Quartet of unendorsed at-large council hopefuls: Harbison.

Previously, NAC considered the underwhelming slate of at-large council candidates, three apiece from the two biggest (and almost equally irrelevant) political parties, advising that while voters may opt for as many as three, the pickings are slim past incumbents Gonder (D) and Zurschmiede (R). There'll be a third winner whether we like it or not, and so who will it be?

Republican Harry Harbison, maybe? Consider this comment from Libertarian mayoral candidate Thomas Keister on Facebook after last week's downtown meet and greet:

"At the meet the candidates reception at La Rosita last night, I found out that Harry Harbison and I have now both filed for office four times ... would that make me the "Junior Perennial" in the city of New Albany?"

Only four times? Surely that doesn't include primary elections. But wait ... I invariably forget that Republicans seldom have primaries here in New Albanian. Instead, there are appointment campaigns in leftover phone booths. Saves on signage, I reckon.

At any rate: What can be said about Harbison's candidacy? He lost his most recent bid for office in 2007, when Bob "CM CeeSaw" Caesar handily triumphed 66%-34% in the 2nd. To be sure, Harbison has won at least one race, serving as at-large council person for one term during the dawning years of the first Reagan administration -- although we cannot rule out he was appointed then, too.

In short: Can't the Republicans do better?