The Greg Ballard Mayoral campaign is fighting back against Melina Kennedy’s radio ads on urban radio.  Kennedy has used Black pastors in her commercials to attack the Mayor, so Ballard is fighting back.  In this 0:60 ad to air Tuesday several Black ministers come out in support of Ballard.

Ballard Commercial with Black Ministers

I did run into Mike Jones Sunday at the City-County Building.  Jones had cut a commercial for Melina Kennedy insinuating that Ballard was insensitive to Blacks and racist.  I asked him exactly what he meant.

Mike Jones

The best part of urban warfare is the street to street fighting.   The election is November 8.

A lot attention was raised this weekend on how much money was raised by Republican Greg Ballard and Democrat Melina Kennedy in the race for Indianapolis Mayor.   However, there wasn’t much reporting on how much the political parties raised nor individual City-County Councilors.

I decided to spend some time this weekend looking through reports and publish what I found.  It was interesting to see the incumbent Councilor who raised the most money this period was Republican Mike McQuillen of District 12 who reported raising more than $70,000 for the period (including $22,000 to start).  His opponent, Regina Marsh reported raising $13,000.

I am reporting only those candidates who raised more than $10,000 for their races.  The first number is what they raised for the period, including what they started the reporting period with.  The second number is the cash on hand.  An asterisk notes an incumbent.  All numbers are rounded.

• Kostas Poulakidas – $93,000/ $63,200.
• Mike McQuillen* – $70,000 / $18,300.
• Ed Coleman* – $66,000 / $10,700.
• Ryan Vaughn* – $57,000 / $16,000
• Zach Adamson – $42,000 / $13,000
• Angel Rivera* – $30,000 / $6,000
• Aaron Freeman* – $27,000 / $911.00
• Christine Scales* – $25,000 / $19,000
• Jeff Miller – $25,000 / $8,300
• Marilyn Pfisterer* – $25,000 / $16,000
• John Barth – $24,000 / $3,100
• Jack Sandlin* – $24,000 / $7,000
• Ginnie Cain* – $22,000 / $3,000
• Vop Osili – $20,000 / $6,200
• Bob Lutz* – $19,000 / $3,900
• Leroy Robinson – $18,600 / $2,700
• Janice McHenry* – $17,000 /$4,000
• Barb Malone *- $16,000 / $3,800
• Dane Mahern* – $15,000 / $10,000
• Susan Blair – $14,000 / $2,500
• Brian Mahern* – $13,000 / $9,300
• Regina Marsh – $13,000 / $7,66
• Maggie Lewis* – $12,000/ $5,500
• Anthony Simon – $12,000/ $247.00
• Monroe Gray* – $11,000/ $5,000
• Susie Day*  – $11,000 / $359.00
• Mary Moriarty Adams* – $10,000 / $10,000
• Pam Hickman –  $10,000/ $3,300
• Len Farber – $10,000 / (-900.00)

Note, Coleman is not running for re-election at-large but against Republican Jack Sandlin.  He also received more than $50,000 from the National Libertarian Party.

Overall, the Marion County Republicans reported raising about $900,000 through their various organizations and having about $190,000 in cash on hand.   Democrats reported raising about $720,000 and having about $180,000 in cash on hand.

Rupert Boneham of “Survivor” fame announced today he will officially seek the Libertarian Party nomination for Governor of Indiana.  Rupert says his goals are to help create jobs by helping small business.  He also supports school choice and alternatives to traditional incarceration to deal with crime.  Boneham also said he supports “right-to-work” legislation, even though he is a member of a union.  He says he believes individuals should have the right to choose whether they want to be part of a union.  Libertarians will formally nominate a candidate for Governor next year.

GOP Presidential candidate Herman Cain and I share a quick laugh before giving the keynote address at the Columbia Club Beefsteak Dinner Friday evening. I was the emcee.  Feel free to caption this.

For some reason a  lot of moving pieces are coming together this weekend, politically, here in Indy.  Here’s the rundown…

Friday, October 21

1:00 p.m. – Mayoral Debate on the Amos Brown Show, AM 1310

5:30 p.m. – Freedom Works PAC to formally endorse Richard Mourdock (Indianapolis Airport)

7:00 p.m. – Herman Cain  Delivers Keynote Address at Columbia Club Beefsteak Dinner. (Indianapolis)

7:00 p.m. – House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan gives keynote at Indiana Republican State Dinner (Carmel)

Saturday, October 22

2 p.m. – Rupert Boneham to announce whether he will run for Governor. (Indianapolis)

Sunday, October 23

6:30 p.m. – WISH-TV Channel 8 Mayoral Debate.

Today concludes our multi-part series on the issue of abandoned housing in Indianapolis.   This week we have looked at the debate surrounding the city’s proposed demolition of 2,000 abandoned properties this year.  Some local activists have complained saying the city should look at alternatives.  City officials say the properties are more than eye sores, but unsafe.  We spoke with two real estate investors to see if there was some middle ground for the two sides to meet.

Click here for the audio.

Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry says his office is taking a pass on investigating allegations of voter fraud against former U.S. Senator Evan Bayh. Embattled Secretary Charlie White requested the investigation saying Bayh and his  wife Susan voted in the May 2011 primary, although they were not residents of Indianapolis since Bayh left office.    Curry says there was no evidence the Bayhs ever intended to give up their residency, however he did forward the request to the Marion County Election Board for further review.

Today is part three of  Indiana Barrister/IndyPolitics.Org’s multi-part series on the issue of abandoned housing in Indianapolis.  The city is using some of the proceeds from  the transfer of the water and waste water company to tear down more than 2,000 abandoned properties this year.

Some local activists say the city should move more cautiously and look at alternatives to tearing down so many homes.  City officials say the properties aren’t just eye sores, but unsafe.   I oke to Chris Pryor the head of MIBOR (Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors), to get their take on the abandoned housing issue.

You can find Chris’ comments here.

Tomorrow, the series concludes with some perspective from two local businessmen who refurbish vacant and abandoned properties.

Marion County Republicans say Melina Kennedy is being less than truthful (i.e. lying) about Greg Ballard’s record. They put out the following release Tuesday.  You make the call.

Today is part two of Indiana Barrister’s/IndyPolitics.Org’s multi-part series on the issue of abandoned housing in Indianapolis.

As stated  in part one, the city has plans to use money from transfer of the water and wastewater company to tear down more than 2,000 abandoned properties this year.  That plan has raised the ire of local activists like Tiffany Benedict Berkson of Historic Indianapolis.

She argues that instead of tearing down the abandoned homes the city should look at alternatives, such as rehab or turning the properties over to developers will do something productive with the properties.

You can hear Berkson’s comments here.

Tomorrow, you will hear from Chris Pryor, the head of MIBOR (Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors) on the abandoned housing issue and their assessment on the city’s job with dealing with abandoned homes.

Editor’s note:  I did cover the budget last night.  You can find that story at IndyPolitics.Org.