Frank O'bannon in Focus
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V19, N6 Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013 10 Years After: Frank O’Bannon in focus Assessing the legacy of Indiana’s 47th governor a decade after his passing By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS – May 27, 1997. It seems like an innocu- ous date today, but in reality it was the high point in the ex- ecutive career of Gov. Frank O’Bannon. This was the day the Indiana General Assembly recon- vened in a special session, the fifth of the previous decade. It national headquarters to the White River State Park, that found the two 1996 gubernatorial opponents – O’Bannon there would be an 18% increase in workers compensation and Republican Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith – benefits, and a cut in the inheritance tax. tag teaming and speaking to House and Senate caucuses As the Howey Political Report observed in its June of the other party to forge an epic deal. 6, 1997, edition, “Most critically, Indiana’s stature in the When the dust settled, the package had been eyes of the nation and its people not only dodged a po- hammered out on the new NBA arena for the Indiana Pac- tentially huge hit, but actually grew. From a psychologi- ers and $30 million in extensive renovations for the India- cal standpoint as we head into the next century, Indiana napolis Colts at the RCA Dome. Both teams were threaten- stands poised as a thriving manufacturing center with ing to leave the state, and within days of the final gavel there was an announcement that the NCAA was moving its Continued on page 3 Reassessing the gentleman By CHRIS SAUTTER WASHINGTON – Judy O’Bannon is fond of quoting an adage of her late husband Governor Frank O’Bannon: “If you don’t care who gets the credit, there’s no limit to what you can accomplish.” “After listening to the speech, I As a political apothegm, the have not been persuaded to sup- maxim goes back to President Harry Truman, which is appropriate. Tru- port military action in man and Frank O’Bannon had a lot Syria.” in common. Both were underrated in their time, perhaps in part because - U.S. Rep. Todd Young they spoke the plain language of their modest, midwestern backgrounds. Both had core values they believed in HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 2 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013 deeply. And, both succeeded polished Goldsmith’s over-confidence allowed chief executives whose popularity O’Bannon to out-hustle him during the overshadowed their successors’ ac- summer months and outmaneuver him complishments. down the stretch. When Truman left office, O’Bannon’s 1996 campaign is a non-partisan newsletter he was one of the most unpopular ranks as one of the best in modern based in Indianapolis and Presidents in history. His popularity Indiana history (see page 11). only began to rise in the 1970’s after Overconfidence led Goldsmith Nashville, Ind. It was founded his death when historians gave him to make mistakes that O’Bannon in 1994 in Fort Wayne. a second look. O’Bannon’s popularity shrewdly capitalized on. O’Bannon also It is published by never dipped significantly — certainly put together a first-rate ground game. WWWHowey Media, LLC not anywhere near as low as Truman’s Julia Carson, running for Congress for 405 Massachusetts Ave., did. But his accomplishments have the first time, turned out the Demo- been obscured by the glare of the cratic vote in Indianapolis resulting in Suite 300 Evan Bayh and Mitch Daniels admin- O’Bannon carrying Marion County— Indianapolis, IN 46204 istrations. A decade after his death, Goldsmith’s home turf. Frank O’Bannon career warrants In the final analysis, the Brian A. Howey, Publisher re-examination. O’Bannon’s status in majority of voters found O’Bannon Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington history deserves elevation. more trustworthy than Goldsmith. He For sure, Frank O’Bannon exuded the same kind of grandfatherly Jack E. Howey, Editor aspired to be governor, though he was image as the former Indiana Gover- Mary Lou Howey, Editor not driven by personal ambition. He nor Otis Bowen, epitomizing “Hoosier Maureen Hayden, Statehouse didn’t approach one office as a step- values.” Matthew Butler, Daily Wire ping-stone to a higher one. Nor was The heart of O’Bannon’s he tied to a political ideology. Instead, agenda as governor revolved around during his 18 years in the state Senate community development, or what Subscriptions and then four as lieutenant governor, Judy O’Bannon called “communities $599 annually he focused on accomplishing public building communities.” Frank and Judy Ray Volpe, Account Manager good through consensus building. He O’Bannon became evangelists for a ' 317.602.3620 strongly believed in the process of philosophy of economic development democratic government. that flowed from the ground up rather email: [email protected] O’Bannon spent most of his than the top down as usually happens. legislative