IS IT TRUE? May 5, 2011

IS IT TRUE that Democratic Central Committee Chairman Mark Owen may have been talking about reconciliation of the Vanderburgh Party Democratic Party but that the leading vote getter among the Democratic at-large candidates was having none of it?…that now candidate Jonathan Weaver was swinging for the fences as though he was at the top of the ticket and Rick Davis was running for City Council?…that an emboldened Mr. Weaver gave a TV interview where he accused the Davis campaign of stealing his signs, engaging in “dirty” tactics, and doing behind the scene things?…that listening to the Fox 7 interview where Weaver also stated that he wanted nothing to do with being on Team Davis left many people speechless?…that Mr. Weaver even made references to “his” team?…that candidates for at-large seats on the City Council do not have teams they are members of teams?…that this is no way to start a campaign?…that getting the most votes for an at-large seat in a primary is a far cry from forming a team and leading a ticket?…that we have seen such misinterpretation of election results before when current Mayor Weinzapfel puffed himself up into feeling undefeatable by beating an unfunded, overmatched, David Nixon in 2007?…that getting the big head after winning a primary where only 7.83% of the people of Evansville actually voted is immature and smacks of arrogance?…that the CCO has always thought that Mr. Weaver was a talented individual?…that this sometimes talented guy needs a dose of humility if he wishes to get the cooperation of others?…that without the cooperation of others one cannot govern and one cannot lead?

IS IT TRUE that we wonder exactly what other candidates would want to cast their lots with Team Weaver?…that we would appreciate a show of hands?…that if either of the democratic nominees from the 2nd Ward or 3rd Ward would like to put their hands up as members of Team Weaver that we would surely like to make sure that everyone knows?…that it is already clear that incumbent City Council members Connie Robinson and John Friend will be on Team Davis and that there is no question with respect to the loyalties of the champion of the 6th Ward primary Al Lindsey?…that it seems that another bright individual with the initials JW has started following the leader and isolating himself from being a part of an effective governance team?…that this is a precious waste of talent and potential?

IS IT TRUE that the excuse for not voting of blaming the Pigeon Creek Piranha spurred lots of ideas from our readership?…that one reader discussion actually lead to a suggestion to breed piranha for Pigeon Creek that dine on doo-doo instead of flesh?…that a school of doo-doo eating piranha would be able to hang out at the CSO discharge points like catfish below Kentucky Dam just waiting for a hard rain for a meal?…that doo-doo eating Pigeon Creek Piranha (patent pending) could not only eliminate the need to fix the sewers of Evansville but could be sold to the hundreds of other places that have pending EPA orders too?

IS IT TRUE that the small town of Sturgis, Kentucky has a floodwall similar to the one in Evansville?…that Sturgis has seven sets of gates that have seldom been used?…that Sturgis has scheduled a series of times this summer to train and test these seven gates so the next time the creeks and rivers rise they are certain that the expertise to do the installations is on hand and trained?…that the people who live in areas of Vanderburgh County that are flooded by runoff and Pigeon Creek are quite assertive that the water has never been this high before?…that even though the Ohio River crested at about a half foot lower than it did in the 1997 flood that it is Pigeon Creek that has these homeowners in a panic?…that they are blaming it on development?…that the City of Evansville engineer says that is not the case?…that it does deserve to be investigated further?…that it is probably just the rain and the headwaters as the Pigeon Creek is not yet draining into the Ohio River?

Some of the Stuff Out there today is Priceless

1. It Rained

2. It Flooded

3. School Started Late

4. The Wind Was Blowing

5. We postponed our Celebration Dinner

6. Kangaroo Express ran out of Marlboro Reds

7. Good Old Boys ran out of PBR

8. Chocolate Cover Fleas did it

9. People do not want to be identified with any political party

10. President Obama shot Bin Ladin

11. Tim Geithner collected enough taxes that we don’t have to shut the government down.

12. John Kish did it for the Haitians

13. The partridge in a pear tree did it.

14. The Pigeon Creek Piranha (our favorite)

And of course these things had nothing to do with it.

1. Proposed Firehouse Closings

2. McCurdy Pigeon Mansion

3. Puppetmaster Politics

4. Jobs Plan that isn’t

5. Sewers

6. Litter

7. Parks in Shambles

8. No Substance in Campaign.

9. Promising to be the 2nd coming of Mayor Weinzapfel

10. Booth gate

11. Homestead Tax Credit

And the list goes on! Feel free to contribute as you all see fit.

