How Effective Will Our Local Representatives Be?

With Republicans firmly in control of the State House and Governor Daniels charting our course for recovery it will be interesting to see how well our local elected officials will be able to adapt to these changes. With Mitch’s overwhelming popularity in the state, it will take something catastrophic in nature to slowdown this Republican juggernaut as he is virtually assured of reelection in 2008. Even in a blue county like Monroe the opinion poll by the Herald Times Online indicated a 65% approval rating. With that, it is obvious that Vi Simpson's gubernatorial campaign will be relegated to taking a back seat until at least the 2012 election, something she will clearly have a hard time accepting. She will no longer have the high profile committee assignments and she will not have the access to State money to pass around both of which will hamper her ability to build support not to mention raising campaign finances. Peggy Welch and Matt Pierce are two other local legislators that will be in for a major adjustment, as they too are unaccustomed to working with Republicans in control.

The systemic improvement process that we are currently undergoing at the State level will be an ongoing education for many. Unfortunately the Democrats are proving to be some of the slowest learners as they are having the most difficultly accepting the fact that we cannot spend more than we take in. Such was the case with our local legislators as they never seemed to concern themselves about a balanced budget as long as they had plenty of bilk Indiana money to spread around throughout their district. However, since working within a tight or severely restricted budget will be completely foreign to them along with the fact they are in the minority at the State House, it certainly gives reason for concern about their effectiveness in representing the folks of Monroe County. We can only hope at this point that good candidates emerge, starting in 2006 that will be more effective at working with our Governor and more in tune with the House and Senate. Our local leaders have been very outspoken in their opposition to the Republican recovery strategy. It is my belief that each time they speak out and are critical of our Governor they are only driving a deeper wedge between Monroe County and the rest of the State. The obvious question is, what kind of support should we expect from the Republican controlled State House with two Democrat Representatives and a Democrat Senator? More than likely we will need a change, starting in 2006.