by Abdul-Hakim Shabazz
I must admit I am one of those people who can never fully detach themselves from their jobs, although I have a good excuse this time. As I departed last week for the great Northwest, I made it clear to friends (and, more importantly, sources) to try not to call me unless someone died, and even then, hit them with a shovel and make sure they were dead. And all was great. I had my mountains, my oceans, my cigars, my beverages and my edibles, and then I started getting text messages that Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jennifer McCormick had selected former State Representative Terry Goodin.
I’ve known Goodin for years. He’s conservative, duh! He’s from southern Indiana, and finding a southern Indiana Democrat these days is like finding a flying unicorn. Now, Goodin will have at least two challengers: perennial candidate Bob Kern, former Indianapolis mayoral candidate, and mental health advocate Clif Marsiglio. There’s also State Senator JD Ford, who is looking at getting in the race as well.
On the Republican side, convention delegates chose conservative pastor Micah Beckwith over State Rep. Julie McGuire. What’s interesting about this is how the rank and file are taking these picks.
On the Republican side, you have moderates, which you need to win, who are not crazy about Beckwith. On the Democrat side, you have progressives who are ready to burn an effigy of Goodin as soon as they get the wood. None of this political consternation should surprise anyone. After all, you have McCormick, who used to be a Democrat and Braun, who once voted in a Democratic primary.
I never would have thought the big issue in this Governor’s race would be the person whose ONLY job it is to be ready to assume the top job in the state if the Governor slips in the shower and cracks their head and the President of the Indiana State Senate and break the occasional tie vote. Everything else the lieutenant governor does is created by statute, and what lawmakers give, they can also take away. Remember, the Superintendent of Public Instruction used to be an elected position.
So now you’ve got calls going out from Beckwith and Goodin to convince folks that they can trust them on issues, even though they may have held some contrary positions in the past. Reaction has been mixed on both sides. Beckwith supporters think he’s the second coming in Indiana politics, while his detractors are looking for three sixes on his scalp. With Goodin, supporters say Democrats can’t win with just urban centers and need someone who can reach out and connect with rural voters. Detractors say Goodin failed the progressive politics litmus test with flying colours.
Democrats will make their selection on July 13; that should be fun to watch. Especially to see who introduces Kern to the delegates. We know for a fact it won’t be center township constable Denise Paul Hatch who is behind bars right now.
So, with Democrats and Republicans consternated over their LG nominees, notice you haven’t heard much from the Libertarians.
Who would have thought we would live to see the day when the Libertarians are the relatively drama-free party?
Back to my last day of de-stressing; see you all on Monday.
Abdul-Hakim is the editor and publisher of Indy Politics. He is also an attorney licensed in Indiana and Illinois.
