Wednesday, May 8, 2002 ! Volume 8, Number 32 Page 1 of 8 Souder, conservatives The score big in primaries Howey !"#$%&'()*+,#$&-.*/"0/1#&(12+2(.3 By BRIAN A. HOWEY in Fort Wayne, MARK SCHOEFF JR in Washington, and BROOKE BOEGLIN in Indianapolis Political An accountant and attorney could be heard tapping the keyboard at one end of the Grand Wayne Center’s board room in Fort Wayne. It was about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, and Report opposite them stood , slightly bent over one of the padded leather chairs, hands on its back, alone and silent, The Howey Political Report is published by NewsLink deep in thought, his political career broadsided by a U.S. Inc. Founded in 1994, The Howey Political Report is President. Outside the room were 300 Republicans waiting. an independent, non-partisan newsletter analyzing the Helmke wasn’t fuming, but his frustration was evident political process in . after he was steamrolled by U.S. Rep. Mark Souder, 57 to 37 Brian A. Howey, publisher percent, in a devastating defeat that the incumbent would Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington writer attribute to a “cultural battle” a few days before the verdict. Jack E. Howey, editor It was a fierce race that left both Helmke and Souder person- ally rattled. The Howey Political Report Office: 317-968-0486 Primary night saw Hoosier movement conservatives PO Box 40265 Fax: 317-968-0487 Indianapolis, IN 46240-0265 Mobile: 317-506-0883 strike with avenging clarity, swiftly setting Helmke aside, Special HPR [email protected] www.howeypolitics.com while retiring State Sen. Steve Johnson, recently censured for Election Report Washington office: 202-775-3242; an affair with an adult female Business Office: 317-254-0535. legislative intern. Vengeance wasn’t limited to the GOP. Subscriptions: $250 annually via e-mail or State Sen. Mark Blade was upset by teacher Tim Skinner fax; $450 annually including the HPR Daily after resigning from his job with Terre Haute Schools fol- Wire. Call 317-254-1533 or 254-0535. lowing an on-premise affair was reported in the media. © 2002, The Howey Political Report. All rights But Souder’s victory over Helmke was the most fasci- reserved. Photocopying, Internet forwarding, faxing or nating because of its almost global implications. A dozen reproducing in any form, in whole or in part, is a viola- years before, it was young George W. Bush as White House tion of federal law and is strictly prohibited without liaison to Congressional movement conservatives who saw consent of the publisher. them bolt from tax-hiking father, George. H.W. Bush, cost- ing the lip-reading family dynasty its first possession of the White House. When G.W. Bush was elected, he spent his first eight months operating a presidency that veered significantly to “This campaign was not about the messenger the right, only to be jerked with the hideous force of Sept. 11 but the message...” back into pre-inauguration moderate trajectory. Holding the line on spending has become a rival of “guns vs. butter” for - U.S. Rep. Mark Souder, declaring victory after Great Society social binging. Bush is “nation building” in Afghanistan. The president was ordering the Israelis away defeating former Fort Wayne Mayor Paul Helmke from their own assault on terror, unnerving Capitol Hill con- servatives.

