Vote Scott Stewart for New Albany City Council District 2.

Call it an endorsement if you will, or think of it as my personal support, backing, seal of approval, recommendation or advocacy.

I don't live in District 2, but if I did, I'd vote for Scott Stewart. Hands down. No contest. Not even close. Nary a moment's pause. It does not require tea leaves, a degree in rocket science or a passing acquaintance with urban street grid essentials (the latter as yet eluding Stewart's intellectually exhausted opponent, Bob Caesar) to grasp that seldom in the history of New Albany governance has there been a candidate with Scott Stewart's experience and credentials.

Period. Full stop. Drop the mic.

At his website, the candidate explains why. If you're a 2nd District voter, please vote for Scott Stewart. It is exceedingly rare for us to have such an opportunity to elect a council representative of his caliber.

Meet Scott

I believe deeply in public service. I’ve bookended my career doing just that. So, a quick introduction.

I grew up on Fenwick Drive and Ellen Court. I attended Holy Family and Providence.

I joined Mayor Bob Real’s administration while attending IU Southeast. I bought my first home in Finchland. I was a staff director for U.S. Senators Richard Lugar and Dan Quayle, then joined the Procter & Gamble Company. While I spent most of my time in Cincinnati, I did live in Switzerland and Belgium for 6 years. I retired from P&G after 24+ years and joined Governor Mitch Daniels’ staff in Indianapolis. I returned to New Albany and the 2nd District in 2010, completing my tenure in state government with INDOT and the Ports of Indiana in 2018.

My wife Christi and I have four children spread between Cincinnati, Lexington, KY, New York City, and Basel, Switzerland. Our four grandchildren are split between Lexington and Basel, the latter much too far away.

A final word about voting in local elections. My plea is to take it seriously.

Nowhere in the world is democracy more relevant than a local election. Be it mayor, city council, school board, or county offices, we all have the opportunity to select those men and women who have a direct effect on our lives. Everyday. The responsibility falls to you and me, our family, friends, and neighbors to ensure that our elected officials reflect the choice exercised by as many voters as possible. Too many big decisions that affect taxes, spending, and our community spirit too often are made that people who were elected by a minority of registered voters. During the last city election in 2015, 27% of registered voters turned out in District 2. We are better than that. Be sure to learn about the issues, the candidates and be sure to vote.

Previously:

Vote Josh "JT" Turner for New Albany City Council District 5.

There are no words, so: "In Flowerpots We Trust."

On one side a sitting DemoDisneyDixiecratic councilman who has said that he'll stake his political career on the implementation of two-way streets, and on the other, a Re-Republican who stands with Bic and lighter fluid in hand, determined to prevent any change that might impede Mr. Padgett's coal trains from trammeling unimpeded through residential neighborhoods.

Does anyone read?

Can anyone explain why Irv Stumler has so many yard signs outside the 2nd District?

Does he even know this corner isn't in his district?

Is it any wonder we drink?

Take it away, guys.

2nd district council race pits Tweedledum, Tweedledee in a consensus to the death.

Senility fetishists rejoice: You have until November to enjoy NA's 2nd district council race. The rest of us will be rereading Dante Alighieri's Inferno in a effort to verify which circle of suffering this scenario best inspires.

Ladies and gentleman, your candidates.

Caesar: I hate two-way streets the most.
Stumler: No, I hate two way streets worse than you.

Stumler: I’d have spent $4 million more repairing Spring Street Hill again and again.
Caesar: Hah! I’d have spent $5 million more repairing Spring Street Hill again and again.

Caesar: Miller Lite tastes great!
Stumler: Less filling!

Stumler: If you don't look at trucking porn, you can't have an erection.
Caesar: How can you have an erection if you don't look at trucking porn?

Evidently these two sad remnants are the best New Albany can do. On the topic of street grid reform, the falsehoods, whoppers and outright lies uttered by Bob Caesar and Irv Stumler alone, if laid end to end, would reach to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the city council recently approved a bold Complete Streets Ordinance, one we can be sure neither Caesar nor Stumler would ever be bothered to read.

Tweedledum and Tweedledee

Agreed to have a battle;

For Tweedledum said Tweedledee

Had spoiled his nice new rattle.

Just then flew down a monstrous crow,

As black as a tar-barrel;

Which frightened both the heroes so,

They quite forgot their quarrel.

Jeff Speck as monstrous crow?

C'mon, someone reading this piece lives in the 2nd district and feels like projectile vomiting at the prospect of either of these two political poseurs representing you in the modern world as it exists in the here and now.

Run as an independent, and at least make them answer to something factual. Let me know, and I'll do what I can to help.

Problem drinking escalates in NA's 2nd council district.

NA council: TIF funds needed for snoring solutions as Ceasar faces Stumler in the 2nd.

Never have so many deferred to such a small-minded adversary.

One by one, potential opponents in both major parties have averted their gazes from the District 2 council seat, and opted instead for at-large slots, out of little more than congenial nicety toward Bob "My Way IS the Highway Straight Through YOUR Neighborhood, Not Mine" Caesar.

That's too bad, because Tiberius Severus Octavian Elagabalus Septimius Augustus Claudius Hadrian CeeSaw, the Protector of Pearl, Deliverer of all Downtown Datedness, Master of the Mercantile, and Guardian of the Gates, is very beatable.

