The former deputy mayor and unsuccessful candidate for prosecutor joins venture capitalist Brian Williams in the category of formal candidate.  Kip Tew, Joe Hogsett, Jose Evans, and Woody Myers are other Democrats who see Republican incumbent Greg Ballard as vulnerable.   They have all been testing the waters.

Ballard is preparing for a re-election bid.

-Will Republicans mount a serious challenge to Evan Bayh next year? 

-How many GOP candidates will test the waters?   (I’m better it’s more than the current 3.)

-Will Becky Skillman run for governor in 2012?  Will Mike Pence?

-Does a Pence candidacy trump all other Republicans?

-Will Greg Ballard run for re-election as mayor in 2011?

-How many Democrats will go to the post in 2011?

Feel free to add to the list of questions.

Democrat William Oliver said today that he’s still waiting to hear from Governor Mitch Daniels and Mayor Greg Ballard while indicating that he will be a “no” vote.   Democrat Paul Bateman says he will follow the caucus lead with his vote. 

That can’t be a good sign for supporters of the bailout.

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I know the Mayor supported Ryan Vaughn and Ann DeLaney corrected me.

I came back from vacation to tape the show and that was a vacation moment.

Ballard spokesman Robert Vane calls them “utterly ridiculous.”   He says the Democrats who populate the building are trying to damage the Mayor’s credibility with no basis in fact.

Sen. Vi Simpson (D-Bloomington) filed an amendment that permits the city of Indianapolis to redirect local option income tax (LOIT) money currently designated for public safety to the CIB.   The city already has the ability to raise that tax, if necessary.  (Can you say hostile proposal?)

Sen. Lindel Hume (D-Princeton) has an amendment that calls for expanding the Professional Sports Development Area (PSDA) to include the Circle Centre Mall.   That means that sales tax money that would otherwise go to the state, could be directed to the CIB.  Of course, that means the money will come out of the state General Fund.  (Can you say veto target?)

Mayor Ballard should consider this as encourage to find another solution.

Sen. Vi Simpson (D-Bloomington) filed an amendment that would allow the city of Indianapolis to use money from a public safety local option income tax (LOIT) for other purposes, including the C.I.B.   The city already has the ability to increase the tax if necessary.

Sen. Lindel Hume (D-Princeton) proposes expanding the Professional Sports Development Area (PSDA) in downtown Indianapolis to include the Circle Centre Mall.   Sales taxes collected in the PSDA would then be routed to the C.I.B.  

Neither proposal is likely to gain much traction, but they might help the Mayor focus.

Democratic Senators from Marion County complained that they wanted to talk to the Mayor about the proposal and never heard from him. 

Oh, there is a meeting scheduled for Friday, when, Senator Jim Merritt (R-Indianapolis) says, the Mayor intended to talk about the fire consolidation bill. 

The bill is dead.

Since the Colts lost, Ballard made good on his promise.  But, Sanders impressed Ballard by sending the San Diego treats.  That was certainly not required by their deal.  Ballard said he’ll remember that when he makes other play-off wagers – that way he can be equally generous when the Colts win.

If the Colts meet the Chargers again, Ballard should send a little promotional material with the next shrimp cocktail.  After reading some web site commentary, people in San Diego couldn’t understand why Indiana would send “frozen shrimp”.    They could use a lesson in the culinary history of Indianapolis.

Tonight at the airport, Mayor Greg Ballard came home saying ”Tampa did a real good job” with the game.  He’s confident that Indianapolis “can do this very, very well.”  Ballard also re-stated the belief that the design of downtown Indianapolis — “a little bit more connected” than downtown Tampa — is an advantage for the 2012 game.

Allison Melangton, the President and CEO of the Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee, said “there were a couple of activities on the beach.  We definitely can’t do that.  But we will find great locations here.”  She said, seeing how Florida did it, will help the Indianapolis committee focus on certain facilities for certain events here.

The city looks to Detroit for advice about planning for snow removal.  The game was at Ford Field in 2006.  Ballard said, by 2012, Indianapolis will have better plows — not just because of the Super Bowl but because “the equipment is getting old and we need to do that.”

The Mayor has faith in Indianapolis.  He said “everything we saw, we can do.”