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PUNCH CARD SYSTEMS BREAK DOWN IN PORTER, KOSCIUSKO COUNTIES: Computer problems on Tuesday evening delayed the results of the Porter County primary election. More than an hour and a half after polls closed at 6 p.m., no results had been released (Times of Northwest Indiana). During the 2000 general election, the machines that count the punch cards used in Porter County overheated and had to be shut down. Results To assauge movement conserva- messenger but the message,” Souder said. were not finalized until the tives in the uncertain and surreal Spring of “Since I was 14 years old I’ve stood for following day. 2002, there was an emphatic White House lower taxes, smaller governement and SOUDER VOLUNTEER embrace of one Rep. Mark Souder, a man stronger national defense, strong moral MURDERED: U.S. Rep. Mark who just a year before was openly critical values, and I will probably stand for those Souder paid tribute to cam- of Bush operations, style and motives. until they put me under. I believe those paign volunteer John values represent what we stand for here in Carney, who was murdered Mark Souder Northeast Indiana. I believe that’s what Saturday night. “He was Helmke’s decision to challenge we stand for in the Republican Party. If brutally murdered and we we stand for those values we will continue need to work hard to get Souder is one that was second-guessed to attract Democrats. When we stand firm, control of crime in this even before he made it. Souder is the con- city,” Souder said. summate politician with a precinct-by- when we have an unassertive trumpet, we precinct knowledge of his district, now won’t attract people. When we have a cer- KERNAN OBSERVES one of the most Republican (68 percent) tain trumpet that says this is what we’re PAINFUL ANNIVERSARY: in the nation. Souder had dawdled at fighting for, this is what we believe, peo- Lieutenant Governor Joe fundraising, but that quickly changed in ple like my last opponent, Mike Foster, Kernan marked an anniver- February. “I knew Paul Helmke was one will come over.” sary Tuesday. It was the of the most established politicians in Souder rejected notions that 30th anniversary of the day Helmke had closed the gap, saying inter- he ejected from his dam- Indiana and when he chose to run in the aged Navy plane during a primary it would be difficult,” Souder said nal polling showed him with a 30 percent mission over North Vietnam. after declaring victory. “Every county we lead. But at the same time, he worried The event began an eleven- had a solid win and I appreciate the sup- about the Democratic crossovers. With a month ordeal for Kernan as port.” little more than a week to go, Souder a prisoner of war (WISH-TV). He explained his resounding victory pulled the trigger on a tactic he had pre- He ended up in a Hanoi to Republicans at the Grand Wayne pared from the beginning. He used his prison the American POWs Center in terms not quite as harsh as the Presidential trump card. called "The Zoo." Kernan was in the last group “cultural battle” rhetoric from a few days “It was the amount of money spent before, but it was close. by liberal Democratic groups in a Continued on page 3 “This campaign was not about the Republican primary,” Souder said. “We Page 3 of 8 Wednesday, May 8, 2002 had some precincts where there were 158 crossovers, once thought to be irrelevant, voters and only one was a Democrat. It was evident. But on April 29, the air looks like 30 percent of the vote in many began rushing out of the Helmke balloon. areas was Democratic. This was not a pri- “We got a blow today, of sorts,” Helmke mary, this was a general election. Jay spokeswoman Rebecca Fisher told HPR Rigdon will not receive as much on April 29. “There will be a TV spot Democratic support as Paul Helmke did.” with President Bush supporting Mark, brought home on March Souder said he feared his polling which is disheartening.” 