EPD Activity Report May 3 2011

Handicapping the November City Council Elections: Probabilities in parentheses

Ward One: Dan McGinn (100%) Unopposed

Ward Two: Incumbent Missy Mosby (D) (55%) vs. E. Lon Walters (R) (45%)

Missy successfully distanced herself from the thrashing that Team Weinzapfel took in this year’s Democratic primary with positive name recognition, visibility in her ward, and in breaking with Team Weinzapfel on the Robert’s Stadium ballfield issue. Her incumbency to a large extent will be dependent upon her ability to shed her service on Team Weinzapfel and focus instead on the unique needs of the Second Ward

Ward Three: Stephanie Brinkerhoff Riley (65%) vs. TBD (R) (35%)

It is rumored that the Republicans will be fielding a candidate to oppose upstart Stephanie Brinkerhoff Riley who ran an intelligent primary campaign and will be difficult to defeat. If Ms. Riley stays on point and out of political shenanigans she has a build in advantage

Ward Four: Connie Robinson (100%) Unopposed

Ward Five: Brent Grafton (R) (56%) vs. Incumbent John Friend (44%)

Friend like Mosby will have the challenge of shedding the image of being a loyal member of Team Weinzapfel in the more Republican 5th Ward. Grafton has already put forth some ideas and position papers and is preaching to the choir in the 5th Ward. Grafton is also seen as being nearly 100% consistent with his positions throughout his life in Evansville. It will come as a surprise to many that these candidates although coming from different parties will share more views than one would expect.

Ward Six: Al Lindsey (60%) vs. Shaun Short (40%)

Al Lindsey has just defeated an entrenched incumbent and a member of the Mosby family in a highly democratic ward. Mr. Short is a newcomer to politics and will have to run an aggressive campaign to increase his potential to draw votes in a part of Evansville that is typically not supportive of Republican candidates.

At-Large (based on primary results and 55/45 democratic voting advantage)

Dr. H. Dan Adams (D) (56%)
Jonathan Weaver (D) (61%)
Conor O’Daniel (D) (48%)
Michelle Mercer (R) (50%)
Pete Swaim (R) (42%)
Bill Kramer (R) (43%)

Republican Cumulative Probability: 411%
Democrat Cumulative Probability: 489%

Therefore based on where things stand today the highest outcome probability is for the Evansville City Council to have 5 Democrats and 4 Republicans when the smoke clears in November.

IS IT TRUE? Part 2 May 4, 2011

IS IT TRUE that Democratic Central Committee Chairman Mark Owen was spinning and blaming last night when asked to reconcile the overwhelming defeat that Central Committee candidate Troy Tornatta suffered at the hands of Rick Davis in the Democratic primary for Mayor of Evansville?…that Chairman Owen blamed the weather, the EVSC 2 hour delay, the National Democratic Party, and just about everything that had nothing to do with the real reasons that the Davis campaign prevailed?…that Davis even had the merciful demeanor to leave the fate of Chairman Owen up to the Democratic committeemen who elected him in the first place?…that whether Mr. Owen retains the title of Chairman is immaterial as his choices in this primary have rendered him to be irrelevant?

IS IT TRUE that the Democratic Central Committee did just about everything within their power to deny Rick Davis the nomination for Mayor of Evansville?…that they withheld office support, withheld verbal support, and even funded his opponent?…that for the Central Committee Chairman to call for unity today is quite disingenuous?…that this is reminiscent of the Chris Rock monologue where he jokes about an uncle who sends you to college but abused you too?…that the first step to Democratic unity in the City of Evansville begins with Chairman Owen doing the honorable thing and submitting his resignation?…that the day of the “old boy network” or “the machine” if you prefer ended last night?…that just like the Hammer and Sickle of the now vanquished USSR that whatever parts of the so called Evansville machine still existed are now broken on the ground?…that the age of the mechanical dinosaur is over in Evansville?

IS IT TRUE that if the positions of the now candidates for Evansville City Council do not change that it appears as though the support will be in place soon to pass a comprehensive smokefree workplace ordinance?…that when oppressive machines are neutered that even elected officials start to vote from a position of knowledge as opposed to a position of fear?…that political machines are made up of hard core insiders, opportunists who hitch their wagon to the machine and then unhitch it later, and of course those who are associates in fear?…that the very few hard core insiders are the only ones that will not eventually adapt to the new order of the Vanderburgh County Democratic Party?…that 2011 may just be the year that Evansville, Indiana starts to muster the courage to emerge from the 1950’s and join the modern world?…that we have been in the dark too long?

