Ind. statewide races more interesting than usual
Ind. statewide races more interesting than usual
By DEANNA MARTIN
Associated Press Writer
10:05 AM CDT, October 9, 2010
INDIANAPOLIS
10:05 AM CDT, October 9, 2010
INDIANAPOLIS
The normally sleepy races for Indiana auditor, treasurer and secretary of state are tangled this year in campaign themes of alleged voter fraud, government transparency, a federal lawsuit and gold buying.
The stories have made interesting headlines and provided plenty of campaign fodder for Democrats hoping to beat Republicans, who enter the race with the advantage of voter enthusiasm. But voters will decide Nov. 2 whether issues Democrats are raising make any sizable difference.
Making a splash can be difficult in races that typically don't get much attention.
"A lot of people don't even know what they do," said Brian Vargus, a political analyst at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
In the race for secretary of state, Republican candidate Charlie White voted in the May primary using his ex-wife's home as his address instead of the condo he bought in February.
White, an attorney, blamed his busy schedule and new marriage for what he calls an honest mistake. He changed his voter registration in September and resigned from the Fishers Town Council after acknowledging his new condo is outside his council district.
Democrats said White committed a clear case of voter fraud and was blatantly skirting the law to hang on to his council seat. Current Secretary of State Todd Rokita, a Republican who is prevented by term limits from seeking a third term, is investigating.
Democrat Vop Osili -- an Indianapolis architect who says his parents called him Vop to stand for Voice of the People -- said the state's chief election officer must know and follow election law.
"This is an issue that we cannot take likely," Osili said. "If you are going to police others, surely you should be able to police yourself."
Sensing White being vulnerable on the issue, the Indiana Democratic Party sent an e-mail to supporters Wednesday asking for donations in the race.
"This is an election that we can win," the e-mail said. "Now, more than ever, our candidate Vop Osili needs your support."
White said Democrats are trying to pounce on a personal issue that he predicted wouldn't resonate with everyday voters.
"They want to know what we can do to help their lives," White said. "They don't want to hear both sides personally attacking each other."
In the race for state treasurer, Democrat Pete Buttigieg (pronounced BOOTA'-judge) has criticized incumbent Republican Richard Mourdock for his fight last year against Chrysler bankruptcy proceedings that he took all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
He also said Mourdock shouldn't have appeared at an event featuring conservative talk show host Glenn Beck because of Beck's advertisements for a gold dealer. Buttigieg, a South Bend businessman, said the appearance "sends the message that it's OK to steer people into deceptive investment schemes."
Buttigieg said the treasurer's office should be one of caretaker and steward -- not a way to push an "extremist" political agenda.
"This is supposed to be a pretty boring office," Buttigieg said. "These kind of distractions, I think, polarize people. I certainly don't think they're helpful."
Mourdock said the state treasurer is prohibited from buying gold, and that he admires tea party voters for "not sitting on their hands" during this year's elections. He said he's proud that he stood up for Indiana's pension funds affected by the Chrysler bankruptcy and said Buttigieg is just grasping at straws.
"He's just desperate, grabbing, trying to get attention," Mourdock said. "When most people talk about this office, their eyes quickly glaze over. It's not about politics as he's trying to make it. It's about fiscal responsibility and honoring the law."
In the race for state auditor, incumbent Republican Tim Berry has touted a new state transparency website launched this year that shows budget information, revenue and expense data, contracts and other information. Berry says taxpayers should be able to see how their dollars are being spent.
But Democrat Sam Locke says the website is too little, too late.
The Floyds Knobs consultant said voters deserve more complete transparency with raw data so that independent analysis can be done. Locke said the site doesn't show where tax money ends up once it's funneled to job incentives through the Indiana Economic Development Corp.
Democratic hopefuls in the three statewide races will likely struggle to get their messages to voters since they don't have millions of dollars to spend on frequent commercials around the state, Vargus said.