27th, 1973. He is widely would not pick up the Democratic It was not only disheartening, it expected to be the crossover. “We could also not pick up was devastating that a sitting president Democratic nominee for what his last minute attacks would be. with approval ratings in the 70th per- governor in 2004. The presidential endorsement, which was centile would intervene in a primary. As Souder told HPR late last week, in the PETERSON TO PUSH planned from the very beginning, which RESTRUCTURING: Mayor we knew we could get if we sought it, 1998 U.S. Senate race, Evan Bayh tried to Bart Peterson will spend was really a question as to how the prima- paint Helmke as a liberal tax and spender, much of today speaking ry would unfold,” Souder said. “When we but not in the old 4th CD. “But now to various groups on the realized the NEA, the gun groups, the we’ve done that,” Souder said, suggesting importance of immediate League of Conservation Voters, the trial that Helmke could be forever tainted. statewide tax restructuring attorneys were coming into this as part of “It’s hard to take an incumbent to keep Indiana from the brink of fiscal turmoil, sky- the Democratic coalition, we went to the out,” Helmke sighed after the defeat. “It’s high property taxes and set- administration and said we’re going to never happened in this area in a primary race. Three things happened: President backs in economic develop- need help in this. This is a general elec- ment and education. In each Bush weighing in so heavily; the negative tion and not a primary. We did that and of the following events, the received the ad. It was basically to blunt advertising, particualarly the outside mayor will encourage all the phone banking and attacks from the money that ran; and then the Aboite Central Indiana leaders to other side. I believe we accomplished Supreme Court decision. We didn’t expect urge their state legislators, that.” them and they hurt us.” during next week’s special session, to adopt a “smart, It was Souder at his tactical best. The U.S. Supreme Court decision on Helmke’s move to annex heavily flexible and modern” tax He had successfully tied the Republican Aboite Township helped structure that permits millstone around Helmke’s neck, painting Souder jab into the former mayor’s Allen investment to keep the state him as a liberal tax and spender. Like County bulwark. But the Bush decision to moving forward in Stephen Goldsmith six years before, lean times and tax cuts weigh in and send two cabinet secretaries Helmke was unable to use his many suc- when the economy is into the district to campaign with Souder cesses as a big city mayor in the dogmatic strong. "We have come was a tornadic event for the Helmke world of Congressional politics. together because we know atmosphere. The turmoil of the Middle Souder played hardball, even men- that our state is at a crisis East had impacteded Northeastern point," said John Myrland, tioning that Helmke’s daughter, Laura, Indiana’s monolithic GOP politics. president of the Indiana- had worked in the Clinton White House, There were risks for the White polis Chamber of Com- enraging the challenger. There were lim- House. What if President Bush had merce. "We are asking our its. “I didn’t say she worked there as an weighed in, and Helmke had won? It local legislators to give us strong, courageous and intern, which I thought would have been would have been a huge embarrassment. inappropriate,” Souder said late last week. visionary leadership to But Souder’s lengthy relationship with top resolve this crisis. This is As for his future, his 1994 six term Bush strategist Karl Rove was enough to limit is off because “this is an open seat.” the time for bold strategic allow Rove to pull the trigger. decisions. This Alliance “After 911, I thought people would wants to help our leaders Paul Helmke respond to stronger support for the presi- meet the challenges of There was a sense by early last dent,” Helmke said, hoping to usurp some Indiana's future." week that Helmke was building some of the Bush popularity for his own cause. momentum. The specter of Democratic “Part of my theme from the start was that continued on page 4 Wednesday, May 8, 2002 Page 4 of 8

