnMcCain - find themselves at a potential make-or-break mo-ment. Edwards,whohasindicatedthathewillreporthav-ingraisedsomewherenorthof$5millionforthequarter,

hasannouncedthathewouldac-ceptpublicmatchingfunds.TimenotedthatMcCainhasindicatedthathe,too,willacceptmatch-ingfunds.TheArizonasenator’sthird-quarternumberswillbecloselywatchedtoseewhetherhis

campaignhasanyrealclaimtoviability.Accordingtothemagazinearticle,wordinRepublicancirclesisthatMcCaingotsomeboostwithapowerfulandintenselypersonalfund-raisingletterhesentoutinJulythatbluntlyaddressedhiscampaign’sdiresituation.

Young white evangelicals:Less Republican, still conservative Ananalysisofsurveysconductedbetween2001and2007bythePewResearchCenterforthePeople&thePresssuggeststhatyoungerwhiteevangelicalshavebe-come increasingly dissatisfied with President Bush and are movingawayfromtheGOP,accordingtoDanCox,researchassociate. Thequestioniswhetherthesechangeswillresultinashiftinwhiteevangelicalvotesin2008andbeyond,Coxwrote.Bush’sapprovalratinghasdroppedparticularlyamongwhiteevangelicalsages18-29.ThisgroupwasamongBush’sstrongestsupportersinthebeginningofhispresidency,buthisratinghadplummetedfrom87percentin2002to45inAugust2007.Likewise,thepercentagewho identified themselves as Republicans fell 15 percent-agepointsto40percent,comparedwithonlya5pointdropforolderwhiteevangelicals. ThetrendstowarddissatisfactionwithBushandawayfromtheRepublicanPartybyyoungerwhiteevangeli-calssuggestthattheDemocraticPartymayhaveanewop-portunitytoappealtothisgroup,accordingtoCox.But,headded,astrongallegiancetoconservatismandconserva-tivepositionssuggeststhatyoungwhiteevangelicalsturnawayfromthepresidentandhispartymaybetheproductofdissatisfactionwiththisparticularadministrationratherthantheresultofanunderlyingshiftinthisgroup’spoliticalvaluesandpolicyviews.

Candidate pumpkin stencils available TheDes Moines Registeroffersonlinereadersasetofpumpkin-carvingstencilsfeaturingthe2008candi-

Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007 Page 12

dates. Printitout,tackitontoyourgourd,andsliceyourfavoritepolitician’sface,suggestedSarahWheatonoftheNewYorkTimespoliticalblog,theCau-cus.YoucanchooseJohnEdwards,MittRomney,SenatorJohnMcCain,Sena-torBarackObama,RudolphW.GiulianiorSenatorHillaryRodhamClinton.AsWheatonnoted,we’llleaveittoyoutodecidewhichcandidateisthescariest.Here’stheurlfortheRegister’swebsite:http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200771001015

Pence to appear with GOP contenders Rep.MikePence,theRepublicanwhorepresentsIndiana’s6thCongressionalDistrict,isamongthelistoffeaturedspeakersattheDefendingtheAmericanDreamSummittodayandtomorrowinWashington,D.C. Othersontheagendaincludepresidentialcon-tendersRomney,Giuliani,McCain,Thompson,Paul,SamBrownbackandMikeHuckabee.TheeventissponsoredbytheconservativeAmericansforProsperityandtheAmeri-cansforProsperityFoundation.v

Hoosier Support List Giuliani:MarionCountyProsecutorCarlBrizzi,Ste-phenGoldsmith,TimDurham,BeurtSerVaas,SteveHilbert.McCain:Gov.MitchDaniels;AttorneyGeneralSteveCarter.Romney:SecretaryofStateToddRokita,JamesBoppJr.,DanDumezich,BobGrand,ChrisChocola.Thompson:U.S.Rep.SteveBuyer,U.S.Rep.DanBurton,DavidMcIntosh,MikeMcDaniel,RexEarly.Clinton:Sen.EvanBayh,JoeHogsett,MelSimon,BrenSimon.Edwards:RobinWinston,AnnandEdDeLaney,9thCDChaiirMikeJones,VidyaKora,StateReps.RussStilwell,DennieOxley,TerriAustin,TerryGoodin,SheilaKlinker,LindaLawsonandScottPelath;RobertKuzman,GreencastleMayorNancyMichael,BillMoreauJr.,ShawFriedman,VanderburghCo.ChairmanMarkOwen,8thCDViceChairMaryLouTerrell,GregHahn,BruceKehoe.Obama:KipTew,StateRep.CharlieBrown,MelinaKennedy,StateRep.MaeDickinson,StateRep.BillCrawford,StateRep.JebBardon,StateSen.EarlineRog-ers,FrankShort,JackWicks,AndyMiller,JohnFernandez,DennisLee.v

