(Yeah, yeah, I know, the Libertarian. Arrgh.)
So the fishwarp this morning comes with a concise list of what each party's priorities are in their city-county council races.
The Dumbs: Expand smoking ban, offer domestic partner benefits, support unions.
The Pubs: Rein in spending, preserve RebuildIndy, bolster neighborhoods.
I see that the Dumbs once again haven't got a clue what a city-county council is really supposed to be doing. But I imagine they'll bumble through and take a one or two seat majority. Just as long as that office-happy unqualified PITA Melina Kennedy takes a good poll pounding. (Yes, I'm going to have to hold my nose and vote for Ballard, even given Frank Straub. Sorry.)
I was going to make a comment about prohibiting fags while at the same time giving them benefits, but I couldn't come up with an -ag rhyme for the unions. And I really didn't want to think about smoking a fag at that point. (But now you are thinking about it, too. My work here is done.)
I do find it interesting that they couldn't find any room for the Libertarian city-county council platform. I may have insinuated at an earlier date that a very old and dear friend of mine is running for CCC from District 5. If you live up that way (I don't, drat the luck), he'd appreciate your vote.
It drives me nuts Kennedy's whole campaign is about the schools. Does she understand the School Board controls the schools -- not the mayor? That would make me vote against her on principle.
There are a lot of other reasons, but ignorance of basic civics would be strikes 1,2, and 3.
In fairness the Center Township School Board is a puppet show where the strings are pulled by the Superintendent. They would disagree with this characterization, but they pay the man too much money to admit he's a waste of space. So they end up bowing to his will.
Ballard doesn't think he has the power to tell the School Board squat, because, well, he doesn't; it's an independent body that answers to the state Board of Education, if anybody. Whereas Kennedy (mistakenly) believes that the schools are just another part of the city-county political structure and thinks she can tell the School Board what to do -- and as weak as the School Board is, she probably could, if elected.
The question then arises: If she can tell the Center Township School Board what to do, at what point will she focus her gaze on the other eight Marion County townships...which actually are relatively successful compared to Center Township? My guess is that an injunction will be sought to curb her if she tries it. But in the meantime she may be able to fool enough people that she has the power to get herself elected. If Ballard had any sense he would be airing ads explaining the contradiction every time she opens her yap about it.