Meanwhile, Republicans are enjoying some key advantages heading toward November, including nationwide enthusiasm among GOP voters and the work Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels is doing to help other Indiana candidates.
"It's the Republican label that's very attractive," said Sean Savage, a political science professor at St. Mary's College in South Bend
The stories have made interesting headlines and provided plenty of campaign fodder for Democrats hoping to beat Republicans, who enter the race with the advantage of voter enthusiasm. But voters will decide Nov. 2 whether issues Democrats are raising make any sizable difference.
Making a splash can be difficult in races that typically don't get much attention.
"A lot of people don't even know what they do," said Brian Vargus, a political analyst at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
In the race for secretary of state, Republican candidate Charlie White voted in the May primary using his ex-wife's home as his address instead of the condo he bought in February.
White, an attorney, blamed his busy schedule and new marriage for what he calls an honest mistake. He changed his voter registration in September and resigned from the Fishers Town Council after acknowledging his new condo is outside his council district.
Democrats said White committed a clear case of voter fraud and was blatantly skirting the law to hang on to his council seat. Current Secretary of State Todd Rokita, a Republican who is prevented by term limits from seeking a third term, is investigating.
Democrat Vop Osili -- an Indianapolis architect who says his parents called him Vop to stand for Voice of the People -- said the state's chief election officer must know and follow election law.
"This is an issue that we cannot take likely," Osili said. "If you are going to police others, surely you should be able to police yourself."
Sensing White being vulnerable on the issue, the Indiana Democratic Party sent an e-mail to supporters Wednesday asking for donations in the race.
"This is an election that we can win," the e-mail said. "Now, more than ever, our candidate Vop Osili needs your support."
White said Democrats are trying to pounce on a personal issue that he predicted wouldn't resonate with everyday voters.
"They want to know what we can do to help their lives," White said. "They don't want to hear both sides personally attacking each other."
In the race for state treasurer, Democrat Pete Buttigieg (pronounced BOOTA'-judge) has criticized incumbent Republican Richard Mourdock for his fight last year against Chrysler bankruptcy proceedings that he took all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
He also said Mourdock shouldn't have appeared at an event featuring conservative talk show host Glenn Beck because of Beck's advertisements for a gold dealer. Buttigieg, a South Bend businessman, said the appearance "sends the message that it's OK to steer people into deceptive investment schemes."
Buttigieg said the treasurer's office should be one of caretaker and steward -- not a way to push an "extremist" political agenda.
"This is supposed to be a pretty boring office," Buttigieg said. "These kind of distractions, I think, polarize people. I certainly don't think they're helpful."
Mourdock said the state treasurer is prohibited from buying gold, and that he admires tea party voters for "not sitting on their hands" during this year's elections. He said he's proud that he stood up for Indiana's pension funds affected by the Chrysler bankruptcy and said Buttigieg is just grasping at straws.
"He's just desperate, grabbing, trying to get attention," Mourdock said. "When most people talk about this office, their eyes quickly glaze over. It's not about politics as he's trying to make it. It's about fiscal responsibility and honoring the law."
In the race for state auditor, incumbent Republican Tim Berry has touted a new state transparency website launched this year that shows budget information, revenue and expense data, contracts and other information. Berry says taxpayers should be able to see how their dollars are being spent.
But Democrat Sam Locke says the website is too little, too late.
The Floyds Knobs consultant said voters deserve more complete transparency with raw data so that independent analysis can be done. Locke said the site doesn't show where tax money ends up once it's funneled to job incentives through the Indiana Economic Development Corp.
Democratic hopefuls in the three statewide races will likely struggle to get their messages to voters since they don't have millions of dollars to spend on frequent commercials around the state, Vargus said.
Meanwhile, Republicans are enjoying some key advantages heading toward November, including nationwide enthusiasm among GOP voters and the work Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels is doing to help other Indiana candidates.
"It's the Republican label that's very attractive," said Sean Savage, a political science professor at St. Mary's College in South Bend
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