More Unofficial Returns
Friday, November 05, 2010
While we did not win our ultimate goals- election to office- in the recent general elections, the Libertarian Party can show that our base has grown significantly here in Hamilton County. Let us compare the countywide numbers with the same cycles from elections past:
2010 US Senate Results
Rebecca Sink-Burris
5380 votes, 6.66%
2004 US Senate Results
Al Barger
970 votes, 1%
(In 2006, there was no Democratic candidate for US Senate. Libertarian Steve Osborn got 4,226 votes, 8%, in a two-way race with Republican Dick Lugar.)
2010 Indiana Secretary of State Results
Mike Wherry
5,880 votes, 7.35%
2006 Indiana Secretary of State Results
Mike Kole
1,775 votes, 3%
2010 Indiana Auditor Results
Eric Knipe
3,360 votes, 4.31%
2002 Indiana Auditor Results
Bruce Parisi
1,535 votes, 4%
(The Libertarian Party did not field a candidate for Indiana Auditor in 2006.)
2010 US House, District 5 Results
Chard Reid
7,584 votes, 9.45%
2006 US House, District 5 Results
Shari Conover Sharlow
2,393 votes, 4%
Links to Hamilton County election results: 2010, 2006, 2004, 2002.
It has always been the experience of the Libertarian Party throughout Indiana that the candidates at the top of the ticket, for federal offices like President or US Senate, tended to get the lowest returns, with numbers improving further downticket in local races. So, the numbers pulled by Chard Reid and Rebecca Sink-Burris are positively encouraging.
Both Reid and Sink-Burris earned some broad name recognition, Reid having been endorsed by the Indianapolis Star, and Sink-Burris performing well in three televised debates. This clearly translated into votes for each.
These are huge gains that suggest to me that our base has grown significantly, and that the voters are increasingly comfortable with casting votes for offices perceived to be the most important. This is a source of great pride for me as County Chair!
The Secretary of State race is also very interesting to compare, as Mike Wherry more than doubled up my 2006 results, the Democrats stayed flat, while the Republicans took a hit.
2010 R: 67.03%
2006 R: 71%
2010 D: 25.62%
2006 D: 26%
No doubt the voter registration issues dogging Republican Charlie White were a factor here. Interesting, though, that White's status as Republican County Chair did not help overcome losing support to Wherry. But also, I suspect the fact of the Secretary of State race as the ballot status race for the Libertarian Party was also a factor.
In other races where we had candidates, Libertarians also fared well.
2010 County Council Dist 3 Results
Joe Tucker
2,761 votes, 17.08%
2002 County Council Dist 3 Results
Terry Baker
830 votes, 8%
There was no Libertarian in this race in 2006, and in 2002, Baker ran in a three-way race, so there isn't an apples-to-apples comparison available here. We can compare to a different district though. In 2002, in District 2, Gregg Puls ran in a two-way race for County Council and got 1,079 votes and 11%. It could be that the Noblesville area is more inclined to vote Libertarian than the Fishers area was at that time. It could simply reflect the party's growth, or more likely, some of both.
2010 County Council Dist 2 Results
Mike Kole
1,643 votes, 6.88%
2002 County Council Dist 2 Results
Greg Puls
1,079 votes, 11%
As with District 3, there was no Libertarian candidate in 2006, and there isn't an apples-to-apples comparison, because 2002 was a two-way, and 2010 was a three way race. I take stock in the increase in number of votes, especially considering there was a Democrat taking roughly 25%. No doubt in 2002, some Democratic voters cast votes for Puls lacking a candidate of their own to vote for. What I noticed right away, though, was that my 2010 vote total of 1,643 votes represents just three of the County's nine townships, my 2006 vote totals of 1,775 for the Secretary of State were taken from the entire County. That's pretty remarkable.
2010 Indiana House Dist 36 Results
Greg Noland
29 votes, 4.01%
2008 Indiana House Dist 36 Results
Greg Noland
36 votes, 3.41%
This is a nice one to compare, as we had the same candidate running against the same incumbent Democrat. While the Dem lost 10 points, we went up by more than half a point. This district is primarily in Madison County, but it does extend into White River and part of Jackson Townships.
2010 Indiana House Dist 87 Returns
Joe Hauptmann
1,638 votes, 16.76%
2008 Indiana House Dist 87 Returns
Pamela Hickman (Democrat)
4,991 votes, 31,19%
There isn't an apples-to-apples comparison for this race for 2002-2010, but this one is interesting. In 2008, there was no Libertarian candidate, and Republican Cindy Noe ran a two-way race with Democrat Pamela Hickman. Against the same candidate in 2010, Libertarian Joe Hauptmann got more than half the percentage of the Democrat, who was boosted by a national pendulum swing to the Democrats in 2008.