we’d do a better job of supporting the that in the end; after U.S. Rep. Steve president; supportive on the education Buyer vanquished him in the new bills, supportive on Israel. Souder was Frankenstein 4th CD; that Buyer will be originally seen as not being so supportive. running in the new 2nd CD after all. Then he started to come around and I When redistricting threw Buyer and think that’s part of what got into it. Kerns together, with Buyer holding on to ELECTION RETURNS Obviously once the president came in only a few townships of his old 5th CD, With 100 percent reporting, as posted by the Election with his strong endorsement, that undercut Kerns tried to talk him into running in the Division of the Indiana our momentum pretty significantly.” new 2nd, being vacated by U.S. Rep. Tim Secretary of State Knowing how the movement con- Roemer. Buyer said, no, that is Chris servatives mortally wounded the first Chocola territory. But after the 19,000 1ST CD Bush presidency, Helmke said the current vote drubbing of the strange, strange Democratic President Bush “is sending a message” at Kerns,who ran a campaign more akin to Visclosky 56,609 his expense. “I heard he was getting heat Bobby “Citizen Kern” Hidalgo, Buyer Spelbring 9,416 for supporting Liddy Dole in North was looking north. Republican Leyva 7,865 Carolina, Lamar Alexander in Tennessee, “What I will do tomorrow is talk to Huerter 5,279 (Richard) Riordan in California. Conserv- ,” Buyer told HPR early atives were angry about that, angry he election night. “My sights will easily turn 2ND CD signed the campaign finance bill, angry to the 2nd Congressional District. Mark Democratic about his position on Israel and the social Souder and I will both pledge our support Thompson 19,633 conservatives said, ‘You’ve got to show to Chris. Mark has the background on Ms. Meissner 7,153 us something’ and what he gave them was Thompson since he ran against her. I have Alexa 5,553 supporting Congressman Souder.” represented many of her counties. So both Farrand 2,792 The question late Tuesday night of us are going to turn our sights to help Osborn 2,277 Republican was whether Helmke is washed up politi- Chris Chocola. He’ll be a great Member Chocola 30,181 cally. It was his third Congressional level of Congress. He is not a back bencher; he Hass 8,419 defeat, but losing to (1980), is varsity and he’ll hit the ground run- Evan Bayh (1998) and Mark Souder is ning.” In fact, Buyer said, he will offer his 3RD CD major league competition. Hoosiers such Monticello campaign office to Chocola to Democratic as , Phil Sharp and Mike “work the southern end of the 2nd. Rigdon 7,612 Pence along with Georgian Newt Gingrich Both Buyer and Souder have noth- Republican absorbed multiple defeats before success ing to fear in their general election coro- Souder 50,910 came. Helmke’s problem is there are not nations. The Buyer-Kerns race was origi- Helmke 31,815 Larsen 2,932 many places to go. Souder looks nally seen as a potential donnybrook. But entrenched. He won’t want to slam his Buyer used his five terms of name ID and 4TH CD hand in the Bayh car door again in 2004. his position on the House Commerce Republican The notion that OMB Director Mitch Committee to easily out-raise Kerns. Buyer 42,380 Daniels coming back to run for governor In the end, it was a political phony Kerns 23,234 in 2004 helped seal Helmke’s decision to war. Young 5,559 challenge Souder. And it’s too late for Herr 2,586 Helmke to jump into the secretary of Baynard 1,564 Brian Kerns state’s race, which would have bored him Smith 1,495 He did not return phone calls. anyway. Actually, we stopped calling Rep. 5TH CD Unless Helmke decides to challenge Kerns because it was futile. We originally Democratic Fort Wayne Mayor Graham Richard next thought he might have had some gripe Carr 4,453 year, a law career and making a lot of with HPR, but more and more 4th CD edi- Hall 3,479 money appear to be his consolation prize. tors and reporters found the same thing. Brinegar 2,833 Kerns was lazy. He dedicated him- Griesey 1,148 Republican self to maintaining a 100-percent voting It will gall U.S. Rep. Brian Kerns record, even leaving a White House meet- continued on page 5 Page 5 of 8 Wednesday, May 8, 2002 ing with an amazed President Bush to were redrawn this year to eliminate one vote on an insigificant bill. His wife and district because of a decline in popula- father-in-law, former U.S. Rep. John tion, Chocola found himself living about a Myers, did most of the in-dstrict stump- half-mile outside the new 2nd in Elkhart ing. Kerns used his franking privileges to County, which hasn’t sent one of its resi- the tune of 792,500 pieces of legal but dents to Congress