2008 State Presidential PollsIowa (R) Date Romney Giuliani Thompson McCain HuckabeeNewsweek Sept.26-27 24 13 16 9 12ARG Sept.26-29 22 21 16 11 4

New Hampshire (R)ARG Sept.26-29 24 20 8 20 3Zogby Sept.26-28 24 21 7 16 5

South Carolina (R) ARG Sept.26-29 26 23 10 15 1

Florida (R)StrategicVision Sept.21-23 9 35 24 6 -

Iowa (D) Date Clinton Edwards Obama RichardsonARG Sept.26-29 30 19 24 10Newsweek Sept.26-27 24 22 28 10

N. Hampshire (D)ARG Sept.26-29 41 10 22 8Zogby Sept.26-28 38 12 23 8

South Carolina (D) ARG Sept.26-29 41 7 30 5Rasmussen Sept.26-27 43 10 30 2

Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007Page 13

Thomas L. Friedman,New York Times-Iwillnotvoteforanycandidaterunningon9/11.Wedon’tneedanotherpresidentof9/11.Weneedapresi-dentfor9/12.Iwillonlyvoteforthe9/12candidate.Whatdoesthatmean?This:9/11hasmadeusstu-pid.Ihonor,andweepfor,allthosemurderedonthatday.Butourreactionto9/11—mineincluded—hasknockedAmericacompletelyoutofbalance,anditistimetogetthingsrightagain.ItisnotthatIthoughtwehadnewenemiesthatdayandnowIdon’t.Yes,inthewakeof9/11,weneednewprecautions,newbarriers.Butwealsoneedouroldhabitsandsenseofopenness.Forme,thecandidateof9/12istheonewhowillnotonlyunderstandwhoourenemiesare,butwhoweare.Before9/11,theworldthoughtAmerica’ssloganwas:“Whereanythingispossibleforanybody.”Butthatisnotourglobalbrandanymore.Ourgovernmenthasbeenexportingfear,nothope:“Givemeyourtired,yourpoor and your fingerprints.” You may think Guantánamo BayisaprisoncampforAlQaedaterrorists.Alotoftheworldthinksit’saplacewesendvisitorswhodon’tgivetherightanswersatimmigration.Iwillnotvoteforanycandi-date who is not committed to dismantling Guantánamo Bay and replacing it with a free field hospital for poor Cubans. Guantánamo Bay is the anti-Statue of Liberty. Roger Dow, presidentoftheTravelIndustryAssociation,toldmethattheUnitedStateshaslostmillionsofoverseasvisitorssince9/11—eventhoughthedollarisweakandAmericaisonsale. “Only the U.S. is losing traveler volume among major countries,whichisunheardofintoday’sworld,”Mr.Dowsaid.TotalbusinessarrivalstotheUnitedStatesfellby10percentoverthe2004-5periodalone,whilethenumberofbusinessvisitorstoEuropegrewby8percentinthattime.Thosewhodon’tvisitus,don’tknowus.v

Gary Gerard, Warsaw Times-Union-IhaveasimplequestionforW.Ipromiseyou,ifIsawhimfacetoface,Iwouldaskit.Areyounuts?Honestly,Ithinkhe’scompletelylostcontrolofhissenses.Sure,therehavebeenlotsofthingsWhasdonethatIdisagreedwith.Butinthosecases-liketheIraqwar,immigration,NoChildLeft Behind, the prescription drug benefit and the deficit -therewasalwayseitheraprincipledargumentorsomepoliticalexpedienceinvolved.Youcouldsaythat,well,eventhoughyoudisagreed,youcouldseewhyhewasdoingit.But when it comes to SCHIPS, W’s threatened veto is just plain lunacy. W will veto because he objects to an expan-sionofthissafetynetforchildrenoftheworkingpoor.Heusestheslipperyslopeargumentthatthelegislationis just another step “toward the goal of government-run healthcareforeveryAmerican.”Healsocarpsaboutthecost and the method of financing. Senators like Orrin Hatch andChuckGrassley,nevernotedforparticularlymoderate,

