Indiana

The Chickens Have Flown the Coup D?etat

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

Usually the elections to run a legislative body are pretty mundane; not so much in Indianapolis.

Although Monday night’s election of Republican Ryan Vaughn seemed pretty nonchalant on the surface, there was actually an attempted coup behind the scenes.  The original plan, hatched by Democrats my sources tell me, was to elect Barb Malone President and Libertarian Ed Coleman Vice-President.  My sources tell me Democrats approached Christine Scales to overthrow Vaughn’s nomination.  A move insiders say was not only plain stupid, but would have been a  slap in the face to the Republicans and those who wanted smooth government.  Instead, the vote came down to Vaughn, Mary Moriarty Adams and Ed Coleman.   Vaughn won with 15 votes, Moriarty Adams got 11 votes and Coleman got 3 votes.

When approached about his support for the Democrats my sources tell me Coleman’s  response was “What has the Republican Majority done for me-why should I help them?”

In addition there was also infighting on the Democratic side over who they should support for Council vice-president.  The nominees were Marilyn Pfisterer, Barb Malone and Jackie Nytes.  Pfisterer got 14 votes, while Malone came in second, Nytes third which led to a second round of voting since there was no clear majority.  Some Democrats had hoped Nytes would have dropped out clearing the way for them to elect Malone, but instead Malone withdrew, clearing the way for a Pfisterer victory.

What a way to start a new Council year.  Whomever thought of this should be taken out and beaten with a stupid stick.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on January 12, 2010 (boomark / email).