career in the minority. His The essence of their approach was Contact HPI ability to reach agreement with the to try to hand local communities real www.howeypolitics.com majority made him one of the most control of their future by giving them successful minority leaders ever. But the tools to effectively compete. [email protected] his refusal to make decisions as a part O’Bannon also placed pro- 'Howey’s Cabin: 812.988.6520 of a career calculation led many to fessionals experienced in local govern- 'Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 underestimate him as a gubernatorial ment on his staff — first as Lieutenant 'Washington: 202-256-5822 candidate. Of course, he graciously Governor and then as Governor. For abandoned his first campaign for example, South Bend Deputy Mayor 'Business Office:317.602.3620 governor to take the second spot to a Craig Hartzer became Director of Com- younger inexperienced but charismatic munity Development in the Commerce © 2013, Howey Politics Indiana. Evan Bayh. His willingness to do so Department and then ran several All rights reserved. Photocopy- in order to avoid a divisive primary other departments when O’Bannon ing, Internet forwarding, fax- helped pave the way to 16 years of became governor. Betty Cockrum, ing or reproducing in any form, Democratic rule in a Republican state. who had been controller for the City O’Bannon was elected gover- of Bloomington, became controller at whole or part, is a violation of nor in 1996, in part, because he was Commerce and later the State Budget federal law without permission underestimated. Indianapolis Mayor Director in the O’Bannon administra- from the publisher. v Stephen Goldsmith, who enjoyed a tion. golden boy national reputation, started A related initiative and the race with a double-digit lead. perhaps O’Bannon most visible ac- HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 3 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013 complishment was the creation of the community college played a major role in expanding Indiana’s relationship with system under IVY Tech that has grown exponentially. Japan, attracting Japanese investment in the state and Indiana’s community colleges have expanded educational companies that hired Hoosier workers. opportunities in the state and provided career paths for O’Bannon believed deeply in early childhood students who aren’t yet prepared for a four year college. education and was the first to propose full-day kindergar- It has also created a feeder system into the state’s major ten. Gov. Daniels, having signed legislation to fund full-day colleges and universities. The goal of establishing local kindergarten in 2012, will be remembered for it. But the and regional community colleges was integrally tied to the idea began with the O’Bannon administration. As O’Bannon O’Bannon philosophy of empowering these communities used to say, it doesn’t matter who gets the credit. and providing skills that would keep people from leaving Frank O’Bannon was Indiana’s gentleman gov- their hometowns for greener pastures. ernor. He governed Indiana with grace and a calmness The O’Bannon administration was openly that inspired the best in public service. O’Bannon’s values friendly to working families and laid the groundwork for reflected an honesty and decency that are particularly Mid- progressive reforms in unemployment and workers com- western and Hoosier. He governed without ego and was pensation. It also pushed for enactment of the Workforce down-to-earth and approachable. In the current climate of Investment Act that enabled the use of federal job training intense partisanship, he probably seems like a throwback. funds for dislocated and underemployed workers. We could certainly use a throwback like Frank O’Bannon in Other accomplishments included legislation that politics today. v tightened the sales and advertising of tobacco products to underage children ushering in a new era of declining Sautter is a Democratic consultant living in Wash- cigarette use in Indiana. The O’Bannon administration also ington. “They worked to say that with a 9% increase in Frank O’Bannon, from page 1 premiums on worker’s compensation they would still be paying 9% less than they were three years ago and that better protected workers and maintaining itself as a sports had to be a fair deal,” O’Bannon said. center.” “He was the only one of everybody on this planet On the day of the Indianapolis 500, it was that could have done it,” said Senate Finance Chairman O’Bannon who sought to move the splintered House and Larry Borst. Ways and Means Chairman B. Patrick Bauer Senate leadership toward a deal. He not would call it “the best budget ever only had a Republican Senate still seething passed.” about his upset over Goldsmith the previous I observed that “O’Bannon has November, but House and Senate Repub- built the foundation for the rest of licans were engaged in bitter fratricide as his governorship as a risk-taker who Bob Garton and Larry Borst held court.