Daniels' Hypocrisy On Special Elections

Gov. Mitch Daniels doesn't want counties in the Third District to incur the cost of a special election to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of U.S. Rep. Mark Souder so he is contemplating holding it on the same day as the November general election this fall. I might buy his argument if he hadn't gone along with Marion Co. taxpayers having to absorb $1 million in costs to hold a special election for the Wishard referendum last November contained in a bill he signed into law last year. The HHC CEO Matt Gutwein claimed the referendum had to be held last November instead of this year's May primary because of the deadline for issuing Build America bonds or the county would lose out on the opportunity to issue cheaper Build America bonds. Now we're hearing this same argument in May of this year for quickly approving Mayor Greg Ballard's backdoor tax increase contained in the proposed transfer of the utilities to Citizens Energy. I guess someone wasn't telling the truth again, Matt. A special election could be held in August for the Third District congressional race instead of waiting another three months, allowing time for the respective parties to pick their candidate at caucus elections. Some are suggesting the delay until November is intended to lessen the party's chance of losing the Republican seat to the Democratic candidate. Republicans have fared poorly in special elections to date this year despite the low approval ratings of President Obama and the Democrats in Congress.