Published: October 17, 2009 08:53 pm      

Public Eye - Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009

Heavy hitters

There’s little doubt the race for the District 30 seat in the Indiana House next year will garner plenty of statewide attention.

Republican candidate Mike Karickhoff conducted a fundraising event Tuesday at the Kokomo Country Club. Approximately 100 people attended the event.

Representatives for Gov. Mitch Daniels, the Indiana State Republican Party and the House Republican Campaign Committee were all in attendance. House Minority Leader Brian Bosma was the main speaker.

Karickhoff said people call him “landslide” because he won re-election to the Kokomo Common Council in 2007 by two votes.

“I’m running the primary like the general election,” he said. “I don’t want this to be close.”

Incumbent Democrat Ron Herrell, who recaptured the seat in 2006 from John Smith, is facing a primary challenge from Chuck Sosbe.

Redistricting fight

During his comments, Karickhoff said House Democrats have redrawn the district lines for the Indiana legislative districts and the congressional districts for the past 30 years.

What he failed to mention is that the Republican Party has controlled the Indiana Senate for the same time period and played an equal role in the boundary lines.

“What do we have in common with South Bend?” Karickhoff asked of the 2nd Congressional District currently occupied by Democrat Joe Donnelly.

Republicans have already hinted that they would like to redraw the 2nd District boundaries after 2010 in an attempt to make it more favorable to the GOP.

Karickhoff also said that District 30 doesn’t include all of Kokomo and noted the Kokomo Country Club was not in the district.

Secretary of State Todd Rokita, a Republican, wants an independent commission to recommend the boundary lines after the 2010 election and Census is conducted.

McVey making noise

Republican Brose McVey’s campaign, in an attempt to wrestle the 5th Congressional District nomination from incumbent Dan Burton, said in a press release that the campaign has raised over $154,000 and has received donations from all 11 counties in the district.

The release notes that McVey is ranked in the top 50 campaign challengers in the nation for donations from individuals. McVey has received the support of 30 officials in Wabash, Huntington, Greenfield, Carmel, Noblesville and Fishers.

Howard County GOP leader Craig Dunn has already announced the local party is endorsing Burton in the May primary. Also seeking the nomination is John McGoff, who lost to Burton in the 2008 primary, Rep. Mike Murphy and Luke Messer.

Messer reported raising $332,442 for the campaign on Thursday.