haveurgedWotherwisetonoavail.Faithfulreadersofthiscolumnmaywellbethrowinguptheirarmsindespairovermyapparentliberalbentonthisissue,butpleaseunder-stand,Iamstillanopponentofbiggovernment.Ihave

long decried the waste, fraud and inefficiency of governmentprograms.Ofteninmydiscussionwithliberals,Ihavesaid,“YoushowmetheonegovernmentprogramthatactuallyhitsitsintendedtargetandI’llgiveyouthemall.”Well,Ibelievethisonegetsaboutascloseasany.Andthepriceisright.Certainly$40billionover10 years and an additional $35 over five years is a lot of money. But W just sent his defense

secretarytoCongressaskingforanother$190billionfortheIraqwar.ThatpushesthetotalcostoftheIraqwar-startingMarch19,2003-toalmost$750billion.OK,Iknowthat’sapplesandoranges.Butatthesametime,IthinkW’sargumentthatprovidinghealthinsuranceforthechildrenoftheworkingpooristoocostlyareprettylamewhenyouconsiderhe’sspentthree-quartersofatril-liondollarssofaronIraqwithnoendinsight.That’stheprinciple.v

Sylvia Smith,Fort Wayne Journal Ga-zette-When45HouseRepublicansvoteforlegislationthatPresidentBushhaspromisedtoveto,youcansur-misetwothingswithoutknowingathingaboutthebill:•There’salameduckintheWhiteHouse,averyunpopularlameduck.•Theother151Republicansare,ascolumnistDavid Broder put it, “putting their careers in jeopardy.” Indiana’sRepublicans,withtheexceptionofSen.RichardLugar,andatobacco-protectingDemocratareonthemis-guidedsideoftheissue.Theyvotedagainstraisingciga-rettetaxes61centsapacktopayforhealthinsuranceforchildrenfromfamiliesoftheworkingpoor.Theprogram–SCHIP–wascreated10yearsagobyRepublicans.Rep.MarkSoudervotedforitthen,asdidRep.DanBurton.TheyraisedcigarettetaxestopayformedicalinsuranceforkidsinfamiliesthatmadetoomuchmoneytoqualifyforMedicaidandnotenoughtobuyinsuranceiftheiremployersdidn’tprovideit.NowmanyinCongresswanttoexpandtheprogramtoincludemoreuninsuredchildrenfrommoderatelylow-incomefamilies.

David Yepsen, Des Moines Register-HillaryClinton’scampaignremindsmeofRonaldRea-ganin1980,whenhethoughthecouldbypassIowaandwound up firing John Sears in New Hampshire, or Al Gore, whenhehadtostripdownhiscampaignin2000,moveittoNashville.TheClintoncampaignisvery--sortoftop-heavy,sluggish.It’sbureaucratic.She’sgottogetridofsomeofthat,getoutfromunderneaththatbubble,enter--allowsomemediapeopleachance...tointerviewher,getintothesmalltownsofIowaanddosomeretail.v

Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007Page 14

Township assesser urgedto resign by county EVANSVILLE-KnightTown-shipAssessorAlFolzsaidWednesdayhe has no intention of resigning just becauseVanderburghCountyAsses-sorJonathanWeaverhasaskedhimtodoso(Evansville Courier & Press).FolzdisputedWeaver’scontentionsthatheandChiefDeputyShirleyReeder are not doing their jobs. In aletterTuesday,WeaveraskedFolz,whohasbeentheKnightTownshipassessorformorethan20years,andReedertoresign,sayingtheir“workethic,attitudeandleadership”are“notinthebestinterestofthetaxpayersofVanderburghCountyanddoesnotfit the mold of the team I’m trying to create.”“Ofcoursenot,”Folzsaid.“WewereelectedbythepeopleofKnightTownship.Theyelectedusbecausetheyknowtheycantrustusandwhatwearedoing.Thisisadisgracetoall our government officials. We are electedbythepeople,notpoliticians.”Weaversaidhecan’tforcethemtoresign,buthepointedoutthatinothercounties,townshipassessorshaverelinquishedtheirdutiestothecountyassessor.“We’retreadingonnewgroundhere,andatthispointI’maskingthemtoresign.Theyhaveajob to do,” Weaver said. “I don’t have the time or the staff to do their job. They’retheweaklinkinthatchainandtheyneedtobecutloose.”

