Ken Nealy replaces Ellen Quigley as Chief of Staff.  Nealy is already on Carson’s staff and previously worked for other members of Congress including California Democrat Barbara Lee.

Justin Ohlemiller moves up to District Director.  He’s a former aide to Mayor Bart Peterson who previously was Carson’s Communications director.

May is a Mexican-American who lists his heritage at the top of his news release.  He held his announcement on West Washington street to show off his Hispanic support.  Hispanic voters make up a relatively small number of voters in the 7th but many of them are likely to vote Democratic unless they have a good reason to vote for a Republican.  He may provide it.

His challenge to Sen. Evan Bayh in 2004 is remembered because he raised significant amounts of money from out of state but never got on television on the way to 37% showing on Election day.  He got very little support from Indiana Republicans in the meantime.

Scott has run unsuccessfully in he 7th before against both Andy Jacobs and Julia Carson.

Carson takes issue with a number of points made by the governor including a concern about passing the cost of health care reform to the states.  Says Rep. Carson, “Pushing unfunded mandates onto states was a bad habit of the previous presidential administration, and I do not want to see a repeat of that with health reform.”  Carson says he spoke out against an amendment that would require states to pick up 10% of the cost of new Medicaid enrollees.

Carson also says the effect on the Healthy Indiana Plan is difficult to determine.

The website maintained by Gerry Mann, the guy who got in André Carson’s face following the Rotary Club meeting Tuesday, is blank today.   Yesterday we pointed out how Mann used the site to encourage dissent.  A call to Mann has not been returned.

Carson did hedge.  “Absolutely I will be running for re-election!” he said.

Tomorrow Carson will speak to the Downtown Rotary Club and health care reform is the announced topic.  Thursday he will be on Afternoons with Amos on WTLC for what Amos Brown calls a radio town hall.

Evan Bayh’s voting record.  Is there a shift to the right this year?

Cap and Trade opponents rally in Indianapolis

Baron Hill’s Tele-town hall plans

André Carson’s lack of town hall plans

Dress Code protest at Richmond High School

Mitch Daniels’ misunderstood remarks about motorcycle helmet use

Its a nice touch by a Democrat seeking to honor a deserving Republican.  Bowen, a medical doctor, was also Health and Human Services Secretary under Ronald Reagan and a veteran.