Andrew Smith’s Letter to Republicans and Conservatives

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My Fellow Conservatives and Republicans:

What a strange and entertaining election this is turning out to be for those of us who were born and raised here in Evansville!

In the last two weeks, our nominee for mayor has received endorsements from the self-proclaimed Queen of the 4th Ward, Connie Robinson, #1 Democrat Curt John, as well as our “friends” at the Evansville Courier & Press. We also read about behind-the-scenes support from Democrat leader Mark Owen as well as Mayor Weinzapfel, the entire Mosby clan, and a lineup of the usual suspects who have helped run Evansville’s economy into the ground over the last 30 years.

I suppose the only thing that could top it would be if President Obama himself flew into town to endorse Lloyd Winnecke!

Meanwhile, on the other side of the aisle, Rick Davis is busy fighting the establishment in his own party and standing for many of the very principles we conservatives have always held dear: openness and transparency, fiscal responsibility, and accountability to the people. He has been the only one to defy the Weinzapfel Machine, while our own candidate cuts behind-the-scenes deals with them in the name of “collaboration.”

I know firsthand what it is like to stand virtually alone in the line of fire like Rick Davis is doing now. Four years ago, I was part of a ragtag band of independent Republicans who said that Evansville could ill afford a $150+ million stadium at a time when our sewers and infrastructure were crumbling, our population was shrinking, and our job base was evaporating. The establishment went to war against us, cutting off our access to funding, working behind-the-scenes to discredit us, and even mailing out political hit pieces full of untruths.

The Machine won that battle, but the war is far from over. Evansville will be paying for their arrogance and fiscal irresponsibility for decades. The financial crisis of 2008 finally put the spotlight on how government spending and ballooning debt is crippling our economy. That crisis was an eye-opener for many conservatives. When establishment Republicans and liberal Democrats alike voted to bail out Wall Street and expand public debt at an unprecedented rate, we realized that you have to look beyond party label to see what a candidate really stands for.

The same holds true here in Evansville. Rick Davis is the only candidate who has consistently shown that he has the courage and conviction to stand up to the establishment—the Machine—and do what he believes is right for the people. The Republican nominee, on the other hand, has said that he wouldn’t have entered the race had Weinzapfel sought re-election because he agrees with so much of the Weinzapfel agenda!

Much has been written about the now infamous meeting at which Weinzapfel and Winnecke apparently planned to eliminate the homestead tax credit without informing taxpayers. I have nothing more to add to that topic except to point out that East- and North-siders—mainly Republicans—would have suffered disproportionately due the higher property values in those parts of town. Have you calculated how much losing your homestead exemption would have cost you, personally?

William F. Buckley famously described a conservative as “someone who stands athwart history, yelling ‘Stop,’ at a time when no one is inclined to do so, or to have much patience with those who so urge it.” That sounds an awful like what Rick Davis is doing at the moment.

I realize that party loyalty is powerful and that many Republican voters relish thought of electing someone with an “R” next to their name as a symbolic victory. Likewise, many of you know and like Lloyd Winnecke; for that matter, so do I. Lloyd is a fine person. But as the Democrat endorsements keep piling in on Lloyd’s behalf, it becomes clearer and clearer that he is not the one to break with Evansville’s history of backroom dealings, Machine intrigues, and reckless arrogance among those in power. We have what may be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change that history by electing an independent thinker like Rick Davis.

That is why I am urging all conservatives and independent Republicans to seize this opportunity and vote for Rick Davis for mayor. Like me, you may not agree with Rick on every issue, but there is no doubt about his character or his willingness to fight for the basic principles of fairness and transparency that have so long been missing in Evansville politics.

Sincerely,

Andrew G. Smith
Former Republican City Council Candidate
Founder, “Sewers Before Stadium”
Native Eastsider

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30 COMMENTS

  1. Excellent letter Andrew!

    This is going to be a great day for the people who like to write and read the blogs on cco.

