Indiana

MARION COUNTY RANCOR AND FILE

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

With June right around the corner, both Indiana Republicans and Democrats are getting ready for their state nominating conventions.  Normally, these are periods of party unity and togetherness, however this year may be a little different.  Both Marion County political parties could be going into the state conventions with some “family issues.”

On the Republican side, Chairman Tom John tells me there are some differing opinions with regards to the race for Attorney General.  Current AG Steve Carter is stepping down, the two main candidates for the job are his Chief of Staff Greg Zoeller, who’s been endorsed by his outgoing boss and Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas, who enjoys the support of the Governor.  According to John, Marion County will back Costas with a solid majority, but there have been those Republicans backing Zoeller, the most notable is Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi.   Some pundits are accusing John of playing hardball by forcing delegates to sign oaths that they would support Costas and retaliating against those who don’t get on board.  John says his job as County Chairman is to back the Governor’s pick, but anyone who has lost a party  position, as of late, has been more about competency than politics.

Things aren’t all rosy on the Democratic side either.  I wrote a while back that City-Council member Joanne Sanders might be in jeopardy of losing her position as Minority Leader because some Council Democrats thought she should have backed Andre Carson in the May primary instead of David Orenlichter since Carson was the party’s slated candidate.  It seems now that movement is gaining steam.  My sources inside Democratic circles say there is a growing movement within the caucus to replace Sanders with fellow Democrat Mary Moriarty Adams.  If  Adams replaces Sanders she will be the Democrats fifth Council leader in four years.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on May 27, 2008 (boomark / email).