Kelty - on the ropes

UPDATE: The following information was gleaned from the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel (10/20/07). It has been brought to our attention that the $230 from WISE-TV was NOT a contribution to the Kelty campaign, but rather an overpayment on their commercial schedule from the primary election. WISE discovered the overpayment and sent the campaign a refund as they would any other client. The station is checking today to determine whether the campaign incorrectly reported the check as a donation, or whether the News-Sentinel just overlooked a fact.

Although a campaign-finance report filed Friday shows he has raised less than half as much money as his Democratic opponent, Republican mayoral candidate Matt Kelty isn’t worried. He’s actually upbeat.

“I am humbled and delighted,” Kelty said. “Despite all the controversy … people believe in the vision and leadership we offer in our campaign.”

Of note, the lone local Republican-elected official to contribute to the campaign was Allen County Council President Paul Moss, who gave $150. Other notable donations included $1,000 from local blogger Dan Turkette and $230 from WISE-TV.

So, in summary, Kelty is "humbled and delighted" to have the support of ONE local Republican official, an Angry White Boy, and a television station owned by a media conglomerate who unWISEly destroyed a local station's long-standing community connection by switching to new call letters (WKJ-Gee, we miss you!). William Kunkle, formerly of the Journal Gazette, must be turning over in his grave right now!

Meanwhile, back in the Summit City. . .(pause for dramatic effect and 1960's Batman style campiness) . . the "who's who" of the local Republican Party are bolting away from Kelty at breakneck speed!

Cathy Hawks, former vice-chair of the ACRP, was one of the first local Republicans to throw their support behind Tom Henry. And that support continues to this day, as evidenced by this photo:



Even local party chair Steve Shine has expressed his discomfort with the tactics employed by Matt Kelty's supporters. I applaud Steve for this stance, and wish to publicly commend him for taking the high road on this one.

Kelty paid Indianapolis-based Faulkner Strategies $6,000 for political consulting and $13,925 to Zogby International for polling. (This was the infamous poll that Kelty (surprise!) knew nothing about).