Except that Irv Stumler probably is not the one to do the job.

This year Irv has reverted to his natural habitat in the GOP's conceptual desert, and there's something to be said for such ideological clarity, but all in all, this is the ultimate in electoral snooze fests. It gives the city almost as much of a bad name as KZ's recently shuttered spa.

Can someone ask "Bobby" whether we've sold the rest of those Bicentennial Crutchfield paving stone seat cushions? Bet we haven't. How much did THOSE cost?

The real Bicentennial isn't until 2017, anyway.

---

CITY OF NEW ALBANY COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT 2
(Precincts New Albany 16, 18, 19, 22, 29)

D Bob Caesar 614 Camp Ave

R Irv Stumler 1216 Adams Street

---

It's just too depressing to continue. Do you live in District 2, and would you like to contest this moribund seat in November as an independent candidate? Let me know, because we have much to discuss.

A "Decision 2011: follow-up: 2nd District reconsidered?

What’s a leftist like me to do?

I won’t put too fine a spin on this, but merely note that it’s dawning on me: There probably needs to be a deeper discussion about the 2nd District council race than my oblique side step on Tuesday.

That I sidestepped the race at all owes to something very characteristic of my worldview, which might be summarized briefly as a first-response, hyper-sensitivity to matters of conscience.

Freedoms of thought, expression, identity and self-realization, and freedom from religious, political and social repression all come first with me, and all else comes second. Life is not about money. It is about living. Simply stated, then, it remains my presumption that when it comes to what might be called the “social agenda,” I could not differ more from what 2nd District challenger Jessica Knable (R) believes.

However, we’ve somehow engaged in a quirky, sporadic dialogue pertaining to public policy issues. Know that I don’t agree with everything she has written; readers may wish to review her Facebook campaign site postings for a refresher. Just consider this response to my question (paraphrased): How do you differ from your opponent, the incumbent Bob Caesar?

I differ from Bob in the followings ways: I will bring a unique voice and perspective to the Council because I am a 43-yr-old mother of four children who attend three different New Albany public schools, as such I have real interest in the Council and School Board communicating - they presently do not. I have nothing whatsoever to do with the current administration; I believe this is plus. I promise to answer all questions in a timely fashion. I promise to be available; this will not be a part-time job for me, but rather a full-time one. I promise to do my research and homework before meetings, and to be prepared. I want to preserve the parks, especially Community Park as a green space, no development. Finally, I will decline the health-benefits offered the Council, thus saving our city about $80,000 over four years. As far as social conservative issues go, I really do not see where their place would fit in on New Albany's Council. I promise you will not hear my views on abortion.

In previous communications, Knable has offered support for the emerging buy local movement, particularly as it pertains to the current period of bridge closure. She has indicated skepticism as to the River View development claims. And, her fellow GOP candidate Bledsoe’s recurring obscurantism to the contrary, she has seemed capable of understanding and perhaps even advocating the two-way street issue.

By contrast, Caesar’s campaign to date is sadly reminiscent of the recent 1800 Tequila television ad:

That’s cool. Jessica Knable just answered another question.

What has your candidate done?

Nothing.

Decision 2011: Conservative, more conservative, and not enough Everclear for District 2.

Starting yesterday with the Forgotten First, we're surveying New Albany's municipal elections on November 8: A council race each day through Saturday, at-large on Sunday, and the mayoral contest on Monday, October 17. Listings are cribbed from the clerk's office, followed by brief comments by the senior editor.

NEW ALBANY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2
(Precincts New Albany 16, 18, 19, 22, 29)

R Jessica Knable 1301 Riddle Road 812-949-4964
D Bob Caesar (incumbent) 614 Camp Avenue 812-945-8744

Caesar, a downtown small businessman of long standing, still cannot grasp the existence of economic development models other than One Southern Indiana's "enrich the exurban oligarch" program, and he has neither done nor said anything in four years on the council to indicate that he is a Democrat -- socially, politically or economically -- as opposed to a Republican, or a Dixiecrat, or a Falangist. When the council resolved to oppose bridge tolls, there was Caesar, slinking into the arms of the oligarchs in the vain hope they'd let him attend their parties.

Meanwhile, all indications are that Knable, while admittedly scoring points for accessibility and positions vaguely approximating New Urbanism in the sense of support for a refitted street grid and and the importance of small, locally owned business, obviously harbors beliefs closely resembling Michele Bachmann's when it comes to the GOP's social and religious fundamentalism.

NAC's pick: Drink heavily. Very heavily.

Knable bests Caesar on two-way streets.

She thinks two-way streets will make downtown better, so after the first inning, it's Jessica Knable 1, Bob Caesar 0.

How will the candidates for the 2nd council district compare on other issues? A good place to start would be bridge tolls, a topic that Caesar miserably failed owing to his slavish devotion to One Southern Indiana pro-tolling, exurb enrichment program.

Meanwhile, while we're bound to disagree as the game progresses, the first-time candidate Knable at least seems willing to discuss issues and answer questions. Let's hope the Clere Channel Network doesn't teach her how to use the delete button.

Jessica Knable for City Council at Facebook