since trumpet maker Burton 55,073 taxpayer-financed mail sent from October C.G. Conn spent one term there more than Holland 10,701 through December at a cost $105,178 in a century ago. postage to weigh in with voters. "Voters want their representative to 6TH CD It was that lack of character, most care enough about the district to live in Democratic Fox 27,458 brazenly displayed on Sept. 11 when he the district," Long Thompson told HPR. Republican said he witnessed Flight 77 plunge into "It's difficult to ask someone to vote for Pence 55,142 the Pentagon. “It just banked into the you when you're not going to be voting building,” Kerns told the Indianapolis for yourself." Long Thompson and 7TH CD Star. “I drove into the office and told my her husband live on a farm in Marshall Democratic staff to go home.” The problem was, that County near Argos. She said she spent Carson 11,577 story was a fib. Kerns was in his office, virtually every weekend there during her Hidalgo 1,015 incredibly with an officer from the five-year tenure in the Clinton administra- Republican American Legion, when Flight 77 hit the tion. Alexa has moved to a home in Porter McVey 5,276 Pentagon out of their sight, creating one County, which is in both his state Senate Reynolds 2,370 of the dumbest bits of Congressional level district and the new 2nd CD. 8TH CD lore in Hoosier history. Chocola said that the new bound- Democratic Tuesday night, Kerns said of Buyer, aries for 2nd CD were set with politics in Hartke 40,305 “He and his supporters ran a good cam- mind. "I didn't move. The people who Graf 17,890 paign and earned this win” (Lafayette drew the lines did it in a crass political Republican Journal & Courier). way that didn't take into account the com- Hostettler 29,707 Kerns is headed for the dustbin of munity of interests standard by which they Hoosier one-term wonders such as Katie were supposed to operate. An artificial 9TH CD Hall (we won’t sully the reputation of Bill line on a map didn't take my family and Democratic Hudnut, who went on to more marvelous me out of the community. Voters are Hill 46,865 Republican things), and the downright strange such clearly able to figure out the distinction." Sodrel 14,120 asEarl Landgrebe. Redmon 7,811 Ellington 4,409 Chris Chocola Former congresswoman Jill Long Fowler 2,449 Chocola was defeated by Roemer, Thompson took the first step of her politi- 52-47 percent in 2000, but out-raised him cal comeback with a 52-percent win over $1.088 million to $734,000. Political ana- Mark Meissner, a former and INDIANA SENATE 21st District Republican lyst Charlie Cook calls the new 2nd CD Evan Bayh aide, who followed with 20 Drozda 7,718 51% “highly competitive” and writes in the percent. State Sen. Bill Alexa had 14 per- Johnson 7,390 49% 2002 edition of the Almanac of American cent. Politics, “With Roemer retiring, Demo- JLT possesses an odyssey of a 26th District Democratic crats are going to have a tough time keep- career. A former Valparaiso council- Craycraft 9,653 81% ing this seat in their column.” woman, she was the Democratic sacrifi- Leon 2,288 19% There is, however, one problem: cial lamb against U.S. Sen. in 38th District Democratic Chocola’s residency. Chocola blasted 1986, and once again in 1988 against U.S. Skinner 7,216 38% Roemer in the 2000 race for living in Rep. Dan Coats. With Quayle’s ascension to the vice presidency and Coats follow- Blade 6,650 35% Washington rather than the district, mak- Ping 5,188 27% ing it the dominant theme in a race in ing his path to the Senate, Jill Long par- which he garnered 47 percent of the vote. layed accrued voter name ID into a stun- After Hoosier congressional boundaries ning 4th CD upset in 1989. She served continued on page 6 Wednesday, May 8, 2002 Page 6 of 8

