Loading ...HEIRS TO THE THRONE
You might recall how I equated the process to succeed outgoing Congresswoman Julia Carson to that of the queen passing and the subsequent royal family jockeying for position. Well if anyone tells you there is no positioning going on they are lying to your face. For right now it looks like for the major players in Democratic circles the race is coming down to two individuals, City-County Council member Andre Carson, Julia’s grandson, and State Representative Carolene Mays.
What makes these two choices so intriguing is not so much who they are, but who they are affiliated with. In addition to being Julia’s grandson, Carson has strong ties with Democratic power broker Lacy Johnson, a key Julia ally and advisor. Mays, on the other hand, is related to wealthy businessman Bill Mays who has a lot of business interests in this town and a lot of wealth to go along with it. Mays is also an investor in 300 East, the famed restaurant-bar in the Julia Carson Center which caused a big stir last year. Ironically sources say the two are rumored to meet this weekend in 300 East, perhaps to try to hammer out their differences of opinion. There is already alleged tension between the two as they vie to become the top player in Marion County Democratic politics, as there is no leader now that the Mayor and the Council will no longer be in Democratic hands, and Julia will not be back next year.
And complicating matters is outgoing City-Council President Monroe Gray. Council Democrats have to come together soon to pick a new Minority Leader and the race is between Gray and current Vice-President Joanne Sanders. The caucus is split along racial lines with the Blacks supporting Gray and the whites supporting Sanders. Carson, who is black, is in the Gray camp. However, a vote for Gray could cost him a Congressional seat in the general election.
Follow me on this one if it seems confusing. One of the reason County Democrats lost was because of Gray and his ethically-challenged behavior. For Carson to vote for him for a leadership position would give Republicans, who actually have a shot at winning the 7th Congressional seat for the first time in ten years, a ton of ammunition. Can’t you see the ad right now, “Andre Carson’s first vote as a newly elected Council Member was for Monroe Gray as their leader. Gray voted to raise your taxes 19 times, locked you out of city hall (you can fill in the rest). If Carson will vote for someone like Monroe Gray what will he do in Washington?” You see what I mean. This is something Democrats will have to take into account should Gray become the leader. They are all still shell shocked over last month’s loss and are still blaming each other, Gray included. Of course Carson could take this issue off the table by not voting for Gray, but instead Sanders, but that remains to be seen.
Regardless in all this, whether it is Mays or Carson, what you likely won’t see is a white candidate get the party nod. There are too many people in Democratic circles who think the 7th Congressional seat should stay in the hands of the African-American community. Should that follow suit and an African-American get the nod, Republicans may have no choice but to follow suit. Marion County is approximately 27% Black, so in order for race to not become an issue, and trust me it can and will, the two main candidates to succeed Julia Carson may have to have the same pigment, instead of the same politics.
Life is about to get a lot more interesting folks. Stay tuned.
December 2nd, 2007 at 9:28 am
“Marion County is approximately 27% Black, so in order for race to not become an issue, and trust me it can and will, the two main candidates to succeed Julia Carson may have to have the same pigment, instead of the same politics.”
When you refer to the “two main candidates”, I assume you are referring to the GOP nominee as well. It doesn’t look like Eric Dickerson is going to run again. Do you have some indication there will be an African-American GOP candidate who will enter the race against Jon Elrod?
December 2nd, 2007 at 9:44 am
From my perspective… If it comes down to Carson vs Mays, I’m all for Carson. Mays is the only member of the black caucus (House or Senate) to vote in favor of SJR-7, the proposed state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions.
With Julia Carson’s long history of standing up for the LGBT community, I’d hate to see her seat go to someone with Mays’ track record.
December 2nd, 2007 at 10:52 am
Andre Carson ain’t voting for Monroe Gray.
December 2nd, 2007 at 10:57 am
Are we honestly being led to believe that blacks comprising 29% of the population of the 7th District will trump the 63% white population if the race is decided on race alone?
Your analysis of this 7th District Democratic “power struggle” makes as much sense as the once general opinion that Ballard could not defeat Peterson.
If you think that a well qualified, well financed white candidate in a District that’s 63% white cannot defeat a black candidate (other than Carson), then please pass me the bong.
If this last muni election didn’t convince you that the black vote cannot be counted on by the county Democratic party then please pass me the bong again.
