Once again the unimaginative, rigid, old guard caucus let down party regulars and rank and file voters down. Nothing against Ron Ellis a good democrat and respected candidate but Josh Rodriquez's widow Meredith deserved to fill out her late husband's term just out of respect for Josh's memory and honoring the hard work he did to get elected to his city council position. It's disgraceful that this near sighted stodgy caucus couldn't see that the right thing to do was honor Josh and his memory by electing his wife to fill his shoes.
In the Dem. Clark Co. chairman's race a rather lackluster field of three vied to lead local Democrats in to the future. Kate Miller the current vice chair was elected over Diane Swank and a ghost from the past who reappeared Edward "Pepper" Cooper one of the old broken down "old mules" of the party. Miller was the best choice and the BatBlog wishes her well and Good Luck !!!
Runner up Diane Swank probably on her own would have fared better and could have done a good job as chair, unfortunately for her she will always be linked (rightfully or wrongfully) to "Toxic" John Perkins. Pepper Cooper another Dem."old mule" embarrassed himself and the party by even thinking he had any chance of being elected, he's another pariah to local voters.If there as any positive coming out of the caucus it is HOPEFULLY we have seen the last of "the old mules" and their influence on local politics. Tom "Bulldozer" Galligan is now no longer party chairman, Toxic John after his 13% of the vote showing in his last race is hopefully done, and Pepper Cooper's 5 votes in the caucus should put him and the other two "Old Mules" out to retirement pasture for good...
Since Councilman White supported Mr. Ellis over Ms. Clipp-Rodriguez, his response to the description of those who let down the voters should prove interesting. .
ReplyDeleteAs I said in the post, nothing against Mr. Ellis but Ms. Rodriquez should have been elected it was the right thing to do.
DeleteI guess the point could be made against her of no experience...but good gosh look at the makeup of the current council ... not many rocket scientists on there, but then again it doesn't take a rocket scientist to be a city councilman...LOL
Tom Galigan proved once again how to outsmart the field. The strategic stealth plan to place Katie Miller in as party chair allows Tom to keep control of all county races without having a target on his back. It's funny to see people new to the party over analyze this as bold and a step forward. Buyer beware.
ReplyDeleteOuch....What you said...
DeleteBelieve me, myself and everyone with any knowledge of local Democrats is watching this closely. If Miller is just a puppet and mouthpiece for Galligan the only thing TG will have out smarted is himself. If this is just a status quo move the beat downs by the GOP will continue.
ReplyDeleteI and my circle of rank and file voters will give Ms. Miller ever chance to distant herself from TG. She made some encouraging remarks to the press about the party being a "club" instead of a party... but she has to work bringing in new people and replacing a lot of this old , stodgy, good ole boys club that forms this current caucus...
The BatBlog will be vigilant and watching. The "old mules" need to be put out to pasture...
'Whisker Close'
ReplyDeleteAward Winning Bat Blog
Clark County Political Intrigue
The actual number
of votes received by Mr. Webb,
Mr. Rodriquez, and Mr. Ellis in the
2015 Jeffersonville City Council General Election race is still in question.
Each of the three were within under 18 votes of each other
for the third slot and a win.
Each of the three felt that they won the race and the interpretation of voter intent on some ballots will always be in question. That is the way
very close races often go.
Has there been an appeal ruling by the court yet?
Remember, the two really cool Jeffersonville lawyers,
Larry Wilder and David Mosley and their skillful efforts?
(Also, don't forget that Dustin White is also a very skilled lawyer
and that he has forced the "Current Democrat Insiders" sit up straight
on more than one occasion! We applaud that!)
'Whisker Close'
Mr. Ellis may have actually won the race originally,
as may have Mr. Webb, or Mr. Rodriquez. It was
amazingly 'whisker close'.
Remember,
in the race for the open seat,
long-time Clark County Democrat Tom Galligan,
the legendary former mayor of three terms and also a former D county chair,
and his "insider" associates DID NOT support Ron Ellis.
The "political insiders" lost to Mr. Ellis. Mr. Ellis beat the current machine.
Crooked Insider Play Against Mr. White
Mr. White also withstood in 2015 a "bogus, cooked up third party attempt
by the "political power broker insiders" to give him opposition in the Fall of 2015. Mr. White has referenced that the current Democrat Chairperson and others actually signed the petition to get the candidate on the ballot!
Mr. Ellis defeated that same current group to get the nomination by the caucus.
Both Mr. White and Mr. Ellis are strong supporters of Jeffersonville
and come from great families that have lived here all of their
lives and worked hard for generations to make Jeffersonville
a better place.
They have excellent, broad based community support.
Jeffersonville is very proud of them and their contributions.
Go Jeffersonville!
Goliath been reading these here post claiming Miller is just a puppet of Tom G. That make Goliath BELLOW with laughter! Goliath think whoever saying that needs to put down the crack pipe and sober up.
ReplyDeleteWhy do Democrats always like the dern crack pipe?
DeleteSock Wars Count Too
DeleteWe need pictures of the Nifty Cool Socks
that knowledgeable Jeffersonville attorneys David Mosley
and Larry Wilder wore during the recount court hearings.
Would the Award Winning Bat Blog still have those
on file? Reasonable similarities would be OK.
Bat Blog "What If" Time!
ReplyDeleteMs. Miller has won the chairman's job.
She is well liked, motivated, and a good organizer
that will build on Mr. Galligan's efforts.