three terms and it took the politically Jeffersonville. Sodrel, who has a reputa- astute Mark Souder and a historic national tion as a rennaissance man, poured tidal wave to defeat her in 1994. She then $340,000 of his own money to win the became under secretary of the U.S. primary and says both candidates will Department of Agriculture. raise and spend $1 million. “I am very honored and I am very ''We showed most voters we know INDIANA HOUSE pleased that it is a strong showing” Long how to put together a campaign and exe- 8th District Democrat Thompson said (Dave Kitchell, Logan- cute a campaign,'' Sodrel said (Lesley Dvorak,Ryan 3,856 sport Pharos-Tribune). “To win with over Stedman, Louisville Courier-Journal). Republican 50 percent in a five-way race is just very How vulnerable is Hill? A tena- Baxmeyer 1,680 significant. I’m also very honored because cious campaigner, he came back from an Ehrhard 802 Sen. Alexa called to congratulate me and 11th-hour 10-point deficit to defeat Jean (Rep. Mike Dvorak is retiring). is endorsing me.” Leising, 51-48 percent in 1998, with help 12th District Democratic Both candidates will seek to capture from Big Labor, Gov. Frank O’Bannon Aguilera 4,156 the middle ground where the election will and former U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton. In Kesic 2,557 be decided in this "swing" district, Jack 2000, he defeated quirky anti-abortion Medina 714 Colwell of the South Bend Tribune report- activist Michael Bailey 54-44 percent. ed this morning. Chocola immediately This year, O’Bannon’s popularity is 17th District Democratic sought to define Long Thompson as too waning. The Indiana AFL-CIO refused to Gidley 1,628 far to the political left and not long a dis- endorse Hill after he voted for free trade Rowe 585 trict resident, referring to her as "a former with China.. While it’s unlikely labor will Winters 1,753 liberal congresswoman from Fort Wayne." seek out Sodrel, if the activists sit this one Republican Colwell added that Long Thompson out it could crimp Hill. That’s because the Heim 1,798 Foley 850 immediately sought to define herself as 9th CD votes Republican presidentially. In Harman 836 "living in the middle of the district" (in 2000, Bush shellacked Al Gore 136,878 to Leavell 411 Marshall County) and being "very moder- 94,990 (58-40 percent) and in 1996, the (Rep. Gary Cook is retiring) ate, very much middle of the road." lethargic Bob Dole and President Clinton Both Long Thompson and Chocola each polled 44 percent. While this is a 35th District Republican identified Social Security as a battle- mid-term election, this is one of several Lutz 3,469 ground issue for the fall. dozen districts in the U.S. where President Steele 3,174 With U.S. House Republicans Bush’s popularity in the 80th, 70th or 60th (Rep. Bruce Munson is retir- maintaining a 10-seat margin, the 2nd CD percentile could affix some challengers ing). will be on the national radar screen as in with a tailwind. Remember that come 36th District Republican play. Long Thompson has spent $100,000 Sept. 11, 2002, Americans will likely see Kincaid 2,176 53% on TV and radio already. Chocola has a frenzy of patriotic fervor at the one-year Jackson 1,960 47% spent $50,000 on TV, and he plans to con- anniversay. In that scenario, a Bush visit tinue his television advertising for a while to Jeffersonville could boost Sodrel. How- 44th District Democratic even after the vote on Tuesday. The twist ever, a second wave of domestic terror Crosby 2,540 is that there may be three former and cur- attacks or a series of battlefield debacles Republican rent Members of Congress (Buyer, could have the opposite impact. Thomas 4,564 Souder, JLT) and the wannabe Chocola As the National Weather Service Haynes 1,182 weighing in next fall. might say, the “conditions are right” (Rep. Sue Crosby is retiring) (credible, well-funded challenger, popular 45th DIstrict Democratic / president, incumbent with core supporters Chowning 5,090 The other Indiana race likely to be angered) for an autumnal political hurri- Cullen 3,942 on the national radar is the 9th CD. U.S. cane in Southeaster Indiana. Republican Rep. Baron Hill is seeking his third term. Borders 1,705 He will face Republican Mike Sodrel, Misbehavin’ senators lose Brocksmith 1,341 who owns Free Enterprise System, Sodrel It was a bad night for misbehavin’. Phegley 540 Truck Lines and Sodrel Logistics in Adulterous affairs cost State Sens. Steve Page 7 of 8 Wednesday, May 8, 2002

