What they're saying: A candidate overview, and Tonye Rutherford on the radio.

As the weeks go past in route to May's primary election, I'm providing periodic candidate statements of substance, mostly unretouched, as lifted from social media and news reports. Familiar gems such as "yard signs win elections, not people" and "donate to my campaign first, and maybe I'll have something of merit to say much, much later" will be omitted. That's because it is my aim to determine whether our declared candidates have anything to say at all, and I'll quote all candidates, from any and all parties, whether or not they're in a contested race. Just promising change and new ideas without divulging them won't cut the mustard, aspirants.


---

We've been listening to what they're saying, and before turning it over to Tonye Rutherford (below), here is an overview of contested primary races in the context of what we've heard.

Unsurprisingly, candidates without primary opponents have tended to reveal little in terms of platform content, although there are exceptions (Al Knable and Cliff Staten spring to mind).

There are three contested Democratic Party races. For mayor, the incumbent Jeff Gahan defends against a challenge from David White. In the city council at-large, returnees John Gonder and Shirley Baird are joined by four candidates in "pick 3 from 6": Brad Bell, James Garner, Adam Keeler and Hannegan Roseberry. In District 5, Dustin Collins is pitted against two-termer Diane Benedetti.

Not much of substance has come from the mayoral duo. Gahan merely releases numerous photos of TIF-financed public works projects, and White tends to fall back on long-since released, poorly edited position statements emphasizing sales-oriented economic development.

Gonder has revealed a bit more than Baird. Garner has been completely invisible on social media, and Bell more concerned with state issues than local ones. Keeler has been better, and Roseberry easily the best when it comes to moving outside the box with content.

In terms of social media, Collins has been ubiquitous, easily outpacing Benedetti, who does not seem to embrace the medium. Unfortunately, some mud has been slung in this race, arguably diverting attention to points both candidates have made about 5th district concerns.

On the Republican side, three District 6 candidates are vying for the nomination: Larry Belcher, Noah McCourt and Nick Vaughn. McCourt has gained confidence as the campaign has progressed, taking positions and delineating himself as a libertarian among Republicans. Vaughn has a young person's instinctive feel for social media and casts himself as an up and comer in perpetual motion. Belcher has had little to say.

In District 5, it's Danita Burks and Tonye Rutherford for the GOP. Rutherford lost to Benedetti by less than two dozen votes in the 2011 general election. Burks has been silent, but on Sunday, Rutherford was a guest on the Black Heart Conservative radio show (970 AM), and you are recommended to listen to the podcast. It is very revealing.

Among the topics of discussion are storm water drainage, potholes, snow removal, the Louisville West End Wal-Mart, campaign finance and even the Ohio River Bridges Project. Rutherford reveals that he doesn't wear a Fitbit, but has been hitting the streets in his district, and he logs more local substance in this podcast than most of the other primary contestants have managed so far.

The link is at Soundcloud: Black Heart Conservative 04-12-15.

What they're saying: Roseberry, Knable, Staten and Rutherford.

As the weeks go past in route to May's primary election, I'm providing periodic candidate statements of substance, mostly unretouched, as lifted from social media and news reports. Familiar gems such as "yard signs win elections, not people" and "donate to my campaign first, and maybe I'll have something of merit to say much, much later" will be omitted. That's because it is my aim to determine whether our declared candidates have anything to say at all, and I'll quote all candidates, from any and all parties, whether or not they're in a contested race. Just promising change and new ideas without divulging them won't cut the mustard, aspirants.

---

Hannegan Roseberry (D, at-large council) and Al Knable (R, at-large council) continue to buck the close-lipped traditions of their respective parties by speaking and writing openly about the real world. Hannegan leads off with two postings at her Facebook campaign page.

First, on the topic of standing up for what you believe:

I feel we have a real problem on our hands when our elected officials refuse to give simple yes or no answers to questions. When you are an elected official and you refuse to give your thoughts on a subject, then I politely suggest that you hang up your hat. Whether it be something as obvious as Two-Way Streets in a city like New Albany, or something as colossal (and sinister) as RFRA, you have an obligation to be transparent on your stance. You were elected by the people (granted, a very small amount of the people of Indiana, see my earlier posts about voter apathy in the Hoosier state), and you owe them transparency. This doesn't mean that your opinions can, or even should, please everyone at all times. I think that is another tricky corner that too many elected officials get themselves into, trying to please everyone at all times by committing to nothing and towing every line "just in case." Be bold, be educated, and stand strongly for the things you believe in.

And, on women in local politics.

Wonder Women - Where Are You?

Where are the women candidates? In our upcoming city primary elections, there are a mere five female candidates out of 28, and only two of those women are challengers (myself included). Last time I checked, one out of every two human beings are female - why are we not stepping up to the plate to lead at that same level?

Al enthusiastically riffs on an idea previously discussed by Hannegan.

