... McLaughlin, Bliss, Messer and Gonder advance; Bolovschak Express again derailed; Erika crushed.
Me thinks I overheard the 3rd District’s dying words: “Useless, useless.”
2007 primary election results, care of the Floyd County clerk’s office.
On April 25, I wrote the following words, and you can rest assured that this is one of the few times that NA Confidential and Steve Price have ever been in agreement – if not in the subtleties of the analysis, then in the mathematics of the likely result:
The lamentable part about CM Price’s newfound (and rapidly aging) reticence is that it has been enabled by the presence of not one, but two candidates in opposition to his archaic brand of civic decay management. The incumbent could still win the primary with as many as 66% of the total Democratic vote cast against him – and that doesn’t include the Republicans.
Feeling blue? You should. Here are today’s totals:
MAURY GOLDBERG 171 34.06%
CHARLIE HARSHFIELD 146 29.08%
STEVE PRICE 185 36.85%
There it is, in black and white: 63.15% against Steve Price, and 36.85% for – and Price emerges the winner.
It didn’t have to be this way. Why on earth did we digress into two factions, both in opposition to Price's reign of error, both refusing to communicate, and each thinking the utterly wrong thoughts about each other rather than grasping the tactical imperative and uniting as one to vanquish the underachiever?
Please … PLEASE … can we learn from this self-imposed disaster?
Meanwhile, former mayor Doug England defeated incumbent James Garner by fewer than 50 votes, incontinent Kochertian lapdog Dick Stewart topped the strangely passive restaurateur Sam Anderson by 3 tallies, and yet there was another, even closer race: On the Democratic at-large ballot, the fossilized functionary James Hollis bested well-intentioned newcomer Shirley Baird by 1 – count it – 1 vote.
With provisional ballots still out, this is an outcome very much open to debate and potential change.
Yes, the Wizard of Westside squeezed through, but Bill Schmidt’s finally forcibly retired, and both incumbent Jack Messer and hopeful John Gonder are in strong positions for the fall. The 3rd’s fiasco aside, it might have been far worse.
Look for Bluegill on Wednesday with his thoughts on the election.
Schmidt, Kochert and Blevins gone. Perghaps we can have a functioning council now. The problem is that it is odd to have so many lame ducks by the end of the primary. It could make for some strange situations before the end of the year.
ReplyDeleteI think one thing needs to be cleared up about communications. Inorder to talk to one another,knowledge of one intentions to run would be a good start.
ReplyDeleteI did not learm of Mr. Harshfeilds desire to be a candidate until 2:30PM Friday Afternoon February 23,2007, in the County Clerk office watching Eli Beardsley withdrawing from the New Albany City Councilman at large race. I was there to learn who was a last minute candidate for elective office.
Floyd County Clerk Linda Moeller told me of Mr. Harshfeild's filing for the Third District City Council race. His name did not come up with anyone I talked with about the Third District City Council race. I was surprised about the turn of events. I accepted it and moved on.
Lets accept what has happened and move forward.
Maury
Throughout, it has been my intention to place a spotlight on the issue of communication as it pertains to each of us, not one or the other faction, or one or the other person.
ReplyDeleteI'm accepting what happened and I propose to move forward. It's time we all talked.
Note the "all."
63.15% against Price. I understand your frustration but, I would have worded it “other than”. There is no way Maury or Steve would have retained all the 63% if it were a two candidate race. Sure would have been nice to see it go head to head though.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your description of Sam Anderson. I really expected to see “more” from him.
I for one do not think Kochert is gone yet. What is the deadline for filing independent?
As hard as it is to believe, I think that Coop is wrong. 60% or more WOULD have voted against price.
ReplyDeleteStay tuned. This ain't over.
And the end of June (july2) is the drop-dead for an indy filing. I (think) August 1 is the deadline to "accept" a write-in candidacy.
Write-ins must evidence a willingness to accept election; otherwise, all write-ins are discarded.
Coop
ReplyDeleteCharlie's candidact deprived Maury of the progressive vote in the district. While that vote total wasn't all of Charlie's 29%, it was a substantial part of it, perhaps as much as 75 %. Had there been no Charlie, some of his openly disaffected but non-progressive support probably would have sat it out, but most of the progressives would have gone to Maury out of expedience if not outright fervor.
In short, Price's bloc is Price's bloc. In a Price vs. Goldberg two-way, Maury would have drained a bit from Price, added the progressives, and almost certainly won.
I could construct a scenario that would have achieved the same result had it been Charlie running without Maury.
Note one thing, again. As we explicate this issue and lick our wounds, I will continue to use the words "we" and "our." I'm not pointing fingers. It is my belief that the strategic vision was splendid (a Priceless 3rd), but the tactical grasp was severely misread (two vs. 1). All of us screwed up, period, and what we need to do now is exhibit understanding of why that happened so that we DON'T DO IT AGAIN.
This isn;t about grudges and personal animus. It's about doing what it takes to achieve the strategic vision. And, obviously we didn't do that in the 3rd.
Now all of us -- ALL of us -- need to discuss what happens next.
I have a strange feeling this morning. I believe it may be called optimism, although the cynic in me insists that it is something else.