Johnson, R-Kokomo, and Mark Blade, D- David McIntosh worked to back Drozda Terre Haute, their jobs despite an atmos- financially and to motivate movement phere generally kind to incumbents. conservatives. Blade lost to Tim Skinner, a government “It is very clear that the people and economics teacher at West Vigo High wanted change in this Senate district,” School and a Vigo County Councilman. Drozda said (Indianapolis Star). Blade became entangled in a bizarre story that began with a potshot at a local McIntosh’s movement (Rep. John Gregg is retiring) school superintendent and ended up with Playing a largely subterranean role 48th District Democratic his resignation from the Terre Haute was 2000 gubernatorial nominee David Carter 1,291 schools after an on-premise affair was McIntosh, who not only helped Drozda, revealed in the ensuing investigation. Republican but along with U.S. Rep. Neese 3,531 Blade tried to counter that with a endorsed Mark Souder against Paul Hannon 1,779 “family values” radio ad campaign that Helmke. (Rep. Dean Mock is retiring) obviously backfired. Blade said he would It was a page out of Richard support Skinner for the race. "If Tim Nixon’s 1966 playbook. Stung by defeats 50th District Republican Skinner is the winner, we'll support him," in 1960 and 1962, Nixon held back for a Leonard 3,067 he said (Pete Ciancone, Terre Haute period, then barnstormed across the coun- Plew 2,692 Tribune-Star). "If he comes out the win- try in 1966 and helped Republicans pick Overdeer 2,593 Welker 1,176 ner, tomorrow I'll be calling him to con- up dozens of seats. gratulate him. We were hopeful of better (Rep. Gary Dillon is running for McIntosh has been criticized for the Senate). results. Vicki and I have had five good his 2000 gubernatorial campaign and now years working for the people of Indiana." faces a 2004 flanking movement from 52nd District Democratic Indiana Republicans are expected Eric Miller on the right and the specter of Sturtz 577 to fully fund SD38 nominee Jerry OMB Director Mitch Daniels coming Republican McMullen in hopes of picking up two home for the gubernatorial nomination. Stutzman 3,295 more seats to form a majority party As Nixon picked up scores of Alligood 1,998 quorem. IOUs in 1966, McIntosh is augmenting Gensic 1,567 In Kokomo, Republican Jeff powerful relationships with Pence, 56th District Democratic Drozda claimed victory and attributed it Souder and social conservatives in the Pflum 1,247 to a strong grass-roots campaign and his Indiana General Assembly, one of which anti-tax message. He said Johnson, a Hamilton 991 will be Drozda. Brock 330 four-term senator, voted for the two-year “Conventional wisdom is to stay Republican state budget that is now badly out of bal- out of primaries,” McIntosh said Hamm 3,329 ance and backed some tax increases dur- Wednesday afternoon from Washington. (Rep. Dick Bodiker is retiring). ing the regular session that ended March “In those particular cases it was very 14. "He voted to raise taxes on Hoosier clear to me the conservative candidate District 57 Democratic families and businesses and people were could use the help and was the better rep- Wheeler 1,555 very concerned with that," Drozda said. resentative of the right philosophy for Republican Stine 3,159 How that rhetoric impacts next Indiana.” Carlin 1,619 week’s special session of the Indiana Drozda, he said, he helped him in General Assembly remains to be seen. (State Rep. Mike Herndon is his Congressional and gubernatorial retiring). However, the underpinning dynam- races. “I thought he’d be an excellent ic in this race was Johnson’s affair with a member of the legislature,” McIntosh 65th District Republican 23-year-old female intern in 1998 that said. “That was biggest factor. I have no Koch 4,122 64% ended up with him being censured and animus for Steve, but I thought Jeff was Cassiday 1,057 16% stripped of his committee assignments. better. Agree with Mike McDaniel when Kinser 300 5% While the Senate Republicans backed he said Steve should move on and let Patton 389 6% him with $28,000, the Indiana Family someone move on.” But, McIntosh noted, Walton 577 9% (Rep. Brent Steele is retiring). Council and 2000 gubernatorial nominee had it not been fore that tax issue, “I continued on page 8 Wednesday, May 8, 2002 Page 8 of 8

