Upsets in Order When Hoosiers Hit Polls?
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowHoosiers will head to the polls Tuesday to elect mayors in dozens of Indiana cities, but don’t look for many upsets. "In ’07 we saw dozens of mayors lose in both the primary and the general and I’m not sensing that kind of attitude," said Howey Politics Indiana Publisher Brian Howey. "We may see an upset here or there, basically on local issues, maybe some kind of ethical-type thing, but I would doubt we’re going to see that many incumbents go down to defeat Tuesday."
In an interview on this weekend’s edition of Inside INdiana Business Television, Howey said his Upset Watch List includes Elkhart, where 80 year-old Democrat incumbent Dick Moore is facing a stiff challenge from former Republican legislator Tim Neese, and Portage, where Republican incumbent Jim Snyder is the subject of an FBI investigation.
In Indianapolis, Howey expects Democrat Joe Hogsett to defeat Republican Chuck Brewer. "Joe has raised so much money and so many top-tier Republicans like Murray Clark and Jim Merritt didn’t run, I just think Joe Hogsett is in good shape."
While mayoral races are typically decided on issues like city services, crime and economic development, quality of life has become a topic of conversation in several Indiana communities. Public investment in amenities like bike trails, mass transit and infrastructure projects are seen by some as keys to attracting and keeping talent. "But sometimes it can backfire," notes Howey. "Randy Strasser in Delphi was defeated in the primary after he had a bunch of economic development projects, won the Stellar Community and his opponent accused him of being a big spender."
In an interview on this weekend’s edition of Inside INdiana Business Television, Howey said his Upset Watch List includes Portage Republican Jim Snyder and Elkhart Democrat Dick Moore.