Indiana

What I?m Watching

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

This week is shaping up to be pretty busy and it’s not even Monday.   Here’s what I’m following.  If there’s something I’m missing, let me know.

Monday night the Marion County GOP will fill the position left vacant by Kent Smith.  My front runner list hasn’t changed.  It’s still, not necessarily in this order, Angel Rivera, Avacino Reeves, Dorothy Henry, Jackie Cissel and Aaron Williams. I expect 2-3 ballots before a winner is declared.  I am hearing some of the candidates are upset at the process and may hold a news conference Tuesday to complain about it.

On Tuesday, the Marion County Clerk will hear candidate challenges.  I’m especially interested in the 14 filed against precinct committeemen that were brought to the table by Indy Mayoral candidate Brian Williams.  For all the huffing and gnashing of teeth in the blogosphere you would have thought there would have been a lot more challenges filed.

On Thursday, we’re doing the radio show live from the Statehouse, and following that, the Indiana Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the Voter ID case.  I hope to have the audio up by noon.

This is also the last week of the Indiana General Assembly.  Lawmakers still have to figure out an agreement on unemployment insurance, school funding, ethics  and township government reform.

And finally, expect some posts this week going into more detail on the lawsuit against the state over the school funding formula as well as the Carmel school district hazing incident.  My sources tell me the Department of Child Services is investigating the coaches who were on the bus at the time to determine if they have any liability.

Also, I’m told the situation involving local labor leader and Democrat Lettie Oliver is a lot more serious than originally believed and the next 12-24 hours will be outcome determinative.   Keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on February 28, 2010 (boomark / email).