News and Tribune reader: "Perhaps Mr. Stumler can afford the luxury of flitting between parties when it’s politically expedient."

Surely one of the more insightful letters to appear lately at OSIN, although the title does scant justice to the gist of Mr. Condon's point.

Reader urges vote for Gahan

At the Griffin Street Center debate April 3, Irv Stumler was evasive on the issue of his past as a Republican. But an article by News and Tribune’s Daniel Suddeath from Jan. 19 of this year clearly states that Mr. Stumler “had considered running [in this mayoral election] as a Republican, and that [Doug] England’s choice to not seek another term was influential in his decision to run as a Democrat.”

Mr. Stumler’s sudden party switch raises many troubling questions. Did he support the Republican Party’s platform one day, and the Democratic Party’s the next? What will he support tomorrow? And most importantly, what can we glean from all this about how he intends to run the city?

Perhaps Mr. Stumler can afford the luxury of flitting between parties when it’s politically expedient. But those of us struggling in this economy need to know whose side our mayor is on.

Recent budget battles in Wisconsin, New Jersey, and yes, Indiana, have proven just how hateful and destructive the Republican Party’s agenda for America has become. Those of us who reject these scorched-earth policies deserve a mayoral candidate who shares our values.

Irv Stumler is the latest in a long line of patrician businessmen who dabble in politics by pledging to run government like a business. We “elected” one of his kind president in 2000; today, another publicly questions President Obama’s citizenship to publicize his reality show.

With any luck, Mr. Stumler won’t resort to such desperate tactics against his most qualified and experienced opponent in this race. That candidate is lifelong Democrat Jeff Gahan, and I urge all of you to vote for him May 3.

— Eric Condon, New Albany