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The Council & Compromise

Now that the election is over we move into the speculative phase of what’s next for the Indianapolis City-County Council.  Democrats are getting ready to assume control of the body come January 1, and while they have a 16-13 majority, they do not control the Mayor’s office which will make their agenda tough to push through.

For example, there may be enough votes on the Council for an expanded smoking ban, no one is quite sure exactly how expanded that smoking ban will be.  I think it’s fair to say cigar bars, private clubs, hookah bars and tobacco shops will be excluded in any new proposal, but will all other bars and taverns be included immediately or will they be phased in over time?

On the more concrete issue of the budget, some in-coming Councilors have talked about re-opening the budget and moving money around.  Good luck with that one.  They may not be aware of the fact that most of the Council’s budget passed with at 20 votes from Republicans and Democrats, so the will may not be there to go back and revisit certain items.

I can see a big fight developing over redistricting.  The Council was compelled by law to draw new precinct maps to fit the new U.S. House and State Legislative Districts.  However, the question is will new maps be approved prior to the end of the year.  If Democrats redraw the maps for next year, will Mayor Greg Ballard sign them?  And life gets even more interesting in the fact that if you take out the at-large council seats, Republicans actually have a 13-12 majority on the Council.

But while there is potential for a lot of contention on the Council, I do think there is a lot of room for compromise and key people the administration can work with:  Mary Moriarty Adams when it comes to public safety,  Vop Osili when it comes to economic development and John Barth on neighborhoods.  I think we can expect some fireworks from time to time, which will make life interesting; especially for people like me who follow and write about this stuff every day.

And a friendly reminder for all parties;  no matter what the make-up is of a legislative branch, if the Chief Executive Officer puts a target on your back, it’s best to make immediate haste.

Posted: 11|14|11 at 8:12 am by Abdul Hakim-Shabazz
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  • Think Again

    Why would anyone discount the at-larges?

    And you’re wrong, I think, about the redistricting: law requires that the precincts be re-calculated by year-end.  Districts can wait.  And they should.

    Vaughan didn’t even tell his own caucus he was letting that contract.  No council president should be able to unilaterally assign a contract that large, especially for something so partisan.

    You weren’t here for the last district remapping.  I’ll be glad to share the gory details.  Suffice it to say, the Republicans ended up looking pretty silly.  

    Regardless of my partisanship, I don’t want the council to look bad.  It reflects on our city, to the rest of the world.

  • Pogden297

    Actually, TA, Abdul says the law requires precinct maps be drawn before the end of the year.  I don’t think he said the district lines have to be redrawn before the end of the year.  He jumped from one subject to another.

    The current map is as good as it gets for Republicans.  They currently hold 3 Democratic leaning seats (Scales, McHenry and McQuillen), and Democrats hold one Republican leaning seat (Mascari defeated Susie Day).

  • Indyernie

    “The current map is as good as it gets for Republicans.”
    According to you, Ballard didn’t stand a chance of being re-elected. 

    I’ll trust those in charge thru Dec. 

  • Twisted Sista

    The Indianapolis Star has made it a point to publish 2-3 articles in less than 1 week post election on the non-smoking agenda.  Each time, Abdul takes the bait and loves to push his counter agenda.  So predictable.  Move on please.

  • Twisted Sista

    @Indyernie.  You are so correct. Ogden never missed an opportunity to pounce on Ballard’s supposed weaknesses, and he stretched credulity on his numerous pet peeves and election forecasts from his chronic litany of self-righteous blog posts.  How sad for someone to spend such excessive time for at least 2 years pontificating on his own irrelevant drum.  Me thinks 2-3 years of discrediting himself is masoshistic, but maybe he likes it like that, or maybe he’s afflicted with Gary Welch envy.  So come on, let’s here your response. I can’t wait.

  • http://www.thePoliPit.com JednaVira

    I relish the thought of stalemate, stagnation, and conflict; if the council isn’t passing new laws then we are all better off.

  • Gdjgoj

    You guys sure spend a lot of time on someone you consider irrelevant. 

    Let’s talk about Ernie’s predictions about that failed GOP clerk and failed GOP sheriff and failed GOP prosecutor candidate.

  • Think Again

    I didn’t hear Paul wax eloquent about the council races except to predict–as did I–that the council would go Democratic.  I actually thought it was in the cards for the Dems to control 18-19 seats.

    The current council district map, drawn by a court in short order, is as good as it gets for Republicans–absent a landslide mayoral candidate.

    Sista: it’s “hear”, not here.  

  • Think Again

    I didn’t hear Paul wax eloquent about the council races except to predict–as did I–that the council would go Democratic.  I actually thought it was in the cards for the Dems to control 18-19 seats.

    The current council district map, drawn by a court in short order, is as good as it gets for Republicans–absent a landslide mayoral candidate.

    Sista: it’s “hear”, not here.  

  • Think Again

    I re-read it…it is confusing prose.

  • Think Again

    I re-read it…it is confusing prose.

  • Think Again

    I re-read it…it is confusing prose.

  • Scooter

    Mayor Ballard, my I recommend, NO DEALS & NO COMPROMISE!

     

  • Scooter

    …. may I….  (darn public school education…).

  • Steved608

    If Vaughn can’t get the redistricting through he will just try and annex Hamilton Co. They can call it Unigov the sequel. Worked the last time the did it.

