White chili and white elephants at the 4-H fairgrounds.

Being previously engaged tonight and unable to attend the chili supper (assuming we'd be allowed in the hall), NA Confidential solicited the following report. The observations therein are those of the correspondent, to whom we offer thanks for the submission.

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White Chili and White Elephants: Local GOP Women’s Club Chili Supper at the 4-H Fairgrounds

By Tim Deatrick, Guest Correspondent

Last night the Floyd County Republican women’s club had their annual fall chili supper at the Floyd County 4-H fairgrounds, with a small crowd of about 75 party faithful in attendance.

Besides the usual fare of chili and hotdogs, Valla Ann “is she running or is she not” Bolovschak supposedly brought her white chili, although I arrived too late to sample any of it, and with her white chili it turns out she may be chasing a white elephant if she intends to run for Mayor in 2007.

According to long time party veteran and Chairman Jim Hancock the party favorite is certain to be Sheriff Randy Hubbard.

“We are trying to get Randy to run,” Hancock said. “He has run an effective sheriff’s office in his two terms and the party regulars know him to be a proven vote getter and an effective administrator, all qualities that we need to take the Mayor’s race.”

When asked if he thought Ms. Bolovschak would run, he stated that he thought she probably would, but admitted that she will have major obstacles to overcome, including her inability to prove any of her claims that the Garner Administration has potentially committed any acts of corruption or unethical practices.

“If she runs for Mayor, I am sure whoever she faces in the primary will bring to light the issue of her credibility,” Hancock explained. “That is something she will have to overcome if she can’t prove any of her claims about the Mayor, and the other problem is she isn’t real well known by the old line Republicans in the city, so I and the party regulars haven’t had a chance to evaluate her.”

As to whether she will run, it is an interesting observation that she took the flyer of Denise Canaday, a political campaign speech writer and coach, currently pursuing a Master’s Thesis on Political Speaking and Persuasion, and who is offering services at no charge to candidates.

Stay tuned, sports fans.

Hancock didn’t discourage her or anyone from running. “Whoever runs, it will generate interest in the party and that’s what we want,” he said.

Looking ahead to the 2006 elections, Hancock’s priority campaigns include the races for county commissioner, of which current city Councilman Mark Seabrook is pondering; Frank Loop for Sheriff; and New Albany Township trustee, with Bob Hornung as a probable candidate.

Regarding the trustee's race, Hancock had this to say: “Tom Cannon is the prime example of what is wrong with the Floyd County Democratic Party.”

As stated to this correspondent, Hancock’s goal during his tenure as party chairman is, “To bring continuity to the party and to keep the party together so that we are working as one.”

As to whether he will be able to do that with the apparent infiltration of Karl Rove operatives seems questionable, but the Floyd County Republican women sure can cook a mean chili.