Arts leaders tout Peterson

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?