Star Council Endorsements Make No Sense

After I posted yesterday complaining about the Star's endorsement of a Democrat in an open Republican seat and the difficulty of Republicans regaining control of the council if the party loses any of the seats it currently holds, I learned a bit of information which doesn't lend much credence to the Star's endorsement policies. Republican councilor candidate Christine Scales tried unsuccessfully to talk to the Star's editors about their endorsement process before it took place. Yesterday, the Star endorsed her opponent, Carey Hamilton, without ever interviewing Scales. An incensed Scales reached editor Tim Swarens after the publication of yesterday's endorsements. Swarens offered her only a weak apology. How can you make endorsements if you've never even bothered to speak to the candidates in person?

There is more evidence the editorial staff doesn't even bother to interview these folks. Take for example the paper's endorsement of Councilor Vernon Brown (D) for re-election. Of his Republican challenger Adam Longworth, the editors write, "Longworth lacks the experience needed to serve effectively on the council." Obviously, the editors haven't attended any council meetings as of late. Longworth has appeared and testified frequently on issues of importance to the constituents in his district. What I've seen in Longworth is a very thoughtful, articulate and well-studied young man in stark contrast to a bombastic and inarticulate Vernon Brown. The fact that Brown sponsored and supported the income tax increase was enough for the Star's editors. Let's just forget the fact that Brown had a personal stake in that tax increase as one of the highest paid members of the Indianapolis Fire Department. Like Gray, his fellow firefighters complain he is often doing council work or other extra-curricular activities during regular work hours, raising additional concerns of ghost employment.

I'm no fan of Sherron Franklin, but how could you endorse Brown and not endorse her? The Star's editors claim she hurt the city by voting against the police merger and causing the ouster of Steve Talley as council president in favor of Monroe Gray. Excuse me, but Talley only became council president in the first instance because Franklin joined a rump group of Democrats and Republicans and elected Talley president. I don't believe Franklin deserves re-election either, but the editors should at least get their logic straight in offering reasons not to re-elect an incumbent councilor. Republicans need her seat to regain control of the council, but as I pointed out earlier, if Hamilton beats Scales, it's going to be next to impossible for Republicans to take the council.

The Star's editors endorsed Andre Carson (D), who is running unopposed in my district. It's obvious the editors didn't interview him. "Carson, an investigator with the Indiana State Excise Police, is the grandson of U.S. Rep Julia Carson," the editors write. If they had bothered to consult either Brendan O'Shaughnessy or Jon Murray on their news staff, they would know Carson quit his job as an excise officer a couple of months ago to accept a new marketing job with Cripe, an architectural/engineering firm which does business with the City of Indianapolis, raising serious conflict of interest concerns.

The editors offer no surprises in endorsing the re-election of Councilors Scott Keller and Dane Mahern, both of whom face stiff competition in their re-election bids next week. It's hard to find a common theme in the endorsements here though. Keller voted in favor of the county option income tax increase, while Mahern voted against it. Keller supports more subsidies for downtown development, while Mahern wants to curtail the subsidies.