    The machine is waiting to attack

  4. A “fighter” yes he is, and vindictive as well. I personally heard him say, “I’m keeping a eye on him,” which was directed about a council member, a fellow??, Democrat!! He needs anger control management to curb his short fuse! Get over the “closed door” fantasy; stop beating a dead horse!!

    • LOL how dare he “keep an eye” on the party members who are stabbing him in the back. The NERVE of someone to say he’ll “keep an eye” on someone who is actively supporting his opponent.

      You’re funny.

      • Funny you would suggest “anger management” without mentioning the High King John in the same statement….never heard of Davis kicking trash cans and then asking for names. 😉

        JMHO

  5. Hey, you can call me names, tell lies about me, even tell me I dress funny…just don’t insinuate that I am a banker! I’ve spent the better part of my professional life fighting the banks, and they make the Evansville machine look puny by comparison.

    • In your crusade against banks and bankers, exactly what competitive interest rates did you offer, side-by-side comparison I mean.

      • You need to go back and check my file at Central Committee. I have never made a loan, nor has any business with which I have been affiliated.

  6. Why joke about Obama andrew? You both have something in common. You don’t live and vote here and no one gives a hoot what either of you think. Complain about the endorsements all you want but those people do live and vote here. Something you can no longer claim

    • Andrew and Obama also share their support for Davis. Davis was one of Obama’s loudest supporters locally. I always knew Andrew was a liberal, and this just confirms it.

      • Actually I think Andrew is competing with Steve Smith for the City Controllers job.

        • LOL. No thanks!

          I’m quite happy where I am!

          I realize that in “Machine world,” everything that a person does has to have some pecuniary motive. I have nothing to gain except the satisfaction of knowing that a good person like Rick is able to win.

  7. No, like a lot of conservatives, I held my nose and voted for McCain.

    But I also vowed that I wouldn’t stand back and let the GOP establishment and the liberal media make my decisions for me anymore.

    This year…I’m with the Hermanator.

    And in my wildest dreams, I like to imagine a President Rand Paul.

  8. Veracity:

    Times are going to get worse. Much, much worse. Mark my words on that. I called the 2008 Financial Crisis as far back as 2005, and I am convinced that we are in for a LONG period of economic crisis. The actions taken by the Fed and the government have worsened the situation by removing transparency and accountability from the system. Certain institutions should have been allowed to “fail.” That would have purged debt from the system and allowed us to rebuild on a sound monetary footing.

    Now, all we have is endless printing of dollars and more manipulation. Banks and “favored companies” get sweetheart deals while the average Joe and small businessman gets screwed.

    Historically, the kind of reckless monetary policy the US is pursuing now ALWAYS leads to war. And not fake little wars in remote countries whose names we can’t even spell.

    I would argue that now is precisely the time for grittiness and integrity. Phony statesmanship on the part of establishment Democrats and Republicans is a major reason why we’re in this mess to begin with.

  9. Davis = Conservative? I don’t think so. Support him all you will, endorse him as many times as you like, capitalize the ‘M’ in ‘Machine’ as much as you can…but don’t go calling Rick Davis a conservative.

    • I’m not calling him a conservative (although I think he has at least as much claim to that title as Mr. Winnecke). Rick probably wouldn’t even want to be called a conservative.

      I’m saying that in this election, Rick’s personal qualities of integrity, openness, and transparency trump the usual “right vs. left” scheme.

  10. Strong rumor has it that City Councilman Curt John held a PLUSH political fundraiser GALA for 5th Ward Councilman John Friend at his home recently.

    We hear that the alledged policital connected Curt John raised an unimpressive $2,500 at this event.

    Also we understand that all his political followers (Seventeen People)attended this event.

    • “Joe Jack” O Lantern….Halloweens over.. it’s time to put you away until next year. Your posts are unimpressive!!! Where’s Trainwreck been lately.

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