District 2: Democratic Incumbent Angela Mansfield
District 3: Republican Incumbent Ryan Vaughn
District 4: Democratic Challenger Kostas Poulakidas
District 5: Republican Incumbent Virginia Cain
District 6: Republican Incumbent Janice McHenry
District 9: Democrat Joe Simpson
District 10: Democratic Incumbent William Oliver
District 11: Democrat Steve Talley
District 12: Republican Incumbent Mike McQuillen
District 13: Republican Incumbent Robert Lutz
District 14: Republican Incumbent Marilyn Pfisterer
District 15: Democrat Vop Osili
District 17: Democratic Incumbent Mary Moriarty-Adams
District 18: Democratic Incumbent Vernon Brown
District 19: Republican Challenger Jeff Miller
District 20: Republican Incumbent Susie Day
District 21: Republican Incumbent Benjamin Hunter
District 23: Republican Incumbent Jeff Cardwell
District 24: Republican Incumbent Jack Sandlin
District 25: Republican Incumbent Aaron Freeman
That is 12 Republicans and 8 Democrats. Looking at the field, it looks like the Chamber was trying to pick the winners to endorse rather than pick people who were philosophically aligned with business interests, i.e. usually Republican. For example, the Chamber endorsed William Oliver who regularly votes against positions supported by the Chamber.
Two challengers were endorsed, Republican Jeff Miller and Democrat Kostas Poulakidas, both who are running in districts that now have baselines that support their party. One wonders the connections that Poulakidas' connections to Develop Indy might have played in securing his endorsement over pro-business Republican Christine Scales. Madeline Poulakidas, Kostas' wife, is business developer at Develop Indy, which is supposed to be merging with the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce.
I didn't see that they endorsed in the at-large races or for Mayor.
5 comments:
No endorsements for the at large canidates?
This is enough reason to vote against the supported candidates. "Business interests" are not synonymous with, and are often antagonistic to, taxpayer and consumer interests. In the Chamber's case they are the interests of certain existing interests, and not those of all businesses or new entrepreneurs. Of course it then makes sense that the Chamber would endorse power over any supposed principles.
Did anyone check the business relationships the candidates have with the companies who get a vote in the Chamber's selection?
While I acree with you, Nic, there still is no consistency in their endorsements.
HEI, I don't know how you'd even go about checking that out.
Guy, I didn't see any.
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