Neither A.Carson or C.Mays will be able to pull off a win in ‘08.
This race will go to a white GOP candidate with plenty of cash coming in from the State GOP and the Governor and that candidate will not be Elrod.
This idea that the 7th is reserved for blacks only is ludicrous. 29% does not equal 63%, especially when most of the 29% don’t bother to vote.
December 2nd, 2007 at 11:15 am
Blakenbaker, Hoffmeister and McVey were well-funded Caucasians who lost the Indianapolis Congressional race. Scott, Horning and Dickerson all did just about as well…
December 2nd, 2007 at 11:28 am
Lacy Johnson is in Rep Mays’ camp, Abdul. apparently she’s not too interested in the seat.
R’s can’t win with a black Republican.
December 2nd, 2007 at 11:54 am
Who’s says Eric isn’t running, Gary? Wait and see means just that. I believe Eric’s the only way for the seat to go to the GOP. I hope they have the integrity to support him this time if he so chose to run. He would win the nomination!
December 2nd, 2007 at 12:05 pm
If everyone would get out and vote, this business of a ‘congresscritter’ winning over and over by 4 or 5 percentage points would likely come to an end. The 7th District has long been claimed by an ‘accidental congressperson’ (to borrow a recently-popularized phrase).
The secret to finally getting proper representation in Congress is to get out and VOTE!
December 2nd, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Excellent point Wilson. I seem to recall your posting on many blogs asking “what’s a Ballard?”.
You don’t have enough votes to elect a black mayor in this town and you think our Congressperson MUST be black?
If you haven’t noticed, the wheels fell of your machine, which was an urban legend to begin with.
Julia’s gone. Deal with it.
December 2nd, 2007 at 12:26 pm
In terms of Congressional elections: SCOREBOARD!
December 2nd, 2007 at 12:49 pm
As I stated earlier, Julia’s gone. The scoreboard is now at zero.
How’s Andre’s website coming along? Haven’t seen much on it lately. Are you going to put in links to the Nation of Islam or the Nuwaubians as part of Andre’s bio? You really should you know.
I REALLY hope Andre gets the nod!
December 2nd, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Lest it be forgotten: in 2004 the voters of the Seventh District voted 58% for John Kerry — that makes it a pretty good Democratic leaning District!
Ballard just squeaked in countywide by the closest margin for Mayors in recent history. The Seventh District is only about 2/3 of Marion County but that includes only the most Democrat-leaning precincts…
December 2nd, 2007 at 9:10 pm
Wilson you might want to send this message to Andre.
Voting Gray for ANY leadership position will bring out a large number of concerned citizens.
We will campaign against Andre. Money will be spent. Rallies will be held. We will do everything in our power to see him defeated. Ask Peterson how he lost. Ignoring the voters is stupid.
Voting for Gray now will be one big rookie mistake.
December 2nd, 2007 at 9:38 pm
Odd … didn’t Monroe Gray just get re-elected overwhelmingly by the voters in his district on November 6th? A few noisy outsiders certainly campaigned against him bigtime but Gray was successfully re-elected by his actual constituents - again!
December 2nd, 2007 at 9:53 pm
Well…..Wilson does have a point…..Monroe did get voted back in…..
December 3rd, 2007 at 7:42 am
Gray’s victory was not overwhelming in numbers, Wilson. What is overwhelming is the fact that the supporters in his district have such little integrity to re-elect the crook. They should hang their heads in shame. He won’t be there long, thankfully.
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:42 am
At one time in our US Constitution some folk were classified as 3/5ths of a person and could neither vote nor run for office. Now they can. Deal with it!
December 3rd, 2007 at 9:30 am
“At one time in our US Constitution some folk were classified as 3/5ths of a person and could neither vote nor run for office. Now they can. Deal with it!”
You’re right Wilson.
The democrat controlled south wanted the slaves counted as less than human, thereby allowing slave states more representation and control in Congress. That was one of the major issues that led to the Civil War.
The republican north told the democrat south to pound sand. The republicans wanted the slaves counted as a whole man, not as part man.
What did the democrats really want? More control by depressing the people of the America.
Again Wilson exposes a major flaw in the backbone of the democrat party. Keep up the good work Wilson.
December 3rd, 2007 at 9:47 am
But today, the Republican Party (as a political party) is anathema to 90% of those descendants of the freed slaves. Lincoln would weep. That’s the reality today in 2007. Deal with it!