don’t think he would have won.” Buncich built a powerful political machine McIntosh said his role in the to which Arredondo hitched his political Souder and Drozda victories will help cul- star, early on linking his campaign with minate his re-emergenc. “I will be active Buncich by announcing he would name this year with candidates. Somone playing the sheriff as his police chief. it safe would have stayed out. What I’m District 84 Republican gong to do is try to exercise poositive Marion County GOP assertive Borror 5,298 leadership in party and move it in conser- A similar power stake was in play Wehrle 2,774 vative direction.” with Marion County Republians. Once the (Rep. Randy Borror had been appointed to fill the vacancy of Indiana GOP’s bulwark, former sheriff Joe the late Rep. Gloria Goeglein). Aguilera rides Latino power McAtee defied the slating convention and State Rep. John Aguilera, D-East held a lead in the polls until Lawrence 87th DIstrict Democratic Chicago, made a big deal out of his new Mayor Tom Schneider unleashed a devas- Otten 571 maps that he emotionally said deluted tating TV ad three weeks ago that blamed Republican Latino clout in his district. It prompted McAtee for the carnage of the crack Noe 2,778 Democratic mapmaker State Rep. Ed cocaine crisis in the early 1990s. Mills 1,606 Mahern to call him an “asshole” at last Schneider’s victory was vindica- Macdonald 1,294 December’s Bulen Symposium at IUPUI. tion. “I just know that I can make a differ- (Rep. Cindy Noe had been appointed to fill the term of Last week, pundits were predicting he ence and my whole goal was to make the Rep. Paul Mannweiler). would lose to Milan Kesic. Aguilera said community safer, our neighborhoods, our he was expecting a close race. In his first schools, reduce crime in Marion county,” KERNAN HEADED TO RICH- election two years ago, Aguilera accused Schneider told supporters last night. “It is MOND: Less than a week Kesic of not living in the district and tried a tough, tough job and I know it has really away from the start of the to have him removed from the ballot. That taken a toll on my buddy, Jack Cottey.” special session, Lt. Gov. year he won by only 222 votes. This year Sheriff Cottey refused to hear the Joe Kernan will stop in at a he continued to accuse Kesic of close ties death knell of his GOP, even with former Richmond company tomor- row to talk about how the to the machine politics of East Chicago U.S. Marshall Frank Anderson preparing upcoming session could Mayor Bob Pastrick. to become the second African-American benefit both the state's job “I’m trying to get the job done for sheriff in Indiana as the county begins to growth efforts and the fami- my district and they were playing politics, lean Democratic. “When I start looking at lies who need those jobs. and that message came through,” Aguilera the numbers around this county, anyone Kernan will be joined at the said (Steve Walsh, Gary Post-Tribune). who said that this organization is dead news conference by Peter He defeated Kesic 4,156 to 2,557. It was a better go back and take a second look,” Wickman, president of black eye for the Pastrick machine in a Cottey said. “I don't think we've lost a Belden Electronics Division. dismal year of collapse of the steel indus- contested race in Marion county. I can Belden, which is a leader in the design, manufacture try and tax revenues, even though the tell you Warren township, it was very and marketing of specialty mayor disavowed any involvement. It also sweet around 6:30, and everything I've wire and cable products for restored the notion of Latino political heard around the county, it could've been the electronics and electri- power, which is expected to grow not only a bad night for a few people.” cal markets, has been doing in Lake County, but throughout the rest of Schneider added, “I have every business in Richmond Indiana. confidence that as this campaign goes for 75 years. Rogelio "Roy" Dominguez won as along, when Carl Brizzi and I unfold what Lake County sheriff, defeating rival we plan to do in the next four years, that I " Miguel "Mike" Arredondo. Dominguez, am certain of a victory in November.” who lost eight years ago to the current At stake could be new state sheriff, John Buncich, by a narrow margin Chairman Jim Kittle’s first attempt at turn- in an 11-man race, closed the gap easily ing around the GOP fortunes, having com- this year when running against only one mitted state party resources to Brizzi. opponent, who is Buncich's chief of police " (Times of Northwest Indiana). During his two terms as sheriff,