Laux to resignFort Wayne Chamber FORTWAYNE-PhilLaux,GreaterFortWayneChamberofCom-mercepresidentandchiefexecutivefor12years,announcedWednesdayhe’llstepdown.

Dominguez to meet Daniels CROWNPOINT-Gov.MitchDanielswillstepintotrytobrokeradetentetodaybetweenLakeCountySheriffRoyDominguezandtheIndianaDepartmentofEnvironmentalManagementD(Post-

Tribune).Dominguezsaidhewillmeetwiththegovernorthisafternoonin Indianapolis about the conflict over environmentaltestingattheFeddelerlandfill west of Lowell. IDEM has threat-ened to fine the Sheriff’s Department up to$25,000perdayifthedepartmentdoesn’tclosewellsitdugonthesitetocheckforcontaminants.

1,000 jobs comingto Wayne County CAMBRIDGECITY-WhatstartedasanideainasupermarketforMichaelRecanatiafewyearsago,turned into a 1,000-job, $100-mil-lionopportunityforWayneCountyonWednesdayafternoon(Richmond Palladium-Item).Morethan350peopleattendedtheReallyCoolFoodsgroundbreakingceremonyattheIndi-anaGatewayIndustrialPark.ReallyCoolFoodsplanstoinvest$100millioninthemanufacturingcomplexandotheradditional facilities over a five- to seven-yearspan,saidPresidentandCEOBobClamp.“Obviously,youaregoingtoget(only)somanyopportunitiestobringinfour-digit jobs,” said Gov. Mitch Daniels ofthecompany’splanstoeventuallyexpandto1,000employees.“Whenyoulookatorganicfoods,it’sagrowingtrendandit’satrendthatIwantthestateofIndianatobealeaderin.”

Candidate tells Gray‘pick one job’ INDIANAPOLIS-Thechal-lengertoCity-CountyCouncilPresidentMonroeGraysaidWednesdaythatGrayshouldchoosebetweenservingonthecouncilandtheIndianapolisFireDepartment(Indianapolis Star).RepublicanKurtWebbersaidhiscallcomesinresponsetoanIndianapolisStarstorySundayraisingquestionsaboutGray’sFireDepartmentroleascommunityliaison,forwhichfewre-cordsexist.“MonroeGrayhasgottenhimselfintoanotherpickle,”Webbersaid.“Mr.Grayshouldremovetheseconflicts of interest by choosing one of thesepositionsandresigningfromtheother.”v

Daniels seeks ‘firm,final’ tax reform INDIANAPOLIS-Gov.MitchDanielssayshe’llputforwardhisownplanforslashingpropertytaxesbytheendofthemonth,andsaysitwillincludeapro-posedcon-stitutionalamendment(Frugal Hoosiers).Danielssaysanypropertytaxsolutionmustbe,in his words, “firm, far-reaching and final.” He says the only way to ensure taxbillsdon’tcreepupagainistowriteitintotheconstitution:“Threetimesbefore--‘72,‘82and‘02--stategovernmenthastriedtoridetotherescueandsubsidizelocalspend-ingandschoolspending,”Danielssays.“Ineachcase,yearslater--inthis case, it only took five years -- statetaxeswerehigherandsowerelocalpropertytaxes.”

Jones fundraiser couldnet Daniels $1 million CARMEL-TheDemocratsknewRepublicanGov.MitchDanielswouldbeabletoraiseamountainofmoneyforhisre-electionrun,but$1millioninanight?That’showmuchDanielsstandstomakeatafund-raiserTuesdaynightattheCarmelhomeofScottJones,themultimillion-aireentrepreneursays(Indianapolis Star).JonessaidhethinksitwillbethelargestfundraiserinanIndianagovernor’sraceandwillsignalstrongsupportforDanielsinthebusinesscommunity.“Thisgovernorhashadonetermforthepeopletoseethatheactuallydoesheavylifting,”Jonessaid.StateDemocraticChairmanDanParkercharacterizedtheeventasDaniels“tryingtosurroundhimselfwithhisfriendsandmakehimselflookpopular.”