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer is looking forward to a Davis or Winnecke administration where backroom deals are banned, respect is the way of doing business, intimidation is not allowed, listening is at a premium, and yes collaboration is practiced in all facets of doing business?…that we look forward to an administration that is the friend of the citizen as opposed to an uncooperative nemesis?…that both of the candidates who won yesterday’s primaries are learned gentlemen and either will represent Evansville favorably in the outside world and at home?…that as Mr. Winnecke said last night “it is time to put some meat on the bones” that we encourage and anticipate substantive disclosure of ideas and plans that will elevate the City of Evansville’s day to day life to come from Mr. Davis and Mr. Winnecke?…that change has arrived in Evansville but that it did not come from the Democratic Central Committee that sure likes to talk change while protecting the ways of the past?…that now we have to find a picture of only two Parrots to inspire the plans and ideas that we need to go forward in a sustainable and positive way?

IS IT TRUE? May 4, 2011

IS IT TRUE that a total of only 9,192 votes were cast in last night’s primaries for all of the candidates for the nominations for Mayor of Evansville combined?…that for a city that houses 117,429 people that is a pathetic (or should we say apathetic) turnout?…that this represents a sample of only 7.83% of the total population?…that the largest vote getter at 3,996 was Rick Davis but that only represented 3.4% of the population of Evansville?…that the number of votes needed to win a major party primary to become CEO of the City of Evansville is pretty much the same number needed to place a referendum on a ballot?…that if the general election can only inspire 10% or less of the population to cast a vote that maybe Evansville needs to consider choosing our leadership through the use of petitions?…that we have to do better than this at getting out the vote?

IS IT TRUE that the post primary celebration for Rick Davis’s victory over Troy Tornatta drew an interesting crowd?…that joining the celebration and posing for the camera’s with Rick were sitting Democratic members of the Evansville City Council Connie Robinson and John Friend?…that we wonder if this is a sign of an olive branch or an enlightenment?

IS IT TRUE that Mole #3 predicted earlier on Tuesday that if Troy Tornatta was defeated by Rick Davis that it would be the end of Mr. Tornatta’s political career?…that Troy confirmed that in a television interview after the final margin of 59% to 41% was tallied?…that even Mole #3 expected the race to be closer and had predicted a 54% to 46% victory for Davis?…that Mr. Tornatta had enjoyed having his horse hitched to the Team Weinzapfel wagon during his early political career as both a County Councilman and County Commissioner?…that not realizing that it was time to unhitch his horse from the Team Weinzapfel wagon and to build a wagon of his own was the root of his two recent defeats?…that the TV commercial where Tornatta pointed to the Civic Center and pledged to keep the Team Weinzapfel wagon rolling was the turning point of what was looking to be a very close election?

IS IT TRUE that Mr. Tornatta is a young and energetic man who holds an executive position in a local tire company that bears his family name?…that Mr. Tornatta has a wife who is recognized and respected as an exemplary person from a prominent Evansville family?…that Troy is also recognized as being a caring and loving father?…that life is much worse for many people and that Mr. Tornatta’s time in the political arena will make him a better businessman and a better person?…that the City County Observer wishes Mr. Tornatta continued and bigger success as a private business owner?…that when Troy concentrates his considerable energy on his business and his family that he has the potential to become the job creator that he expressed a desire to be as a public servant?

IS IT TRUE that the biggest surprise of the night to many people was the first place finish of Jonathan Weaver in the at-large pool for the Democratic nomination for Evansville City Council?…that if Casino Aztar had been taking bets on the order of finish in this election that the odds would have been very long for Mr. Weaver to finish first?…that Mr. Weaver’s impressive showing should be a lesson to his 5 opponents in the general election to NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THE TEA PARTY?

IS IT TRUE that Ex-City Councilman and City Council President Keith Jarboe bid to be reappointed for as the City of Evansville’s next Fire Chief is over?…that Jarboe was appointed Evansville Fire Chief by the Mayor Weinzapfel after a national search about two years ago? …that tonight the people of Evansville have spoken?…that both Lloyd Winnecke and Rick Davis have publically stated that Jarboe shall not be re-appointed Fire Chief in their administration?…that after a local search of Evansville voters in the primary election the voters agree with Davis and Winnecke?…that the Firefighters are the most vocal in this support?