In Summary: Our numbers are going up despite our candidates not having huge advertising budgets. We do a fantastic job of taking advantage of earned media. The base of the Libertarian Party in Hamilton County is growing at all levels, but most significantly at the top of ticket, where voter confidence was previously very scarce. The key now is to translate more votes into more candidates for future ballots, and more volunteers to walk neighborhoods and work phone banks and polling places. We may be getting near to Malcolm Gladwell's tipping point, where we start electing officials to office in Hamilton County!
Labels: Chard Reid, Charlie White, Eric Knipe, General Election 2010, Greg Noland, Joe Hauptmann, Joe Tucker, Libertarian Party, Mike Kole, Mike Wherry, Rebecca Sink-Burris
posted by Mike Kole @ 9:05 PM,
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Ready To Vote!
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
I'm up early and ready to vote. I hope you will be voting too! The votes we cast are crucial in getting policies that will grow our economies, or our governments. In my Fishers precinct I will be voting for:
Rebecca Sink-Burris, US Senate
Chard Reid, US House of Representatives, District 5
Mike Wherry, Indiana Secretary of State
Eric Knipe, Indiana Auditor
Mike Kole, Hamilton County Council, District 2
The rest will largely be a lot of blanks. Why? I won't vote for a candidate who doesn't represent my views in a high percentage. I don't expect 100% agreement. I know that isn't possible. But nor will I vote for someone I agree with less than half of the time, just because they are 'the lesser of two evils'. The lesser of two evils? Now that's a wasted vote!
Labels: Chard Reid, election, Eric Knipe, Mike Kole, Mike Wherry, Rebecca Sink-Burris, voting
posted by Mike Kole @ 4:59 AM,
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Last US Senate Debate Tonight
Monday, October 25, 2010
Through two debates, Libertarian Rebecca Sink-Burris has been the grown-up in the room while Republican Dan Coats and Democrat Brad Ellsworth sling mud at each other. Get this: Rebecca actually answers the questions! It's really a novel concept to do this and not revert to talking points and personal attacks.
The 3rd and final debate between Rebecca Sink-Burris and the mudslingers will be widely televised in Central Indiana:
WFYI-TV, Channel 20
WRTV-TV, Digital Channel 6.2
Mike Kole's podcast interview with Rebecca Sink-Burris following the first debate:
Labels: Brad Ellsworth, Dan Coats, debates, Rebecca Sink-Burris, US Senate
posted by Mike Kole @ 2:19 PM,
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Your Hamilton County Libertarian Candidates
Friday, October 15, 2010
Election Day is Tuesday, November 2. Be sure to plan to vote! Every resident of Hamilton County will have at least four Libertarian candidates to vote for.
US Senate - Rebecca Sink-Burris
US Representative, District 5 - Chard Reid
Secretary of State - Mike Wherry
Treasurer of State - Eric Knipe
There are additional candidates for portions of the county:
Indiana Representative, District 36 - Greg Noland (White River & Jackson Twps)
Indiana Representative, District 87 - Joe Hauptmann (part of Clay Twp)
Hamilton County Council, District 2 - Mike Kole (Delaware, Fall Creek, Wayne Twps)
Hamilton County Council, District 3 - Joe Tucker (Noblesville, Jackson, White River Twps)
Fall Creek Township Trustee - Lars Noldan
Election Day polling place staffing is also needed. A smiling face handing out palm cards can be worth a 5% boost! We especially need staffing for Joe Hauptmann in Clay Township, and Mike Kole in Fishers, although when you work your home precinct, you are most effective when you talk with your neighbors prior to their votes. We have materials for Rebecca Sink-Burris, Chard Reid, and Mike Wherry also.
Contact Mike Kole to schedule for AM rush (6-9am) and PM rush (4-6pm) and for materials pick-up.
