Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Decision 2011: Conservative, more conservative, and not enough Everclear for District 2.

Starting yesterday with the Forgotten First, we're surveying New Albany's municipal elections on November 8: A council race each day through Saturday, at-large on Sunday, and the mayoral contest on Monday, October 17. Listings are cribbed from the clerk's office, followed by brief comments by the senior editor.

NEW ALBANY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2
(Precincts New Albany 16, 18, 19, 22, 29)


R Jessica Knable 1301 Riddle Road 812-949-4964
D Bob Caesar (incumbent) 614 Camp Avenue 812-945-8744

Caesar, a downtown small businessman of long standing, still cannot grasp the existence of economic development models other than One Southern Indiana's "enrich the exurban oligarch" program, and he has neither done nor said anything in four years on the council to indicate that he is a Democrat -- socially, politically or economically -- as opposed to a Republican, or a Dixiecrat, or a Falangist. When the council resolved to oppose bridge tolls, there was Caesar, slinking into the arms of the oligarchs in the vain hope they'd let him attend their parties.

Meanwhile, all indications are that Knable, while admittedly scoring points for accessibility and positions vaguely approximating New Urbanism in the sense of support for a refitted street grid and and the importance of small, locally owned business, obviously harbors beliefs closely resembling Michele Bachmann's when it comes to the GOP's social and religious fundamentalism.

NAC's pick: Drink heavily. Very heavily.

2 comments:

ecology warrior said...

well just because Knable is a social conservative or perhaps fringe candidate should not be a reason to not endorse after all how many social issues does the city council debate?

You admitted that Knable has a better grasp of economic development and the more salient, meaningful issues facing the city, I say give knable the nod and a chance to demonstrate a committent to job creation and not creationism.

The New Albanian said...

She's shown glimmers, EW. I'm not sure I'd go as far as to say that she has a better grasp. Caesar has a good grasp of the outmoded; he just won't use it for anything. I like your last line; good phrase turning there.