I won't pretend that encouraging a civic theater in New Albany is my idea. Hannegan Roseberry discussed it on her page a few days ago. Randy Smith proposed the Baptist Tabernacle site as a possible location with me several weeks ago. The thought's been kicked around for years. In fact, I remember Jim Anderson's wife, Mary, advocating this 40 years ago. But heck, I can recognize a great idea!

A civic theater would be yet one more draw to downtown and everyone knows when the show lets out people love to eat or hit their favorite night spot.

The old Tabernacle building might prove multi-functional. When not in use for shows it could easily serve as a site for other public forums.

As NA doesn't have unlimited funds, and as there are numerous pressing needs, I see this as a project facilitated rather than fully funded by the city. Even so, this is definitely a cause I'd support, allowing others (Mrs. R?) to champion.

(OMG -- candidates from opposite parties, agreeing on social media as to the virtues of an idea? I don't know about Al's arbiters, but Hannegan can expect an unannounced visit from Warren "I used to be mayor, pal" Nash's "purity of absolute silence" department)

Over in the 6th district, Democratic council hopeful Dr. Cliff Staten sensibly asks, "What will New Albany do to attract and keep younger generations here?"

Working Today to Build Tomorrow

Elections are about the future. Think about New Albany 5 years from now… now picture it 10 years from now… how about 20? How do you picture New Albany in the future? How would you like to picture New Albany in the future?

To me, the future starts with our young people; it starts with our children and our grandchildren. How do we picture their New Albany?

Meanwhile in the 5th district, Tonye Rutherford is back with a Facebook campaign page. He has an opponent in the Republican primary (Danita Burks), as does the incumbent Diane Benedetti (Dustin Collins).

Tonye Rutherford for New Albany City Council District 5

This is Tonye Rutherford, I am running for City Council in the 5th District. After narrowly losing by 21 votes in 2011, I have been busy ... I have since been appointed to the New Albany Floyd County Library board where I serve as the president, I was appointed to the New Albany Human Rights Commission and serve as the Chairman, I was appointed to the Floyd County Corrections board and elected to the Emmaus board.

Have you spotted substance omitted here? Let me know. The primary's only five weeks away.

NA council: There are four primary election candidates in District 5.

In 2011, Diane Benedetti won by narrow margins in both the primary (against Randy Smith) and the general election (versus Tonye Rutherford); her margin of victory each time was fewer than 30 votes.

In 2015, Benedetti has a new challenger in the primary, while Rutherford offers the possibility of a fall rematch, although he faces a primary race, too.

---

CITY OF NEW ALBANY COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT 5
(Precincts New Albany 9, 14, 26, 28, 40)

D Dustin Collins 2534 Charlestown Rd #14
D Diane McCartin Benedetti 1343 Slate Run Rd

R Danita Burks 1111 Lafayette Dr
R Tonye Rutherford 1680 Woodlawn Dr

---

As a two-term Democratic incumbent, Benedetti has a record to espouse and defend, and we'll get to that in time. She doesn't have an on-line campaign presence, at least yet.

Her opponent Dustin Collins has a Fb page. I don't know much about him. Anyone?

On the Republican side, neither candidate has an electronic campaign page. However, we know Burks for her unsuccessful bid in the 2014 school board election, and for her marriage to perennial GOP aspirant Steve "Any Office Will Do" Burks, who recently was gang-tackled by the central committee in route to register as a mayoral candidate, so as to give them time to convince Kevin Zurschmiede to evict the spa and get on with it.

Rutherford is one of three sitting Human Rights Commission members to declare for office. Less than two dozen votes separated Rutherford and Benedetti in 2011.

See the complete primary election listings right here.

Decision 2011: Rutherford over what's-her-name-this-month in the 5th.

On November 8, New Albany's municipal elections will provide a brief, hopeful respite from the general malaise, after which we can lapse yet again into profound depression. NAC is considering these options, with a council race each day through Saturday, at-large hopefuls on Sunday, and the future mayor on Monday, October 17. Listings are cribbed from the clerk's office, followed by brief comments by the senior editor.

NEW ALBANY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5
(Precincts New Albany 9, 14, 15, 26, 28, 40)

R Tonye A. Rutherford 1680 Woodlawn Drive 812-945-6722
D Diane McCartin Benedetti 1343 Slate Run Road 812-989-7179

If you intend to use your birth name whenever possible so as to remind people you're a McCartin, that's fine, but then you probably should recognize that doing so rather obviously precludes you from voting on your brother's zoning needs of the moment. Legalistic protests aside, that's called a conflict of interest, and like Bob Caesar's sad pro-1Si votes, it has a way of never, ever leaving the collective memory.

By contrast, I've found Rutherford to be affable and earnest. Like most of the other GOP candidates, his innermost policy thoughts are unknown, but he has yet to parrot reactionary Republican social issue stances, and that's always a welcomed positive.

NAC's pick: Benedetti's view of governance hails from the strip-mall-in-a-cornfield model of sprawligarchy, so let's try some change for the hell of it: Rutherford in the 5th.