Vote Cisa Kubley for New Albany City Council District 4.

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

In New Albany's 4th city council district, the best choice is political newcomer Cisa Kubley. I'd vote for Cisa if I lived in the 4th district.

Cisa is an independent local business owner (Sew Fitting at Underground Station). As an immigrant from Bloomington, she brings a fresh perspective and vast experience volunteering in community affairs.

She belongs to the New Albany chapter of Business and Professional Women, was named one of the 2013 "20 under 40," and now serves on the national board of the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals.

I got to know her a few years back when we worked together with others to enable New Albany First, an independent business association, with the aim of organizing grassroots local indies into an organization of stakeholders with input commensurate with their contributions. The idea did not come to fruition, but it remains something we need, and it is my hope that regime change can help bring it about beginning in 2020.

Another strong plus for Cisa is her advocacy of a sensible downtown street grid for all users, not only drivers and their cars. She strongly supported the entirety of Jeff Speck's suggested downtown street grid makeover, which the incumbent Pat McLaughlin eventually came around to supporting only reluctantly without ever revealing a genuine grasp of the material or enthusiasm for fundamentals.

It's time for new blood in the 4th district: "Active representation to enable positive change".

I recommend voting for Cisa Kubley.

Previously:

Vote Scott Stewart for New Albany City Council District 2.

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

NA council: In District 4, Paddy Mac whips it good, faces challenger Ross Heinz in November.

Last Friday at the filing deadline, I could have sworn we all saw the name of Ken Brooks next to that of Pat McLaughlin on the DemoDixieDisneycrat ledger in District 4. We even joked about it, given that Brooks appears to have worked at Endris Jewelers: Wonder what Paddy Mac did to annoy 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?

No matter; never mind.

Brooks's name is gone, presumably withdrawn. Perhaps Caesar made his point and was offered suitable tribute -- opposition to a rational street network, perhaps?

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CITY OF NEW ALBANY COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT 4
(Precincts New Albany 11, 13, 20, 24, 25)

D Pat McLaughlin 1739 Florence Ave

R Ross Heinz 716 Academy Dr # 15

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Heinz has no campaign material in sight, but it looks like this probably is him on Facebook: IU Southeast poli-sci grad, and friends with all the freshly scrubbed, right Republicans. But give the GOP credit: They're finding young candidates to contest the district races, while three of the best young Democrats are massed together in the at-large group -- arguably the most difficult slate of all from which to advance.

McLaughlin, who occupies the crucial role of Gahan Super Whip on the council, has no known Internet presence. Any metaphorical resemblance to the degraded state of New Albany's political culture is purely intentional.

If you live in the 4th council district and might like to run as an independent candidate in the fall, let me know. We have plenty to discuss.

See the complete primary election listings right here.

Decision 2011: The unbearable incontinence of Kochert, still looming under the 4th District race.

Our survey of New Albany's municipal elections on November 8 continues, with numbered council districts through Saturday, at-large on Sunday, and the mayoral scrum on October 17. Listings are cribbed from the clerk's office, followed by brief comments by the senior editor.

NEW ALBANY COUNCIL DISTRICT 4
(Precincts New Albany 11, 12, 13, 20, 24, 25)

R John M. Hiatt 1739 DePauw 812-948-8351
D Pat McLaughlin (incumbent) 1739 Florence Avenue 812-987-5218

The political dementia of spandex envy in the form of the 4th District's once and never King Larry Kochert continues to exert a strong influence, not unlike the odor of urine after another Harvest Homecoming passed. Think of him as a one-man, garage-vote Pee Party ... and yawn.

Meanwhile, it's worth repeating the question asked of McLaughlin in my Tribune column of March 18, 2010:

"When the time finally comes for last call – not a quick pint before the trip home from the warm pub on a cold, desperate and anonymous night just like all the rest, but the punching of the big ticket and the cosmic bow prior to that most irrevocable of all curtains falling, how will posterity judge your political legacy? Was it progressive or regressive? Was it Dan Coffey’s legacy … or yours?"

NAC's pick: Does the Republican have a pulse? I'll take McLaughlin by a paper-thin margin, as explained by Hiatt in one of his better songs.

Sunday Blue Light Backfill Special: Three good Tribune reads.

You can be sure that the New Albany Tribune is on the right track when the city’s most shameless of trognonymous bloggers begins attacking it for presumed bias – on behalf of folks (s)he detests, and against the saintly Auntie V:

The New Albany Tribune deserves an award for being a One sided local news paper that will only print what the current adminstration wants printed … And you Sir, Mr. Campbell have done a greater disservice to Valla Ann Bolovschak a successful business owner, a citizens advocate and taxpayer of New Albany.

Someone call the spelling, grammar and syntax police; Erika appears to be having another “Cupid’s arrow” moment. Can Fantasy Island be far behind?

Meanwhile, for the non-apoplectically minded, there here are three highly worthwhile reads in today’s Sunday edition:

Famous big band booked for New Albany Speakeasy; Glenn Miller Orchestra playing State Street jazz club’s opening, by Eric Scott Campbell.

Brad Tharp wanted a big-name jazz ensemble to open his New Albany club, so he got on the horn … Tharp called the Glenn Miller Orchestra, which has toured virtually nonstop for 50 years, after he got approval to launch Speakeasy in a vacant State Street building downtown.

COPAS: Kathy’s rules of order, by guest columnist Kathy Copas.

A couple of months ago, I attended my first New Albany City Council meeting. A blogger neighbor of mine suggested I go. He made a great point one night, during a front porch rocking chair conversation, that it’s important to go at least once if you’re someone who lives in and truly supports New Albany moving forward.

ALTON: City Council? Not this time, by guest columnist John Alton.

I was originally considering a run for the 4th District City Council in New Albany as a Democrat, and had intended to file. I withdrew in favor of Pat McLaughlin when I learned that he had filed, and I saw where he had barely lost in the last election to Kochert. I did intend to run as an Independent, but with the death of my mother in February, it took a lot out of me, and it took the steam out of the effort.