The Indiana Democratic Party has again overreached in an anti-Paula Hughes mailing, this one blaring “Paula Hughes DIDN’T PAY HER TAXES.”
Like a lot of criticisms being tossed about in this race, this accusation is misleading, at best. Unlike others, it has nothing to do with her campaign, position on issues or record in government.
The accusation does not concern Hughes’ property tax bill or anything regarding her as an individual. In fact, her campaign announced on Sept. 9 – nearly two months ago – that she paid $893.24 to cover overdue taxes on a business she had invested in. Her statement at the time said she was a silent partner and had no personal liability but “we went out of our way to meet all lingering obligations” after learning of the tax bill.
Tax and court records trace the bill to a corporation that, according to Hughes’ campaign manager, is inactive and will be administratively dissolved.
The owners operated a SupperTyme USA franchise.
During a Saturday debate, Hughes criticized Mayor Tom Henry for the mailer, and Hughes has since called for the state Democratic Party and Henry to retract the allegation.
The numbers
Here is the number that keeps local Democrats awake at night:
40.
That’s the percentage of votes that Republican Matt Kelty received in the 2007 mayoral election. Even though he was under indictment on felony charges, and even though he ran a bad, amateurish campaign, and even though he had absolutely no government experience, he still pulled 21,000 votes.
This year’s Republican candidate, Hughes, has none of those problems.
The 2007 election was to have been the first one when the GOP gained the full advantage of the Aboite annexation, which drew many more Republicans than Democrats into the city. But the criminal charges against Kelty and a huge rift in the local GOP drastically limited that advantage. In many ways, then, this will be the first city election that will measure the effects of the Aboite vote.
With all indications showing the mayor’s race to be close, it will all come down to voter turnout a week from today.
Endorsements
The Greater Fort Wayne Business Political Action Committee’s endorsements had some surprises last month.
At the top of the list of endorsed candidates was incumbent Henry; such business groups are frequently more inclined to back Republicans.
“BizPAC supports, on a non-partisan basis, elected officials or candidates who are advocates for limited government, free enterprise and a pro-business, pro-economic growth environment in the greater Fort Wayne area,” a statement with the endorsements read.
The PAC also endorsed Democratic council candidates Karen Goldner and Geoff Paddock.
In the 3rd District, the PAC gave its blessing to both candidates – incumbent Republican Tom Didier and Democrat Christian Nagel.
The PAC endorsed four council at-large candidates – the three Republicans plus Democrat John Shoaff.
In the 4th District, the PAC endorsed neither Republican incumbent Mitch Harper nor challenger Mike Avila.
