Second District Democratic congressional candidate Brendan Mullen's residency issues have been no secret for the past year. Politico mentioned his problem way back in July, 2011, noting that he had only recently claimed a residence in South Bend after working for years in Washington as a military consultant. Mullen's wife, curiously, has also worked as a top lawyer for Republican House Speaker John Boehner until recently earning $12,000 a month. The Indiana Legislative Insight's Ed Feigenbaum highlights the seriousness of Mullen's problem, except it's a third party candidate who is making the strongest waves about his residency problem. Feigenbaum notes that Green Party candidate Andrew Straw is now turning up the heat on Mullen.
If his residency problem wasn't bad enough, Mullen and his wife were also tripped up last year when it was revealed that they were claiming separate homestead exemptions on their two Washington, D.C. homes."Until running for Congress, Democrat Brendan Mullen has not lived or worked in Indiana since he was 18. He owns several houses in DC, where he has earned no income from his DC business in 2010 and 2011." Attorney Straw adds that "Mullen's wife has worked for Speaker John Boehner in Washington up to December 31, 2011. She earned hundreds of thousands in DC, where they lived until Mullen ran for Congress .... Half of his campaign, his wife was working for the leader of the opposition. That's why compromise is his main promise. He'll sell Democrats down river." Straw also reveals that Mullen's voter registration is from a single-family residence in South Bend across from the Morris Park Country Club owned by Katie Humphreys and her husband. Humphreys is a former Family and Social Services Administration secretary and commissioner of the Department of Administration who was also the 1994 Democratic nominee for state treasurer.
As serious as Mullen's residency problems might be, the more significant aspect of the race that gives an advantage to the Republican candidate is Straw's candidacy for the Green Party. He will attract more voters who otherwise (probably) would vote for he Democratic Party candidate. Straw has excellent credentials and has issue positions that provide real choice for voters. He is in favor of single-payer for health care and universal, public education through graduate school. You might not agree with those views, but they are more in line with what a lot of people want as an alternative to the vague, centralist positions of many Democrats and Mullen.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, Mark. That's the point of mentioning Mullen's work as a military consultant and his wife's work for Speaker Boehner.
ReplyDeleteThis is not the case at all. I believe this viewpoint is simply a representation of the loudest and most vocal voices currently in this race; Walorski and Straw. Everyone from the 2nd District knows that Straw is completely irrelvant. IF by some miracle he does get on the ballot, which I highly doubt, his erratic behavior will not win him any points with voters. This is not even mentioning that the the only reason he is on the ballot is because of a childish anger over not being supported as the Dem nominee; hence his change to the Green Party.
ReplyDeleteMullen's residency is not a large issue. It is in fact the ONLY issue that Walorski can possible attempt to use against him. The fact is that he was born and raised in the 2nd District, left to be educated and West Point, serve overseas, and then open his business int he only area where it could be opened. He was not even on the East Coast for that long outside of his time in the service.
The residency "issue" is only a distraction perpetrated by the right to take away from Mullen's obvious credentials as a military leader, small business man, and moderate. All traits not shared by any other candidate.
This is not the case at all. I believe this viewpoint is simply a representation of the loudest and most vocal voices currently in this race; Walorski and Straw. Everyone from the 2nd District knows that Straw is completely irrelvant. IF by some miracle he does get on the ballot, which I highly doubt, his erratic behavior will not win him any points with voters. This is not even mentioning that the the only reason he is on the ballot is because of a childish anger over not being supported as the Dem nominee; hence his change to the Green Party.
ReplyDeleteMullen's residency is not a large issue. It is in fact the ONLY issue that Walorski can possible attempt to use against him. The fact is that he was born and raised in the 2nd District, left to be educated and West Point, serve overseas, and then open his business in the only area where it could be opened. He was not even on the East Coast for that long outside of his time in the service.
The residency "issue" is only a distraction perpetrated by the right (with homework done by Straw) to take away from Mullen's obvious credentials as a military leader, small business man, and moderate/rational views representative of the majority of Hoosiers. All traits not shared by any other candidate.
Mullen lost with no Green on the ballot.
ReplyDeleteStraw switched parties over lack of disability access at Democratic HQ. he made similar reforms in the Green Party before founding the Disability Party, which has over 1,100 followers in 38 countries.
Straw's Indiana Civil Rights Commission complaint based on the discrimination and retaliation will be decided in less than 4 weeks.
Straw v. Indiana Democratic Party, PAha12111565.
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ReplyDelete