Late note: The two candidates for the Indiana House of Representatives District 72 seat will appear together tonight at the monthly meeting of the S. Ellen Jones Neighborhood Association. The meeting is at 6:30 at S. Ellen Jones Elementary School. Incumbent Democrat Bill Cochran and his challenger, Republican Ed Clere, will each have 10 minutes to speak, and attendees will have a chance to meet the candidates and ask questions.
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Aside from a slight problem with numbers adding up (see below), the C–J’s preview of Indiana’s District 72 race pretty much touches the relevant bases.
Challenger Ed Clere says that new ideas (and new faces) are good.
Longtime incumbent Bill Cochran points to his record as a cautious functionary.
If that doesn’t summarize the American political conundrum, I can’t think of a better example. We pound fists on the barroom table, demanding term limits, and then rush to vote for a legislator who won his first primary when Richard Nixon was still abusing his office. I certainly don’t blame Cochran for stressing his experience, and he has a valid point that such savvy is quite useful to his district.
At the same time, I’m unaware of any instance of Cochran taking a substantive (palpable?) position on local New Albanian affairs to the extent that Ed Clere has, both in words and in deeds.
Furthermore, wouldn't it be better not to need "fixers" in government? With a functional, professional bureaucracy and the equitable application of rule of law (did Dan Coffey just shudder?), elected officials might have the latitude do be more like statesmen and less like janitors.
Indeed, change is the only constant in life, and it requires adjustments ... like the cognitive dissonance that comes from knowing that you’ll be voting for more Republicans than Democrats this time out.
Political newcomer challenging Cochran for House seat; Race boils down to new ideas vs. experience, by Lesley Stedman Weidenbener.
INDIANAPOLIS -- One of the state's longest-serving lawmakers is facing a challenge from a political newcomer 25 years his junior.
State Rep. Bill Cochran, D-New Albany, was first elected to represent District 72 in 1974, the year Jeffersonville real estate agent Ed Clere was born.
But while Cochran, 59, maintains that experience has been essential to making sure the district gets its fair share of the state's budget, Clere, 34, believes the region needs some fresh ideas and energy.
"We need representation that is in touch with the people of District 72 and Southern Indiana at large," said Clere, who lives in New Albany and owns Dragonfly Realty. "We need representation and leadership focused on the future."
Cochran argued just the opposite, saying that "a new voice doesn't get heard too well in Indianapolis."
"I have the networking I've made over the years. I have friends all over the state and at state agencies that can be contacted for various constituent problems," Cochran said. "A phone call to them can help constituents having problems with licensing, permits and other problems."
Did you catch the error?
Wikipedia has this to say about Bill Cochran's DOB: August 25, 1934 (1934-08-25) (age 74).
Just for the sake of accuracy, this makes the 74-year-old Cochran 40 years Clere's senior, not 25.
I, for one, am ready for a new voice in Indianapolis. Ed Clere is ready to take on this position that someone 34 years his senior never could.
ReplyDeleteWe need a change and Ed Clere is that change. Say no to the status quo!
I missed a couple of words. It should say: "Ed Clere is ready to take on this position with the vigor that someone 34 years his senior never could."
ReplyDeleteI remember being very surprised that he was only 59 when reading the paper this morning. Obviously, I was not industrious enough to check it out.
ReplyDeleteI respect Mr. Cochran, but tonight he did not really give me a reason to vote for him. The entire time he spoke, he seemed out of touch and during a portion of his time he bordered on incoherent.
ReplyDeleteEd Clere, on the other hand, presented a well thought out set of policies he would like to implement that would definitely provide a brighter future for this state and this area.
The most telling point of the evening for me was, during Mr. Cochran's spiel, a small child ran to the door and tried to get out. I couldn't help but think that he was the smartest person in the room and I envied his desire to flee. I believe it was sometime during Mr. Cochran's discussion of his formative elementary school days. Yes, it was that bad.
ReplyDeleteAlso...it was great to meet Jeff, Lloyd and Larry this evening. I truly enjoyed the discussion afterwards and look forward to quite a few more!
ReplyDeleteI think that Bill Cochran has done a huge amount for this community, especially IUS. Ask any IUS prof and they will tell you straight up that had it not been for Cochran, IUS would not have what they have today, namely the new library.
ReplyDeleteBut, it is time for a fresh face to lead our community on the state level.
I recently received a flier in my mailbox (one of many) from the Indiana House Republican Campaign Committee which helped me decide to vote against Cochran's opponent. The flier depicts a filthy hand gripping a switchblade, and reads "Bill Cochran voted against increasing the penalty for cult and ritualistic child abusers." The flier purports this to be "HB 1335 (roll call 80) 1994." A quick search of the internet reveals only a marriage bill named HB 1335. However, this isn't the point. The point is that I'm pissed off by the GOP's fear-mongering in this case. This alleged bill is dated 14 years ago, and most educated people regard ritual abuse to be little more than a myth. Unless Clere speaks up and denounces these scare tactics, I'm voting for Cochran.
ReplyDeleteEd did not know anything about the literature that was sent out by the party prior to being notified by people like me.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, months ago he was told that the party was going to focus on other political races rather than his. It has been a surprise to me, someone that has followed his campaign very closely, that the state has even changed course.
And to make a quick note, my mother worked at the Washington County WIC office and saw many cases of ritualistic child abuse. These offenses were reported and many times little was done to stop it.
Ed did not know anything about the literature that was sent out by the party prior to being notified by people like me.
ReplyDeleteThen he needs to step up and speak out against these scare tactics if he wants to garner any kind of respect from this voter.
And to make a quick note, my mother worked at the Washington County WIC office and saw many cases of ritualistic child abuse. These offenses were reported and many times little was done to stop it.
Likely "little was done to stop it" because the allegations were false. Ritual abuse has been debunked numerous times. You can read about it here and here.