Indiana

Indy?s Top 2000*

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

This post is a little tricky as I’ve only been hanging around Indianapolis since the Fall of 2004.  But I think I’ve done enough research to fill in the gaps for the biggest news stories of the decade (although the decade doesn’t end until December 31, 2010).  If I missed something, let me know.

2000 -  Bart Peterson sworn in as first Democratic Mayor of Indianapolis in years.

2001 – 9/11.

2002 – Economy takes major toll on state,  calamity slated to repeat in six years.

2003 – Indiana Governor Frank O’Bannon dies in office after suffering massive stroke in Chicago.

2004 – Mitch Daniels elected Governor of Indiana.  Republicans control both chambers of the Legislature.

2005 – Indiana lawmakers join 20th Century by passing Daylight Savings Time.

2006 -  Indiana voters turn state congressional delegation more blue, throwing out three Republican Congressmen.  State delegation goes from 7-2 (R) to 5-4 (D).

2007 -  Political novice Greg Ballard rides wave of taxpayer discontent into office sweeping out two-term incumbent Bart Peterson.  Election also becomes catalyst for property tax reform.   Julia Carson passes away.

2008 – Mitch Daniels easily re-elected to second term at the same time Barack Obama becomes the first Democrat to win Indiana since 1964.

2009 – Slow, stagnant economy wipes out a lot of jobs and Indiana’s billion-dollar plus surplus.

2010 – Property tax caps fully kick-in.  Chaos ensues at local level, could consolidation be far behind?

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on December 30, 2009 (boomark / email).