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:49 am
So the difference is experience and intelligence - Rep. Carolene Mays - vs. no experience, an apparent lack of intelligence (support of Monroe Gray) and being a stooge of a political hack (Lacy) - Andre Carson. Additionally, Carson’s job was handed to him by the O’Bannon/Kernan Administration (through Lacy) and Mays is a hugely successful businesswoman and publisher.
I can see how the Marion County will be challenged by this one.
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:28 pm
“Mays is a hugely successful businesswoman and publisher.”
“Actually Mays is the niece of an MBE & not-for-profit whore, Bill Mays. She runs the businesses he takesover from other ambitious young blacks who had not idea they were dealing with a “snake” that would set them up to fail so that he could later step in and bail them out…essentially, making the entreprenuer a low-paid employee of your own company.
Carolene Mays steps in as a surrogate Bill Mays figure head, while others continue to run the business. SHE is a deer in headlights and is doing what she is told to do by her handlers.
We need to look for “real” representation. Someone who can communicate with the diverse group of people in the 7th and is not bought and paid for. None of the candidates mentioned can accomplish this except Eric Dickeron. But then, he won’t sell-out to the republican party so the republican party won’t support him.
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Wilson, somewhere in here is room for reasonable debate. Whether Rep or Dem, I firmly believe that extreme social legislation is a form of modern slavery, but with the hint of freedom. Who ever stands forward with a policy of personal accountability, with programs to protect those who cannot (vs. will not) is the person who wins my support. I firmly believe that if we could establish this mindset within the free environment we enjoy, we would all be better for it. Unfortunately, too many want to be in “power”, and to do this, they must have something they can control. Extreme social legislation is that mechanism. Whether Rep or Dem, logical cannot explain this any other way. Power, money, more power, control of the people, small distribution to the people, futher control of the people, more power, more money.
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:38 pm
“The democrat controlled south wanted the slaves counted as less than human, thereby allowing slave states more representation and control in Congress. That was one of the major issues that led to the Civil War.
The republican north told the democrat south to pound sand. The republicans wanted the slaves counted as a whole man, not as part man.
What did the democrats really want? More control by depressing the people of the America.”
Sorry, not true. First, the “3/5’s Compromise” was hammered out at the Constitutional Convention, before there were political parties. If you recall, it was at Washington’s Farewell Address that he cautioned against the then ascendant political parties being formed, the Hamilton vs. Jefferson factions.
It was the South that wished the slaves to be counted as a whole person, for the purpose of having extra Representatives in Congress. The North did not want them counted at all, to reduce the influence of the South in the House. The controversy did not lead to the Civil War, there were other, more pressing issues rather that dead horse.
There are many, many issues to chastise both parties about in race relations in this country, but that is not one of them.
December 3rd, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Fed Up said “SHE is a deer in headlights and is doing what she is told to do by her handlers.”
Fed Up, you clearly have never worked with Carolene Mays and do not know her. She is extremely intelligent and I’ve always found her to be independent. Eric Dickerson, on the other hand, is a guy who has skeletons that were brought out of the closet during the last campaign that will ensure that he will never be a member of Congress.
December 3rd, 2007 at 5:53 pm
If Eric Dickerson runs again, what home address will he be using?
December 3rd, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Don’t know where he lives now. Doesn’t matter though, does it? You don’t have to live in your district for the Federal Congress.
December 4th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Abdul:
I noticed your mentioning of Andre Carson being close to Lacy Johnson. I have met Mr. Johnson a few times and personally like him, however with Bart’s defeat, don’t you think the days of Ice Miller lawyers running are city are over?? Please dont give these people any more credit then they deserve, just as they are beginning to realize that maybe they aren’t the unnoticed kings of Indianapolis, you go and imply that one may have the ability to single handedly decide who the next congressional representative from Indy is. Makes me wonder if you are not an elitist as well??
I think it is time for those lawyers and the others at big law firms in Indy to chill out for a while and the rest of us not to be so enamoured by them. If Mr. Johnson and the others were so almighty powerful, wouldn’t Bart still be the Mayor come Jan 1? Yes, he would be. So you look pretty stupid in my opinion giving these people more credit then they obviously deserve.
December 4th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
Of course I’m an elitist! I just happen to like most people.