Code Blue Schools Starts a New PAC

A new Political Action Committee has been formed to replace out of touch Fort Wayne Community School Board members with fiscally responsible ones. The PAC was formed by the leaders of the Code Blue Schools remonstrance which successfully challenged the FWCS facilities project last summer. Kevin Leininger had a great column (go read the whole thing - it's worth it) in yesterday's NS detailing the PAC's plans:

Already one of the most successful local grass-roots organizations ever, the people who last year defeated Fort Wayne Community Schools' $500 million building and renovation plan have just raised the stakes.

Their new mission, they say, is nothing less than to control - and thereby reform - an unaccountable, underperforming bureaucracy that is out of touch with the public it supposedly serves.

Don't let the ho-hum name fool you. The newly created Code Blue Schools Political Action Committee has the potential to become a political and fundraising force capable of fulfilling its stated purpose: to elect FWCS school board members who will set achievement milestones needed to comply with federal law and to balance the needs of the district and taxpayers alike.

Its first test will come in November, when three board positions - two of them now held by supporters of the capital-improvement project - will be on the ballot.

“If (Steve) Corona and (Carol) Coen run again, we will try very hard to find suitable candidates to run against them and to give those candidates a fair degree of financial support,” said C. Lockwood Marine, PAC chairman. “This all started after the building program was defeated and we didn't see any concrete action for change (within FWCS).”

This is a chance for everyone that is sick and tired of business as usual within FWCS to have their voices heard. There were a lot of people that signed the blue petition last year and an average $10 contribution could save them thousands in the future. But more than money is needed. Supporters need to ramp up the motivation level to where it was during last year's petition drive and support Code Blue School's preferred candidates. The moneyed interests will always raise a significant amount of campaign cash but they still can't compete with the sheer determination and will of an informed citizenry - last year's petition drive proved that.

But it's not enough to simply fight the battle when it's brought to you in the form of a massive tax increase. No, it's time for citizens to be proactive and place people into these positions that will actually listen to them and carry out their wishes. So what are you going to do to make sure we have a school board that represents all the people of the district? It's time to send a message that the people in this community are still the ones in charge...

2008 Agenda

So I took all of 5 minutes to brainstorm the local stories and politics that are of utmost interest to me and here are a few items where I'll be focusing my energy. Feel free to join the cause on any of these issues. As usual we'll likely be opponents on some issues but that shouldn't preclude us from working together on like minded ones. Also, feel free to comment and let us know what issues will be important to you:

1. Oust Carol Coen and Steve Carona from the Fort Wayne Community School Board while re-electing Jon Olinger

I was a Blue petition supporter and I firmly believe that Coen and Carona no longer represent the voters of the district. I hope to see the defeat of these two start a domino process that will lead to a complete overhaul of the board. Meanwhile, Olinger was the sole vote against the facilities project and he deserves the support of all voters who want to further the district's educational goals while maintaining fiscal responsibility.


2. Uphold the Smoking Ban

I was a vocal supporter of the comprehensive ban and I don't want to see it rolled back by the new council. I also think supporters of the ban should lobby the county commissioners into making the ban county-wide.


3. North River Development

Citizens should demand that ZERO tax dollars be used to clean up a polluted site owned by the richest family in the county. We also need to make sure that we get all the relevant data related to the problems before any plans to purchase the land are publicly discussed.


4. Tax and Capital Projects Review Board

This one has gone under the radar but starting in 2009 the all-appointed County Tax Adjustment Board will be replaced by a new body that will have 2 elected members. It is crucial that we elect members to this board that will protect our tax dollars and who are not tainted by the group-think policy of Allen County politics - the Good ol' Boy network if you will.


5. Harrison Square Accountability

City taxpayers need to keep a keen eye on the development of Harrison Square and make sure we're getting what we were promised. We also need to monitor the cost and schedule of the project and insure the citizenry has all the available information.

The Modern Republican Party is a Joke

The national Republican party has become a complete laughingstock. They have no principles and lack anything resembling fiscal responsibility. This last week Democrats have worked to pass an AMT bill that would patch the system for this year and keep 25 Million people from paying higher taxes. Of course the Democrats wanted to keep the "pay-go" system in place - pay-go is the simple idea of "pay-as-you-go" meaning any new program or tax-cut must be paid for and cannot simply be added to the national debt. Democrats brought pay-go back this session after Republicans had abandoned it in favor of Bush's tax cuts - it was much easier for them to give tax cuts without reducing spending.

