NA council: No primary race in District 3; Phipps versus Bagshaw in the fall.

In the 3rd district council, the fall race already is set, so long as there is no independent or libertarian entry after the primary.

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CITY OF NEW ALBANY COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT 3
(Precincts New Albany 3, 5, 7, 10)

D Greg Phipps 1105 E Spring St

R Dale D.M. Bagshaw 85 Galt St

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The obvious problem with politics as a part-time pursuit in a place like Nawbony, where the Wizard of Westendia remains extant, is that it's fiendishly difficult to sustain unilateral disarmament with full-time ward heelers.

In short, playing fair and clean doesn't guarantee someone else won't play dirty.

My honest opinion of Greg Phipps's first term on the council is that he's been better than average, but oddly disappointing at crucial junctures. Greg too often allows himself to be led by the mayor's cadre of handlers, as with his insufficient due diligence on parks & aquatic mega-financing. But he was right to question the use of public monies for church repair, and to advocate emergency warning sirens in areas where they were needed.

Greg was stellar in leading the push for a Human Rights Committee, then acquiesced in the administration's determination to keep it in locked away in mothballs as a mere symbolic token. He sometimes has an imperfect (and regrettably impatient) understanding of what neighborhood advocacy actually entails, as with the lamentable 922 Culbertson demolition episode.

However, Greg is suitably out in front on the Speck street network proposals, and this is the juncture where metaphorical rubber meets road: Owing to the mayor's ongoing, bizarrely craven fear of owning the issue of necessary street grid reform, Greg is going to have to do more arm-twisting behind the scenes than he is accustomed. He's going to have to play hard, and even play dirty ... if necessary.

Greg has a campaign page at Facebook.

Over on the GOP side, Dale Bagshaw has filed. His web site from 2011, when he ran for mayor, can be viewed here.

See the complete primary election listings right here.