ReplyDeleteI found Roger's treatise on the Mayor's race compelling. Was having a hard time deciding who to vote for. In the end it went another way but I certainly believe that Mr. England is qualified, as is Mr. Hubbard, to be Mayor of New Albany. Qualified does not mean should be. We will have to wait and see what each propose, along with WHO they propose to help them lead New Albany. I challenge both candidates to name their right and left hand "helpers" should they win the office.
Looks like the potential make up of the Council has taken a major step forward. It would have been hard to have taken a step backwards. Saw a quote by Mr. Price acknowledging the voters anger. I hope the he is smart enough to know that the voters are not demanding more of "his way". Again, we will have to wait and see.
My Councilman went down(2nd). Something has to happen in the 3rd. Obviously, I am not in the 3rd but that position's Council vote counts as much as the one from the 2nd or any of the other seats. They all affect New Albany. If I can be of help in facilitating an Independent candidate for that seat, please, someone let me know. I don't have the baggage of having been involved in the political process and since I don't live there, perhaps none of the personal conflicts. If not me, then someone along the same lines as I certainly would not relish the job. I agree with Roger, the opposition has to come together in the 3rd for the betterment of all New Albany.
If I could sing, it would be "I Feel Good" this morning. Man, this feeling is strange.
I for one am ashamed to call myself a citizen of New Albany!
ReplyDeleteI know how much you were behind Larry, and he ran a fine campaign. There's undoubtedly a place for Larry, and for all of us, in shaping the way the future unfolds here in the city.
ReplyDeleteBut I don't believe shame is merited. It may have been a damned important election, but even if we didn't all get what we wanted, I see the glass half full this morning -- and the world didn't come to an end. I'm up just like usual, drinking coffee and slamming the keyboard.
There is reason to be optimistic.
The council will be different -- not necessarily better, but different. There are still good people in the race there.
Perspective is important.
I think if there is anything to be ashamed of, collectively we should all be ashamed that only 4680 voters cast ballots in a city of our size.
ReplyDeleteHow an entire city of voters can allow such a small minority of voters to choose who will be the final candidates is just mind blowing.
The third distric is a real shocker indeed, but I am not all that surprised, again, it would appear complacency and name regocnition played a major role in voting.
I also truly expected Garner to walk away with the democratic candidacy, despite my disappointment with certain issues, after Rogers posting the other day, on the larger scale he did implement alot of change city wide.
Not all that I voted for won. Yet, as stated above, I am unusually optimistic. I was really expecting the worst. John Gonder could have lost. Pat Mclaughlin could have lost. Donnie Blevins could have won. Erika could have won. Etc.
ReplyDeleteI think the glass is more than half full. I do reserve the right to change my mind as the new campaigns ramp up.
I am disapointed in the mayor's race, I did hope Scharlow would win. But the shame comes from the turnout, Coffey, Price, and the fact that we'll have a Republican Mayor come November. The majority of Garner's voters and Scharlow's voters won't vote for England. I saw what happened when he was mayor and I don't forget like so many others aparently do. I agree that the council could possibly see a big change, but it seems to me it's going to be 4 more years of "good ole boy" politics as usual. Who in there right mind votes for Coffee and Price?
ReplyDeleteShows how we all view things differently, Chris. I thought Mr. England might just run away with it. He did win, but it was very close.
ReplyDeleteI agree about turnout. Heavy Demo city. 3 decently qualified candidates for Mayor in the Demo primary and "nobody" shows up. If ever there was a case for showing that your vote does count, this primary is it.
New Blood,
I was not particularly fond of Mr. England's administration either. He says that he changed and I hope that it is true. That is one of the reasons for the challenge to name the top lieutenants in his administration if elected. Good 'ol boys or qualified? We'll see.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHey, why'd you remove it ...
ReplyDeleteSorry NAC, I cannot resist any longer. Please forgive me
ReplyDeleteHEY ERIK(A),
PPPPPPPLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPHHHHHH!!!!
(did not come out right the first time)
Fear not, for I am sure that in the coming days or weeks there will be a posting over on FOS claiming to have receiced over 60,000 emails from constituents tha personally voted for erika at least twice each, and that the Garner administration, in kahoots with the England camp planted secret ballot destroying software in the machines that would automatically destroy any votes for erika out of fear that she would get in office and make public the official documents that directly tie them to area 57, and how they are actually plasmic blob alien life forms from SG567(B) in alpha centauri come to New Albany to enslave the "little people"
ReplyDeleteBy the way....a $20 reward for anyone who can find a university around here with a poly-sci professor named Erik who fits the profile of our beloved FOS Author!
Easy. Bazooka Joe U., the same place where Dan Coffey matriculated. Or tinkled.
ReplyDeleteJust give the money to charity.
Well, Roger...
ReplyDeleteTo respect your wishes..I will give the $20 to my wife, Charity, as soon as I get home...(hell I give my entire check to Charity every week...)
A worthy cause, Chris ... a worthy cause.
ReplyDeleteA social worker's check? Hell, I hope that she considers you good looking or she won't be around long!!(smile)
ReplyDeleteMaybe we should ask jeffersonville if they would trade any of their districts for our 1st district and 36.85% of our third district. I would feel sorry for them though. LOL
ReplyDelete