FAMILY FEUDS
As different as Marion County Republicans and Democrats are, they face a lot of the same internal issues these days. It’s like two families that aren’t crazy about each other, but their own in-fighting keeps them from effectively going after the other party.
For example, Marion County Republicans are still dealing with divisions from the State Convention and the race for Attorney General. I hear some Republicans want to run a challenger against Chairman Tom John in 2009. If the GOP is smart, they will all go into a back room and work out whatever issues they need to and get over themselves. John has reached out to some of the disaffected party members, but there is still a lot more healing to do. It also can’t help the party that Perry Township Constable Roy Houchins was indicted on corruption charges. 2007 was a unique election unto itself and future local elections may not be so kind to the GOP.
Things don’t look all that great on the Democratic side, either. I told you about the botched coup to replace Joanne Sanders as minority leader. And now the quest to take back the Mayor’s office may add new divisions. I already mentioned Melina Kennedy is laying ground work for the job, the other two contenders are former Deputy Mayor and current Marion County Democratic Chairman Mike O’Connor and Woody Myers. O’Connor, while bright, would still be tied to the former administration and Dr. Myers may have a residency issue to deal with. To be Mayor you have to have residency for five years. What is also hurting the Democrats is that they have no real leader or unifying force for now. Right now the only thing holding them together is their dislike of the Mayor and the Republican controlled council. They’re going to need more than that.