It is always intriguing to say "what if"....
If Diane Swank Perkins would have won,
she would also be a good organizer
and is knowledgeable and very politically motivated.
Anyone who knows her, knows that she
has always been her own person
and acts as SHE sees fit.
Don't question that,
bro!
The most intriguing candidate
is 'ol Pepper Cooper. He has always
loved politics and has always helped a lot of people
with his insurance business. He has represented many governmental entities
in Indiana over the years and has often gone to bat for people
in need with the companies that he represents. He does
a very good job for many people in need. He is very
competent and knowledgeable.
There is some strange hateful
and un-rational jealousy by some persons
against Edward Cullpepper Cooper and that is unjust and unfair.
He has assisted many people in their time of need.
Additionally, instead of hatefully denigrating him for helping to make
the political system work, he should be complimented.
Remember, rather than hate..."Be a Pepper!"
Way to go Tom.
ReplyDeleteTG told everyone in the lunch group at the Lighthouse he'd pull it off. None of us thought he could do it. Well played.
ReplyDeletePulled off what ??? Taking local Democrats to further embarrassment and beat downs at the polls... Yes well done...
DeleteBat Blog Inquiry
ReplyDeleteWhen was the last time the "lunch group" met at the Lighthouse?
WhiteCastle must have been too crowded...
DeleteNo they were at Mcdonalds, Galligan had a Big Mac coupon buy one get one free.
DeleteChucky Cheese was already booked...
DeleteH-T: They weren't there.
ReplyDeleteIt did not happen.
I will tell you why.
The Lighthouse is too upscale for TG and his "lunch group."
DeleteMiller couldn't even win the democrat primary for city council yet is party chair. Makes sense to me.
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree with you on this one HT. It would have been incredibly selfish and short-sighted for a handful of democrats to place a decision-maker on the city council out of sentimentality.
ReplyDeleteRon has actually run and won in elections. Voters have chosen him.
Rodriguez was very open that her reason for running was to honor her husband, not because she actually knew anything about the issues or would be a good councilperson.
Who they elect to lead their party should be up to them, and it would've made sense if they placed her there for sentimental reasons. It would've been very inappropriate and irresponsible to do make such a decision for the entire city, however.
Yeah Ron will be a good councilman and is a good guy. I just thought it would be a nice memorial honoring Josh's memory to let his widow fill out his term...
ReplyDeleteCommon sense is more important than knowing the issues and the makeup of the current council is lacking that attribute in several cases...
Ron will be fine though , a plus to the council...
Ron Ellis lead the ticket in the Democratic Primary. He was 14 votes shy of 3rd place in the general election, is a long time democrat, spent money and did the work. The democrats were not let down in this caucus and Mr. Ellis will do a great job. I look forward to serving with him.
ReplyDeleteI have only great things to say about Meredith and have told her I will support her 100% should she choose to run in the next election. I've known her since we were in Leadership together in 2002, and have nothing but the utmost respect for her. She is a great woman!
The result of the caucus for Chair was nothing more than status quo. It was the result of up to 28 invalid appointments made by Galligan and other appointments made by the February 2017, deadline. Miller has one person to thank, Thomas Galligan.
Having said all that, the election for Chair, Secretary and Treasurer is on appeal to the 9th District Committee and will be heard April 15th. We will see if they do the right thing and cleanse the precinct list of the 28 invalid appointments and void the election.
The appeal has no affect on Mr. Ellis' election by caucus.
Excellent factual clarifications.
ReplyDeleteThank you to Councilman Dustin White
for standing up to the insider power brokers
in the county chair "fixed race" in the county caucus
and for supporting Councilman Ron Ellis' victory against
the same group in the city caucus.
Hoosiertaxpayer wrote: "Common sense is more important than knowing the issues and the makeup of the current council is.... 'lacking that attribute'.... in several cases"...
ReplyDelete....heh...heh...heh...
"Old Mules, New Mules, Far Left Mules, and Interim Mules"
ReplyDeleteIt very good to see Tom Galligan, Diane Swank, John Perkins, and Pepper Cooper still participating in the political process!
I am glad that those "Old Mules"
still have the stamina to stay involved! Compliments.
It is good that the egotistical "Far Left Faction" from Facebook
stays involved. Compliments.
It is good to see the longtime and new "Groundgamers"
as well as new "wannabe" political power brokers
become involved. Compliments.
It is good to see the "New Mules"!
All are welcomed. Their involvement
is to be encouraged and applauded, not denigrated.....
No one mule or group of mules "owns" a political party
as an individual or via a select, restrictive ideology or grouping.
The 'mule participants' advocate and express
their individual beliefs and positions
and are ALL only temporary.
Times, ideas, issues of the day,
and concepts continually evolve and change.
Individual MULES also come and go.
The discussions continue eternally.
Just as "Two Ships Pass in the Night",
the Players, a.k.a. various current "Political Mules",
are just passing in the night through political sea lanes.
It is 'well 'n proper' to see the participation
by all of these various "MULES" from all sources,
as they enrich the the political process.
Some mules seem to think that they are always right
and any other mules whom disagrees with them are be
to ostracized and criticized.
Participation is open
to all mules and should not be restrictive.
It is cool to see the Award Winning Bat Blog encourage and feature the mules!
The mules should keep it up!
Go Mules!
As I read your headline, I realized all the local parties should have an HT caucus, at least something like a "local Interwebz Caucus."
ReplyDelete