Howey Politics' Brian Howey is reporting that Deputy Mayor for Neighborhoods Olgen Williams and former City-County Councilor Olgen Williams are mulling potential runs for Indianapolis mayor next year as Republicans.
Williams is an ex-felon convicted of stealing money from the U.S. Post Office where he formerly worked, a crime he blamed on a drug addiction problem. He was later pardoned by President George W. Bush so he could run for the Indianapolis Public School board, a position he resigned after Ballard named him a deputy mayor. Some in the Ballard administration blamed Williams for bringing to the administration a couple of city employees, John Hawkins and Reggie Walton, who were later charged by federal prosecutors in a kickback scheme related to the City's Land Bank program.
Keller served one term on the City-County Council after narrowly defeating Democrat Karen Celestino-Horseman in a highly competitive, near southeast side district. Keller, a champion of gay rights as the sponsor of the City's Human Rights Ordinance, lost re-election to Democrat Brian Mahern in 2007, the same year Ballard won his upset victory over Bart Peterson and Republicans regained control of the council. Some blamed Keller's loss for antagonizing Republican voters with his support of Peterson's 65% increase in the local income tax after many property owners faced massive property tax increases. Keller also endorsed and campaigned for the re-election of Peterson in 2007 over his party's candidate for mayor. Keller lost a bid for state representative in 2012 to Democrat Dan Forestal.
Howey reports that former City-County Councilor Jeff Cardwell, now a top aide to Gov. Mike Pence and the owner of Cardwell's Do It Best hardware store, is considering a run as is Public Safety Director Troy Riggs, who only recently moved to Indianapolis from Texas after his predecessor, Frank Straub, left the Ballard administration to become Spokane's new chief of police.
UPDATE: Add to the list of potential Republican mayoral candidates Councilor Jose Evans. He's a Democrat-turned Republican who is now in the same district with Councilor Angela Mansfield, an opponent he would have a difficult time defeating.
Olgen Williams. Really? Seriously?? This tidbit has me, how does the tech set say it?... "Rolling On The Floor Laughing My A$$ Off". Yeah, that's it. Olgen Williams, of stellar background and "experience", is the same-old. same-old we do NOT need. Kind of like Howdy Doody Hogsett... the same-old, same-old politican.
ReplyDeleteThe one potential "R" I do believe may enter is Cardwell. For all his towing the Establishment "R" line, for all his other connections at least Cardwell is intelligent, he presents the professional image of a real leader, he understands finances, he understands media presentation.... in short he is everything Ballard will never be and never was .... Cardwell's name is being mentioned more and more in inner circles as a potential R mayoral candidate.
Don't know if JC's alliances with TJ, KW, and DB will be negatives.... but Cardwell will be a FAR BETTER mayor than that goofball Hogsett.
Stealing from the Post Office is a federal crime. How can a state governor pardon a federal offense?
ReplyDeleteSorry about that. I had Williams' pardon confused with Steve Quick's pardon. He got his from the younger President Bush.
ReplyDeleteThey could not seriously run Olgen Williams for mayor!
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see Gary Welsh or Christine Scales run for Mayor!
I second Anon 11:04!
ReplyDeleteBoth Welsh and Scales are among the best things to happen to this City in a very, very long time.
It is well-past time for Indianapolis to enjoy a professional, well-educated, experienced, polished mayor who from the start exhibits leadership qualities and pragmatism from the start.
ReplyDeleteWhile the above does not at all describe Greg Ballard, neither does it describe Jose Evans.
The MCRCC used Evans and now that they are finished with him they are not about to help him against Mansfield.
Like Greg Ballard, Jose Evans will soon experience what being left to twist in the wind feels like.
Is Olgen Williams still around? As Deputy Mayor of Neighborhoods he has been MIA since day one. Maybe for the near Westside he has been involved, but no where else.
ReplyDeleteRunning him would be as amusing as seeing Ballard run for a 3rd term.
Anon 9:45, why would Cardwell leave his upper level, well paid state position to tilt at windmills, i.e. run for Mayor as a Republican?
ReplyDeleteWhen I worked at the Indiana Court of Appeals I worked on an opinion that decided the effect of a pardon in Indiana. Some states said it wiped out the conviction. Other states said that it was merely forgiveness for a crime and the pardon didn't wipe out the conviction. It was a close call, but we decided the former. Were it not for that opinion, I'm not sure Olgen Williams could legally run for a local office as a convicted felon.
ReplyDeleteThe MCRCC is obviously incapable of composing the right pitch to entice an appropriate candidate to run for mayor. So, as with Ballard, we are left with any egomaniac idiot thinking they have what it takes to campaign and win the election to run a large city. Jose Evans-what real qualifications does he possess?Olgen-nice man and everyone deserves a second chance in life, but it doesn't mean every job should be open to you as an ex-offender. Unforgettable Olgen speech quote "Anything is possible with hard work-that's how the Egyptians could build the sphincters"
ReplyDeleteSteve Quick? The union rep?! How can a convicted felon be a union steward?
ReplyDeleteWhat is up with Republicans in Marian County? If this wasn't so sad it would laughable. Where is the leadership? Where is the republican leadership at the state level? The biggest City in Indiana and the Republicans can't field a viable candidate to run. Aren't they embarrassed by this?
ReplyDeleteA felony conviction didn't stop a former Southport Mayor who is still in politics…… lying on a forms to run….. seems legit
ReplyDeleteI believe a few of your possible candidates live outside of Marion County. Would not surprise me about Williams. He has bought a lot of votes on the Westside. And you thought things couldn't get worse in Indy.
ReplyDeleteAnyone and everyone with any integrity to stamp out public corruption has my vote. But take a look at Indy. Who is willing to stand up and speak the truth and to get the media to print it and air it. This town has gone to hell in the hand basket and everyone knows it. Pence too is causing narccisstic drama and his team needs to go.
ReplyDelete