Tornatta Says he will not run for office again

Rick Davis defeated Troy Tornatta in today’s Democratic primary and has advanced to face Lloyd Winnecke in the general election. Riding the Pick Rick wave to victory was Al Lindsey who defeated B. J. Watts in the 6th Ward. In the other contested elections Stephanie Brinkerhoff-Riley won in the 3rd Ward and Missy Mosby prevailed in the 2nd Ward. Jonathan Weaver, Dan Adams and Conor O’Daniel will face Bill Kramer, Pete Swaim, and Michelle Mercer for the 3 at large seats on Evansville City Council.

Please log in to the City County Observer tomorrow morning for a full discussion of the 2011 primaries.

Evansville Primaries Seeing Very Low Turnout

As all of the information that the CCO has been gathering today indicate that the turnout in today’s primaries are very light. Early it could have been the weather but that problem seems to have gone away. We did some checking on what causes people to neglect to vote and the following helpful list was the best we could find.

1. Ignorance of the issues or the candidates
2. Dislike for all of the candidates.
3. Having polls tell you already that your chosen candidate cannot win
4. Election fatigue
5. Apathy toward the system
6. Misunderstandings of how the system works
7. A feeling that one vote won’t be able to affect a change.
8. Any excuses for those people that just want an excuse not to be bothered to vote (cannot get time off work, traffic, bad weather, no transportation, etc).
9. Don’t know where one’s polling place is.
10. Registration misunderstandings and delays.

Another search with respect to who benefits in primaries basically yielded only one result. That result was that agents of change or those who are highly committed to a cause benefit from limited turnout. There is still an hour to go and we encourage all who have not yet voted to get busy and do so.

EPD Activity Report May 2 2011

Will Other Moles Get to Eat Mole #3’s Lunch?

The City County Observer sent out opportunities to participate in a contest to beat Mole #3 out of a lunch by beating Mole #3 in a contest to predict the winners in today’s contested primary elections. The most prolific members of the Mole Nation have taken up the challenge. Mole #3’s predictions along with the tally differences are below:

REPUBLICANS

Republican Mayoral Candidate: Lloyd Winnecke is the unanimous prediction of all participants. The average margin of victory predicted is 65% – 35%

Republican at-large City Council: The group of Kramer, Mercer, and Swaim like Mr. Winnecke were also unanimously picked to win by Mole #3 and the Mole Nation.

DEMOCRATS

Democrat Mayoral Candidate: Both candidates received votes but when the tally was complete Rick Davis wins the Mole Nation by 6 votes. Mole #3 predicts a 54% – 46% margin while other Rick Picking Moles has a narrower margin. Of note is the observation of the tallier of the votes is that the Republican Moles tended to choose Troy Tornatta while the Democrat Moles Picked Rick.

2nd Ward City Council: The contestants to eat Mole #3’s lunch put this contest as close as it gets. This contest ended in a Mole Stand-off with each candidate polling exactly half of the predictions. Mole #3 came out of his molehill to pick Patrick McBride by 1% – 2% margin in the biggest upset of the night. Once again Republican Moles tended to Team Troy picking Missy Mosby while Democrat Moles went with McBride.

3rd Ward City Council: Don Walker prevailed in this contest by a single vote and that vote was cast by Mole #3. A very close and fast closing Stephanie Brinkerhoff-Riley was second. Mole #3 even went so far as to predict that Walkers win over Riley will be by less than 50 votes.

6th Ward City Council: In a contest that mirrored the Democratic Mayoral race Al Lindsey was predicted to win by a 6 Mole margin. Every Mole including Mole #3 that picked Rick Davis also picked Mr. Lindsey, while the Republican Moles went stronger toward incumbent B. J. Watts. The margins of victory predicted were all comfortable with 6% (Mole #3) being that average prediction.

Democrat at-large City Council: The Mole Nation and Mole #3 picked the mix of Dr. H. Dan Adams, Conor O’Daniel, and Jonathan Weaver to survive the contest. While Adams and O’Daniel were unanimous picks the 3rd slot was closer with Weaver nosing out Steven Lowell Smith on name recognition.

There you have it. The Moles have spoken and everyone of them is salivating at the opportunity to knock Mole #3 off of its molehill and eat its lunch. Please brave the water and get out and cast an informed vote.