The race between Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson and his Republican challenger, Greg Ballard, became interesting in the final
days, and not just because Ballard suddenly got traction in a widely publicized poll.
In the past few days, two prominent arts leaders zinged letters around town urging a vote for Peterson.
Jeff Sparks, president and CEO of the Heartland Film Festival, sent a letter to â??dear friends and fellow Indianapolis residentsâ?? calling for support for â??a dear friend of the arts.â?? Sparks worries Ballard would ax arts funding in the interest of a balanced budget.
And Joyce A. Sommers, president and executive director of the Indianapolis Art Center, fired off a letter to â??friends of the artsâ?? imploring a vote for Peterson to maintain the momentum that the arts community has achieved under Peterson. â??This initiativeâ??s exponential growth has bolstered the positive reputation of Indianapolis as an energetic and sophisticated community,â?? Sommers said.
The letters were not printed on the arts groupsâ?? letterhead or issued through their mail, which suggests the groups are keeping their names out of it.
Where do you come down on this? Would a Ballard victory today be a throwback to India-no-place? And do these leaders risk alienating Ballard if he wins?
In the past few days, two prominent arts leaders zinged letters around town urging a vote for Peterson.
Jeff Sparks, president and CEO of the Heartland Film Festival, sent a letter to â??dear friends and fellow Indianapolis residentsâ?? calling for support for â??a dear friend of the arts.â?? Sparks worries Ballard would ax arts funding in the interest of a balanced budget.
And Joyce A. Sommers, president and executive director of the Indianapolis Art Center, fired off a letter to â??friends of the artsâ?? imploring a vote for Peterson to maintain the momentum that the arts community has achieved under Peterson. â??This initiativeâ??s exponential growth has bolstered the positive reputation of Indianapolis as an energetic and sophisticated community,â?? Sommers said.
The letters were not printed on the arts groupsâ?? letterhead or issued through their mail, which suggests the groups are keeping their names out of it.
Where do you come down on this? Would a Ballard victory today be a throwback to India-no-place? And do these leaders risk alienating Ballard if he wins?
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As a renter, I have to say I have not felt the sting of the property tax mess (yet), but I did feel a bit of a pinch with the income tax increase. However, without having property tax as an all consuming prism of hatred that has clouded a lot of people's judgment, I ultimately do not see a reason for Bart not to win. I am extremely skeptical that the property tax fiasco would have been handled any differently if Sue Ann Gilroy or anyone else from the Republican party were leading the city.
Which leads me to Ballards qualifications to run the City of Indianapolis. Outside of military experience, which is questionable in regards to running the 12th largest city in the country, Ballard does not have the experience necessary to lead a 21st Century City. Plus, he has not articulated at all how he plans to lead other than the fact the is not Bart. That is NOT enough of a platform. He fails as a candidate, and I am not saying that he could surprise everyone. However, he has exhibited no signs of a burgeoning hidden talent. The Republicans got caught with their pants down, because if they had ran a viable candidate, Bart would not win this election.
Say what you will about Bart, he has moved the city of Indianapolis a long way in 8 years, and even with crime rising (as it has across the country) and property taxes, he deserves the chance to continue on for four more years.
As if Indy has progressed in such a way that it was fine back then
to come to the table as a greenhorn, but now is an unthinkable
position to be in....
You might as well give up on Jim Schellinger and his run for Indiana governor!
Also- it sickens me to see the GOP acting like THEY scored a major victory with Ballard. They basically hung him out to dry and now they are coming around with open arms. My advice to Mr. Ballard is; Do what you set out to do and let the party eat cake if need be. Handle your term as if you only have 4 yrs. to right the ship. Take care of police and fire first, the poor second, and schools third. Let the private sector handle arts, sports, and economic developement. A lower cost of living will fund these areas with ease.