Sheriff Ellsworth Takes Aim at Controversial Hostettler a New Kind of Democratic Challenger in Bloody 8Th “He’S Staying Right by BRIAN A
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V 12, No 4 Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005 Sheriff Ellsworth takes aim at controversial Hostettler A new kind of Democratic challenger in Bloody 8th “He’s staying right By BRIAN A. HOWEY in French Lick In a 15-minute talk to Indiana Democrats last Saturday night, Vanderburgh where he is. They’re County Sheriff Brad Ellsworth laid out a concise and personable reason why he upset just because he is believes he should be elected to Congress from the Bloody 8th CD. “Washington doesn’t listen to what we doing his job. The need,” said Ellsworth, the two-term sheriff with charge that this is racial JFK Jr. good looks. “They are using their mouths more than their ears.” is disgraceful and false.” Sheriff Ellsworth explained, “I think I –– Gov. Mitch Daniels, know about homeland security.” He told the story of Washington sending Vanderburgh defending BMV Commissioner County emergency workers “white suits, all one Joel Silverman, to the Post- size; exactly the same size. It doesn’t work for us.” Then there were the tear gas long sticks, Tribune in Gary used for smoking out bad guys from upper story floors. “But what we really needed were radios,” Ellsworth said. The Howey Political Report is published “My opponent is a good man. But he by NewsLink Inc. It was founded in 1994. doesn’t listen to folks back home,” Ellsworth said of U.S. Rep. John Hostettler. “He’s the Brian A. Howey, Publisher congressman of the sheriff of Vanderburgh Vanderburgh Sheriff Brad Ellsworth. Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington Writer County, but he hasn’t called me once to ask Jack E. Howey, Editor what we need for Vanderburgh County.” In 1994, Hostettler rode a wave of discontent that put Republicans in charge Subscriptions: of the U.S. House for the first time in four decades. Those Republicans promised bal- $350 annually HPR via e-mail; $550 annually HPR & HPR Daily Wire. anced budgets, the same laws for Congress that the rest of us live under, term limits, Call 317-254-0535. an adherence to the “rule of law,” and if a war had to be fought, it would be done in such a way that the outcome would never be in doubt. The Howey Political Report In the coming election 12 years later, Hostettler will have his hands full with a PO Box 40265 personable sheriff who started the Evansville DARE program, has been a front-line Indianapolis, IN 46240-0265. soldier in the war on methamphetamine and who, as Indiana Democratic Chairman www.howeypolitics.com Dan Parker explained, “Is a man who always knows where his gun is ... it’s on his [email protected] Indianapolis Office: 317-506-0883. The John Hostettler file p. 3 Indianapolis Fax: 317-254-0535. Washington, DC Office: 202-256-5822. When the levee breaks ... p. 4 Business Office: 317-254-0535. Roberts poses challenge for Bayh p. 5 ©2005, The Howey Political Report. All rights reserved. Photocopying, Internet for- Horse Race: Barlow vs. Dvorak p. 7 warding, faxing or reproducing in any form, in whole or part, is a violation of federal law Columnists: Schmidt, Carpenter p. 9 and is strictly prohibited without consent of the publisher. Ticker: Daniels on gas tax p. 10 HOWEY Political Report Page 2 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005 side.” and pro-gun activists who have consistently turned out the Hostettler and other Republicans will have to answer vote. It is one of the best campaign organizations in Indiana. for a war that has spiraled out of control, with skyrocketing He was one of six Republicans to vote against the budget deficits. Even though the congressman has voted Iraq war, suggesting it would be an ominous precedent. He against deficit budgets and the war, these issues will certainly was against term limits, saying the Constitution should only shape the national dynamic that could fuel campaigns such be amended as a last resort. He opposed a balanced budget as Ellsworth’s. On the military front, Hostettler is a member of amendment because it didn’t come with a super majority to the House Armed Services Committee and could find issues raise taxes. In 2000, he was one of only three Members to such as the lack of vehicle and body armor coming into play. vote against the Violence Against Women Act. He opposed And the “rule of law?” hate crime legislation, asking, “What crime is motivated out of Hostettler suggested Gibson County defy the U.S. love? We should not create a federal thought police.” Supreme Court over its 10 Commandments monument. He Between now and November 2006, Rep. Hostettler, was arrested at a Kentucky airport for a gun he “forgot” about who chairs the House Immigration, Border Security & Claims in his luggage, resulting in a conviction. Some believed that in Committee, will find himself on the