The Marion Co. GOP had one of its best-attended slating conventions in several years today at the Crowne Plaza at the airport. Despite the inadequacy of the facilities to accommodate such a large crowd, the party faithful were enthusiastic about their choices to run for county office. In the hotly contested race for sheriff, Dennis Fishburn pulled out a victory on the first ballot over Bart McAtee and Steve Davis. Likewise, Carlos May handily picked up a first round endorsement over Rafael Ramirez in the race for the 7th district congressional race. Mark Massa, who delivered a rousing speech in his uncontested bid for the Marion Co. Prosecutor nomination, will head up the local ticket. Also running uncontested for slating were Becky Williams for assessor, Joe Hecko for auditor and Jana Scott for clerk.
All of the candidates in the 5th congressional district race were on hand, except for incumbent Dan Burton. Dr. John McGoff was at home with committeepersons with whom he has worked for a number of years in Marion Co. U.S. Senate candidate Marlin Stutzman pressed the flesh with the party faithful throughout the day. Former Sen. Dan Coats worked the room earlier in the day. John Hostettler also stopped by to visit. Candidates vying for Rep. Buyer's seat were there, including Secretary of State Todd Rokita and Sen. Mike Young.
Party faithful's primary concerns leaving today's slating convention are the Brizzi problem and a McAtee primary challenge. Many committeepersons agree that Brizzi should resign his office so Massa can be appointed and restore confidence to the office. Party faithful worry that McAtee will contest Fishburn in the primary despite not being slated. McAtee refused to commit prior to today not to run if he was not slated.
16 comments:
1.) McAtee-Fishburn is a problem for the Republicans. Fishburn is your slated candidate, but he's thousands behind in fundraising to McAtee and hundreds of thousands behind Layton.
2.) Congratulations to Carlos May. He's a good guy.
3.) Republicans just nominated Mitch Daniels for Prosecutor. Congratulations.
John Hostettler was also at the convention, gathering signatures (rumor is he is still a little short) and mingling.
Thanks for the correction, Adam.
How did Massa seek to differentiate himself from Brizzi? That's the issue of the campaign.
Wasn't Brizzi there??
Unless I missed it, the name Carl Brizzi did not get brought up at all. None. Zilch. Nada. Was he even there? I didn't see him if he were.
The way it appeared to me, Mark Massa did not work for Brizzi, but left when Scott Newman left office to go work for the Feds. Is that the case Gary?
No, Brizzi wasn't there. I think Mark will have a very strong words disavowing Brizzi. Yes, Massa worked for Newman, not Brizzi.
I understand Russ McQuaid has more on Brizzi tonight with comments from Massa. Fox59 10pm
On Brizzi's WIBC show today he claimed that he is against convicted criminals serving only part of their sentence and will fight (even after leaving prosecutor's office) toward the goal of making it mandatory that criminals serve 80 to 90 percent of their sentences.
Did anyone else hear that too, today? It was as if he thought no one heard about Willoughby's early release and the campaign contributions by her father.
Jon,
I agree with you that Carlos May is a nice guy and he honestly wants to help the people of the 7th District.
@franklin and jon
I agree that Carlos seems like a nice guy. Of course, that sometimes makes it more difficult for them to respect people's rights as they try to do good things at the expense of other's rights and property.
He stopped by an RLC meeting I was at and I think everyone there agreed he seemed like a sincere and well intentioned guy.
I've kind of developed this litmus test though for legislative candidates in wanting them to know, understand and respect natural rights and have read Bastiat, Hazlitt and Hayek. Disavowing all support for the failed ideas of Keynesian economics is kind of a requirement too.
For those who haven't seen it yet: "Fear the Boom and Bust" a Hayek vs. Keynes Rap Anthem (this is pretty good)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0nERTFo-Sk
I wonder how Fishburn figures to 'make a safer city' as Sheriff with responsibilities that are pretty much limited to running the jail, transporting arrestees, running metal detectors at the CCB and being in charge of civil warrant service?
Maybe he can prevent the jailers from putting witnesses in murder cases in the same cell with the accused murderer as has happened under Frank Anderson.
Massa at least appears not to have a tin ear to what needs to be said (and hopefully done) to put distance between himself and the current Republican in charge.
McQuaid's report last night showed Massa specifically stating that no more deals like the Willoughby deal, arranged by Wyser and approved by Brizzi, would happen on his watch.
Which makes me curious -- if Wyser gets justifiably bounced from his designs on the Hamilton County Prosecutor's job, but Massa wins, will Wyser, as the architect of the Willoughby deal for which he does not apologize, have a job in a Massa administration?
Again, Massa seemed to backtrack a little when McQuaid's microphone was in his face, when asked specifically about whether he would have signed off on the Epperly/Willoughby sell out -- he ended up with a "probably not."
Such milquetoast maybes are just not good enough. How about a direct call, by him, for Brizzi to resign, and then a direct move against the architect of the deal he sites as wrong. Those would be undeniable actions, not mere words, which can be ignored or forgotten once a term is won. It would also make a statement to Hamilton County voters about what other professionals think about their current sole candidate, his ethics, and his judgment.
If Massa wants credibility on his perception of doing justice and fighting crime, there is no time like the present, and no issue like this one, to make a resounding statement. He needs to show he's above campaign cash and party protection. Then and only then would he be worthy, and trust-worthy.
SS,
I'm a big fan of Salma Hayek. I haven't read anything she's written though.
I thought Salma Hayek was wonderful in her movie role as Frida Kahlo!!! When did she start writing books??
I was pleasantly surprised by the attendance at slating; I think that the central committee was even shocked at the number of committeemen and volunteers that showed up.
McAtee has outraised Fishburn, but never underestimate the power of a good story that tugs on the heartstrings. I can almost see the father-son commercial that will be aired in support of Fishburn come April. I'm not saying that Fishburn is using his son, only pointing out the political facts.
Carlos May is pretty energetic. If he raises sufficient $$$, perhaps he can pull off an upset. Anything can happen in any given election cycle, and 2010 is probably the best year to try to pull an upset against a Dem.
Massa seems like an able guy, and I'm sure he'll raise tons of $$$ through his connections to the governor. Hell, Mitch might just appear in a Massa commercial for all I know.
Let me be blunt: for the first time EVER, I am genuinely pleased with our entire slate and can honestly vote for all of them in May without feeling any qualms.
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