Will Voters Come Out In November?

The Star editorial writers ponder this question today: Will income tax hike incite voters? They are referring, of course, to the $90 million, 65% increase in the county option income tax the Democratic-controlled coucil pushed through at the urging of Mayor Bart Peterson (D). They remind us the turnout in recent city elections has been pathetic. During the past three municipal elections, the numbers have been embarrassingly low. "Only 26.81 percent of registered voters voted in 2003. There was a higher turnout in 1999 (36.98 percent) and a lower total in 1995 (25.51)." They believe there is hope the tax incease vote might spawn a higher voter turnout this November.

The Star uses the editorial as an opportunity to spotlight the council race against the ethically-challenged CCC President Monroe Gray (D), who faces attorney Kurt Webber (R). They write:

Kurt Webber is a local attorney who was inspired to run for a seat on the City-County Council by out-of-control taxes and out-of-touch incumbents.

In 54 days, he'll find out if voters in the county's Eighth District share his passion for tightening budgets and opening government to everyday citizens.

On Nov. 6, voters will pick either Webber, a newcomer with minimum political experience, or Monroe Gray Jr., the council's president who is a strong proponent of his other employer -- the Indianapolis Fire Department.

Gray, you might recall, helped ramrod through a 65 percent increase in the county income tax to cover public safety-related costs. Protests from citizens who'd just learned of whopping increases in their property taxes did not deter Gray. Nor did it move him to acknowledge citizens who stood outside in 92-degree heat the night the council debated the income tax hike in air-conditioned comfort.

Republican challenger Webber shares the outrage felt by the citizens who were excluded from the "people's house" that steamy night in August. But he realizes beating incumbent Gray will not be easy.

"He's got a machine behind him and I'm seen as a relative novice," Webber said. "I just want the voters to take the time to get to know me better."

The Webber-Gray race will not be the only test of tax-induced discontent in the November election. The at-large seats on the council will pit four incumbents -- Rozelle Boyd, Lonnell Conley, Ron Gibson and Joanne Sanders, all of whom supported the income tax hike -- against Republican and Libertarian candidates.

Elsewhere in the Star today, you learn that efforts to fix the improper assessments in Marion County will only cost you bucco bucks in extra spending. Indianapolois Public Schools will ring up an extra $1 million in interest charges for $36 million in short-term borrowing which has been triggered by the Governor's reassessment order. Mayor Peterson is digging into his $3 million war chest to run yet another TV commercial in which he takes credit for Governor Daniels' reassessment order for Marion Co. Do you think he will accept the blame for the $1 million in increased spending? Or will he blame that on IPS just like he blamed the property tax increase problem on the school districts?

The Star's "Behind Closed Doors" gets around to reporting on Patrice Abduallah's casting a vote to name his own successor, a vote triggered by his own vacancy and reported on by Advance Indiana nearly two weeks ago. "Terry Burns, executive director of the Marion County Democratic Party, said Abduallah was permitted to vote in the election of precinct captains even though he lost the seat for not living in the district," the column writes. "That's because precinct captains don't have to live in the precinct or even the district."