frontlines of a potential hot gun-loving Southwest Indiana that might actually be a badge button issue: the influx of Central Americans coming illegally of honor. But now Hostettler faces an articulate sheriff with a into the country. It is an issue so volatile that former Nixon real badge. speechwriter Pat Buchanan has suggested President Bush Ellsworth is pro-life. He wears a gun every day. He is should be impeached. the son of an Alcoa manager who worked 100-hour weeks; a Ellsworth acknowledged Hostettler’s powerful base, guy who mowed 100 lawns to buy his own purple Stingray but noted Hostettler has very little dialogue with anyone else. bike; who put himself through Indiana State University at Evansville by bagging groceries and working at Sears, and A non-traditional candidate ended up with a masters degree in criminology as well as a The group Veterans for Common Sense points to diploma from the FBI Academy at Quantico. candidates such as Ellsworth, FBI whistleblower Coleen He says things such as, “I was raised by parents, not Rowley in Minnesota, and former pro quarterback Heath a TV set.” Ellsworth complains of a “popular culture” assault- Shuler as examples of “non-traditional candidates” running in ing families via gangs, meth labs, and sexual predators. 2006. "It's part of a broader effort to get people involved in “I’m running for Congress because all families races who are outside the traditional sense of a congressional deserve to grow up safe and secure,” Ellsworth explained. candidate," spokesman Bill Burton said. It was a challenger’s speech that had a confident, Ellsworth raised $140,000 by his June FEC report. concise campaign homestretch veneer. ”This is the biggest number a prospective opponent to Hostettler now faces a challenger with enough assets Hostettler has raised in years, which is an indication that to pull off an upset. The national template is shaping up in either his opposition is galvanized for a run against him, or similar fashion to what the Democrats faced in 1994. there's more money around to finance a campaign,” observed Terre Haute Tribune-Star columnist Pete Ciancone. Hostettler has won every close election Paul Musgrave wrote in the “In the Agora” website Rep. Hostettler has eked out five narrow victories, the that Ellsworth will have some disadvantages. “Ellsworth has largest coming in 2004 with a Bush-Daniels tailwind (145,576 only faced one contested race. That means he has never had to 121,522 over Jon Jennings, portrayed as a carpetbagging to fundraise on the scale that will be required of him. He lacks basketball scout). But other than that win, Hostettler has the name recognition and campaign contacts outside never crested above 53 percent (coming against Democrat Vanderburgh County that Hostettler has in abundance. There Paul Perry, who out-raised Hostettler $1.5 million to are few, if any, national Democratic figures who could cam- $743,000). He has virtually no money raised for the 2006 paign for Ellsworth. cycle and doesn’t accept PAC funds. “Perhaps most importantly,” Musgrave notes, In a competitive county where key offices such as “Ellsworth's career has been in law enforcement. He has Evansville mayor and the Vanderburgh County commission- never made laws. Nor has he negotiated a budget, worried ers trade hands between parties, Ellsworth won two lopsided about the legitimate claims of special interest groups, or run a primary and general election races in 1998, and was then policy-oriented office. He may not have any position at this unopposed for re-election in 2002. moment on health care or national defense more sophisticat- Hostettler relies on a network of pro-life, home school ed than any well-educated voter's.” HOWEY Political Report Page 3 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005 Ellsworth seems to recognize these challengers, also rience, enthusiasm, social skills.” faced by Hostettler in 1994. Ellsworth told WFIE-TV when he Last Saturday night, Ellsworth explained, “I’m a sher- announced, "With 500-and-something days left, all the issues iff, I don’t believe I’m a politician.” He called Washington a come out and the contrasts will come out between the current “mean-spirited place” but added, “If good guys like me don’t congressman and myself, and that will become quite appar- run, only bad people will be there.” ent to the people who will make the choice." Ellsworth explained, "I'm pretty well-known in The Democratic blogsite Taking Down Words noted Evansville, and people there are pretty satisfied with the job Ellsworth’s presence in French Lick and noted, “Wowzers. I've done. But my goal tonight is to take my message further.” The guy's got a smile made for campaign commercials and all the substantive trappings of a quality candidate: elected expe- April 20, 2004: Rep.Hostettler "completely forgot" he had The Hostettler File the gun in his bag as he prepared to take a US Airways flight Aug.