  • Steved608

    So without the at large seats the republican control the council 13-12? What’s the point of that talk. That’s like saying if we hadn’t played 10 games the Colts are actually undefeated. Pretty sure when they vote the 4 at large members are going to expect to cast a vote. Then again maybe they will use that logic and say “oh must be the will of the people, we better abstain”. I like that logic. If I don’t count anything after 50 I am still 49. If I don’t look in the mirror I am exceptionally good looking. Loveing that logic Abdul.

  • Steved608

    Should have gone to the nun factory. Then again didn’t seem to help me.

  • Steved608

    Doing the higher math at Wickapedia:

    City County Election results.
    25 districts
    87,111 Democrat
    83,724 Republican
    3,680 Libertarian.
    In no district would the Libertarian vote change a result

    At large total:
    Democrat 340,796
    Republican 300,386
    Libertarian 36,601
    Doesn’t appear Libertarian votes would have changed results, hard to tell because of voting for 4 at large.

    Total votes all districts:
    Democrat 427,907
    Republican 384,111
    Libertarian 40,281

    Even is all Libertarians voted republican still 3,515 more votes for democrats in Marion County.

    What is the point of the republicans having a 13-12 majority without the at large members?

    My math could be off, shoes came off above 10. At 20 I was in real trouble. Feel free to double check.

  • Professor Dilbert

    Wiccapedia information is so useful. 

    Yes, it is spelled correctly.  Anyone who relies on wikipedia for factual information should immediately be questioned.  It’s like using a coloring book for professional art instruction.

  • Pogden297

    Indyernie,  Ballard didn’t have a chance of being re-elected if Kennedy went after the Pacer $33.5 million gift, the 50 year parking meter contract, the $100 million North of South deal, the Broad Ripple parking garage giveaway.  It never occurred to me that Kennedy would rather lose the election than tackle corporate welfare and Ballard’s insider deals.  But then again, she’s cut from the same cloth as Ballard.

  • Ramon

    If you take out the first 10 games,  they Indy Colts are unbeaten.   

  • Pogden297

    Ballard was extremely vulnerable.  His campaign was poorly organized and for four years he had handed the Democrats tons of ammunition.  I just never dreamed that the D’s would chose not to fire that ammunition….that the power of insider dealing in Indianapolis is so complete that a party would forego the Mayor’s Office rather take on the Establishment. That was my bad.  But the notion Ballard was a strong candidate or that the Ballard team ran a quality campaign, that’s downright laughable.

  • Pogden297

    TA, the D’s could have easily gotten 18-19 seats. All they had to do was dump mail in McQuillen, McHenry and Scales’ district hitting them on their highly unpopular votes, like the Pacer deal and the parking meter contract among many many more.  (In fairness, Scales didn’t support some of the more unpopular Ballard insider deals.) For the same reason as the Mayor’s race, I’m surprised that Treacy wasn’t willing to take on those issues.  Treacy didn’t have to actually exaggerate anything…just hit them on their votes.  And he decided to take a pass. 

  • Rico

    Way to steal Steve’s point, Ramon.

  • Twisted Sista

    What is laughable is that Kennedy still lost, so you blame it on her own campaign weakness, while you previously cited during the last few years that any number of specified events would cost Ballard the election.  So now you’re grasping for straws to blame her?  Your words: 
     ”With Ballard absenting himself from the populist movement, the field was wide open for a Democrat  to swoop in and take advantage of the populist angst as reflected in the tea party and occupy movements.”

    What ‘angst’?  There were no people in the streets protesting over tax issues, the CIB, or the Pacer deals, etc.  Do you really think the average working person went home and talked about how disgusted the Broadripple Parking garage deal is? 

    With all due respect, Mr. Ogden, you need a complete makeover, starting with a brain transplant.
     

  • Uatu

    “And a friendly reminder for all parties;  no matter what the make-up is of a legislative branch, if the Chief Executive Officer puts a target on your back, it’s best to make immediate haste.”

    If you thought the last 4 years were entertaining, I don’t think you have seen anything yet.  IF the Democratic majority council can put forth a leader, I mean an articulate, visionary leader who can match ideals for advancing our city along with fiscal restraints, I would imagine that Mayor Ballard may either work with this leader OR wear out a ‘VETO’ rubberstamp.  And if THAT is the case, then You, Abdul and other political baseball type bloggers will have a field day.

    It is hoped that the city will move forward into what may be dark days ahead, budget-wise.  I can only Watch, and comment from time to time.

  • Steved608

    Same results from WTHR or don’t you trust the “drive by media”. Dispute those totals, throw yours out there and where you got them. You sure your name is Dilbert and not D—head?

  • Scooter

    Do Hamilton County residents get to vote???

    If they do, ya’ll D’s may just want to pack it up and leave town.

  • Think Again

    Would coulda shoulda.  The Democratic hero of this campaign was Ed Treacy, who shuffled as much money as he could.  The state party and John Gregg dumped over $100K into the last week or so, and it went for nought.

    The council Dems won because they worked hard.  They didn’t have to campaign on Kennedy’s lame platforms.  That benefitted them.

  • Think Again

    Nah, Sista, he’s completely right.  Ballard is a mediocre mayor, and the water/parking deals were completely stupid.

    Voters just didn’t pay attention to them.  Which is Kennedy’s fault.  

    We’re sure going to pay for the deals’ short-sightedness for decades.