Labels: Chard Reid, election, Eric Knipe, Greg Noland, Joe Hauptmann, Joe Tucker, Libertarian Party, Mike Kole, Mike Wherry, Rebecca Sink-Burris
posted by Mike Kole @ 3:11 PM,
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The Grown-Ups In The Room
Thursday, October 14, 2010
I've been watching the debates for Congress across Indiana and one thing keeps striking me: The Republicans and Democrats sling mud at each other and dance around the questions, and the Libertarians are the grown-ups in the room. From Indiana Public Media, on the first US Senate debate:
Both Democrat Brad Ellsworth and Republican Dan Coats were on the offensive during last night’s Senate debate in Indianapolis… while Libertarian Rebecca Sink-Burris remained more focused on questions and responses.As a Libertarian, I'm going to prefer the Libertarian candidate's answers 95 times out of 100, but the glaring difference in demeanor gets me. The electorate is fed up with Washington insiders and their nonsense. Here were two Washington insiders and their nonsense, and a grown-up in the room. I hope the voters are really taking note.
Not affecting Hamilton County, but I love the coverage Scott Wise got on a Fort Wayne TV station along these same lines, in his debate in Indiana's 3rd Congressional District:
Rebecca Sink-Burris will debate two more times with fellow candidates for US Senate. Well, she will debate. The others will no doubt sling more mud. I hope she tells them to knock it off and behave.
Fri Oct 22, at Fort Wayne
Mon Oct 25, at Vincennes
These should be widely televised again. If you missed the first US Senate debate, see it by clicking here.
Labels: Libertarian Party, Rebecca Sink-Burris, Scott Wise
posted by Mike Kole @ 2:23 PM,
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Mike Wherry & Rebecca Sink Burris on Radio
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Be sure to tune in to WXNT 1430-am, and the Abdul In The Morning Show to hear Libertarian Secretary of State candidate Mike Wherry, and Libertarian US Senate candidate Rebecca Sink-Burris.
When: Wednesday, 8am
Where: 1430-am in Central Indiana
Web: http://www.wxnt.com/
Mike Wherry needs at least 2% to maintain automatic ballot access for The Libertarian Party of Indiana and its' candidates through 2014.
www.mikewherry.com
www.electrebecca.com
Labels: Abdul In The Morning, Mike Wherry, Rebecca Sink-Burris, WXNT
posted by Mike Kole @ 8:52 PM,
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LPIN Convention Notes
Monday, April 26, 2010
I had the pleasure and privilege of serving as a Delegate from Hamilton County to the annual convention of the Libertarian Party of Indiana this weekend. I was honored by State Chair Sam Goldstein's personal request that I should open the convention with a reading from the Declaration of Independence. I had to stave off the emotion when I got to the phrase,
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
The important business of the convention was to nominate candidates for the ballot. I am happy and a bit relieved to pass the baton to Mike Wherry, who was nominated our candidate for Secretary of State. As was the case when I ran, Mike will have to achieve a minimum of 2% statewide in order to retain automatic ballot access for the Libertarian Party through 2014.
Mike Wherry's campaign website.
My podcast interview with Mike Wherry.
While all the races are important, the Secretary of State race is crucial to the Libertarian Party. The difference between having ballot access and not is the difference between real political party and supper club. It's huge. All Indiana Libertarians need to line up behind Mike Wherry and promote him. We need to plan to be at our home polling places on election day to hand out Wherry literature. The 2% result cannot be taken for granted.
Rebecca Sink-Burris won the nomination for US Senate, defeating Tamyra D'Ipolito in the contested race. When Evan Bayh announced he wasn't seeking re-election, it changed the thinking about that US Senate seat from 'safely blue' to 'up for grabs'. No doubt there will be much scrutiny paid the US Senate race. Rebecca has been an excellent Libertarian candidate in the past, and I am confident that she will do a great job once again.
Rebecca Sink-Burris' campaign website.
In the 5th Congressional District, high school economics teacher Chard Reid won the nomination. I had the opportunity to sit down with him for several hours prior to the convention to vet his views on Federal issues, and was very satisfied that he will be a solid candidate. He already has students that wish to walk door-to-door for him, which excites me a great deal.
I interviewed Rebecca and Chard for the podcast, and will post those as they are completed.
The Party has a candidate for all nine Congressional Districts, plus the Senate seat. Not all of the Indiana House & Indiana Senate positions were filled, which was a bit disappointing, but the Part leadership will continue to recruit candidates to fill vacancies.
Indiana's delegate count at the convention made the event the largest such in the USA. Indiana had more Libertarians in the room than even California or Texas had! A very good show of growing strength in every way this weekend!
Labels: Chard Reid, Evan Bayh, Libertarian Party of Indiana, Mike Wherry, Rebecca Sink-Burris, Sam Goldstein
posted by Mike Kole @ 10:59 AM,
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