THE “RACE” FOR SHERIFF
As the tug of war over the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department continues between Mayor-elect Greg Ballard and Sheriff Frank Anderson, there is another fight that is getting ready to flare up as well.
There are rumblings in the African-American community that if the soon to be Republican-controlled City-County Council takes IMPD from Anderson and gives it to Ballard then it would be taking power away from the Black Sheriff and giving it to the white Mayor. So forces are gathering to begin the obligatory protests and letters to the editor, etc.
Before people get too worked up they may be overlooking one little detail. If Anderson has his way, power will already be transferred from the Black Sheriff. The Sheriff has already endorsed his right-hand man Kerry Forestall for the job when he runs in 2010. Forestall, by the way, is white.
So anyone who plans to protest or march on city hall to object to power being taken away from the first Black Sheriff and given to a white guy may want to stop by Anderson’s office on the way. This way they can avoid looking like total hypocrites and instead just silly protesters.