So the Democrats want to actually pay for AMT relief by closing the loopholes given to certain investors in the Virgin Islands and other wealthy expatriates that relinquished their citizenship to avoid paying their taxes. But the Republicans filibustered that bill and even went so far as to say they wouldn't approve any bill under pay-go rules.

If you want to see how out of touch and fiscally irresponsible the modern Republican party has become just listen to the Republicans top senator on the FINANCE committee, Charles Grassley:

The Finance Committee’s top Republican, Charles Grassley of Iowa, said it was time for Democrats to abandon their “pay-go obsession,” referring to the “pay-as-you-go” principle that tax cuts or spending increases should be paid for so as not to add to the federal deficit.

Well there you have it in black and white. The Republican Party is officially against fiscal responsibility. Just add another $50 Billion to the national debt what the hell - it's not your generation's money right?

Just another reason why Republicans are going to get their clocks cleaned in 2008...

A Message from Barry Welsh

An open letter to Congressman Mike Pence and the taxpayers of Indiana,

I am Barry Welsh, and I will be in a rematch with Congressman Pence in
2008 for the Indiana 6th District seat in The U.S. House of
Representatives. As a representative, the votes cast and bills
brought forward impact everyone across the nation, not just those in
the voting district, therefore I bring forth the question of Iraq.

Those that followed the 2006 6th District race know I had enough then,
and that position has not changed. The Iraq War and Occupation has
cost the tax payers of Indiana's 6th District over 725 Million
Dollars, which is in addition to the immeasurable price paid in loss
by our brave troops. If that 725 million dollars were in this
district instead of in Iraq, the property tax might not have been
forced to skyrocket, but as it is, the fewer dollars that come back to
the state from the federal level, the more dollars the state must
raise on it's own.

This country should have remained focused on Afghanistan and capturing
Osama Bin Laden, and that focus should have remained clear, but
instead this country was lead into Iraq, and it is time to put the
focus back upon Osama Bin Laden, where it should have been since
9/11/01.

The British withdrew from Basra and violence dropped, it is not a hard
lesson to learn.
The excuses for staying in Iraq are running out, as is the patience of
'We the People'.

The question is simple; Congressman Pence, what date will you set to
end your support of the Occupation of Iraq? The people deserve to
know when you have had enough. If the answer is 'never', the people
deserve to know that as well.

Sincerely,

Barry Welsh
2008 Indiana Democratic Congressional Candidate

Welsh for Congress Headquarters
414 Central Ave.
Box 707
Connersville, IN 47331
(765) 825-8100
www.barrywelsh.org

Montagano Challenger

A previous post mentioned that there would likely be a challenger for Mike Montagano in the 3rd District Congressional race. However, I was contacted and asked to hold off before making the challenger's name public - which I did. But the speculation can now end as I spoke with the likely challenger today and he gave me permission to post his information. The likely challenger is:

Herb Summers

For those that might not remember, Herb Summers recently ran for Allen County Recorder in 2006 but lost to John McGauley.

First off, I want to say that Herb would only go as far as saying he is "strongly considering" running and that no official decision has been made. Now what do I think? I think this is good for the Democratic party and especially for Montagano. As most of you know I'm a firm believer in voters determining their representation and not DC elites, county chairmen or anyone else. Also, Herb will challenge Montagano and toughen him up for a potentially nasty battle with a seasoned incumbent like Mark Souder.

But I'm certainly not suggesting that a Montagano victory would somehow be inevitable. The guy has very little experience and thus will have to convince people that he's a viable candidate and alternative to Souder. Also a lot of voters in the 3rd District are located right here in Fort Wayne and Allen County where Herb is from. I wouldn't expect Herb to be able to raise the kind of money Montagano can so I don't see this primary as one that would drain the Montagano coffers if he were to win.

Considering Montagano's age, lack of experience, and residence outside the county district (until after he announced his run), it would be a shame if the Democratic Party couldn't field another candidate for a primary run against him...

Montagano Likely to Get Primary Challenger

Mike Montagano, Democratic candidate for the 3rd Congressional District, will likely have to win a primary before moving on to challenge Republican incumbent Mark Souder. While I was in the middle of writing this post to tell everybody who Montagano's challenger was going be, I received a phone call from the likely challenger asking me to withhold their name until they've had time to "tie up some loose ends".

So I will hold off until I get formal confirmation, but I thought readers of this blog would like to know that we may once again have a Democratic primary. I'll also add that the likely challenger is a Fort Wayne resident...