Memo to Greg Ballard:

Mitch Daniels honored three highway workers today for turning in drug money discovered in a ditch and it got a lot of notice.

The other half of the news conference, however, was to thank the people who clear the roads.  That went unnoticed. 

Here’s the backstory.  By bringing in the plow drivers, Daniels not only created a better photo op, he also created a circumstance where his praise of the snow response went unchallenged.  All of the questions went to the cash recovery heroes.

Anecdotal evidence indicates that the state did a better job of clearing roads than the city did, maybe, but Daniels clearly did a better job of selling it.

I made it to work today and, even though my normal 20 minute drive took 40 minutes, I was impressed at well the traffic flowed.   That’s because I saw no snowplows on my journey and no evidence of any.

Several years ago when the Indianapolis Press Club still held a Gridiron Dinner to poke fun at public officials one of the memorable lines was directed at a mayor of Indianapolis (I think it was Steve Goldsmith.)  According to the presentation he renamed his snow removal policy.  Its now called “April.”

It was funny then.

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard gave some rare testimony to a state Senate committee considering property tax caps.

It was not the sort of polished material you expect from an elected official, however.  The mayor used a prepared text (in a large font) and his formal remarks lasted only a minute or so.  When he took questions his budget director, Dave Reynolds, quickly joined him at the microphone to provide answers.  All the while Ballard had a look of fear on his face. 

Is it because he’s out of step with other mayors on the issue of property tax caps, or is there a larger problem?

Non-union employees of the city of Indianapolis will get a 3% raise at the first of the year.  They got the word in a letter from Mayor Greg Ballard who says healthcare savings will provide the $3 million dollars needed for the raise.

Ballard also declared this to the be the last across-the-board raise saying that future increases will be based on merit.   Along with the raise, city employees will receive cost savings on their health insurance and a new health clinic will open in the City County Building.

More from the Mayor on the rationale behind the raises on 24 Hour News 8 at 6.

We interrupt the campaign news for this development in local government:  Robert Vane, transition spokesman for Mayor Greg Ballard, is joining the administration full-time.  Beginning Monday Vane will deputy chief of staff and communications director.

Ballard needs message help badly and Vane is the sort of experienced hand he needs.  Press Secretary Marcus Barlow is moving on.

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard kicked off the McCain rally by making light of predictions by, he said, ”The Democrats in the media.  Is there any difference there?”  he asked.

The Mayor pointed out that he never led a poll in his race, adding, “I know a thing or two about upsets.”

“Tomorrow we’re gonna put John McCain in the White House.”

The crowd is still arriving and the fenced-off area here at the airport is not full.

The political season has given “robo” a bad name — because of the robo-calls serving various candidates.  Over the past weekend, Hoosier high school students restored the positive aspects of what “robo” represents.

I was happy to be the judge of a robotics competition at Southport High School.  The students came from all over Indiana to display and test their machines.  But, the competition also allowed them to demonstrate great creativity and resourcefulness in addition to their technical skill.

As someone who was not athletically-inclined in high school, I’m always glad to see students acknowledged for their brains — not just their ball-handling skills.  (Although the latter was a feature of the competition among the robots.)

Mayor Greg Ballard attended Saturday’s event, too.  He enjoyed it enough to consider establishing a county-wide robotics competition.  The concept is just barely an idea now.  But, if it becomes a reality, it will be another opportunity to develop young engineers whose abilities will be so important for the new technology of the 21st century.

We posted some of my cell phone video, here, on IndyTube — and here.

This is an interesting time for Greg Ballard.

The Indianapolis Mayor stepped up with his first budget proposal last week, a document that was also his first major policy initiative.  At the same time it was a circumstance that forced the Republican to take political stances (cutting the Democratic Sheriff’s budget) and put him in the “politician” role he tried previously to avoid.  He looked uncomfortable.

Then he was on stage at the gala opening of Lucas Oil Stadium, again forced to be the politician, this time in a setting that was purleyceremonial.  He looked uncomfortable again, even on the videotaped replay shown at the open house for season ticket holders Sunday.

Will Ballard get better, or will he prove that he’s in a league where he doesn’t belong?

There are more interesting times ahead.

Ed Treacy used the term “Accidental Mayor” in reference to Mayor Greg Ballard 9 times in the speech he gave upon his return as Marion County Democratic Chairman.  Now there is some sputtering on the Internet about the origin of the phrase “Accidental Mayor” and its accuracy. 

Pride forces me to claim credit.

On Election night 2007 I made the case that Ballard won a primary without support from the party organization and then ran a campaign with party support that consisted mostly of a desk and a phone.   Meantime, Democrat Bart Peterson raised income taxes in the face of a property tax crisis and the protest vote fell to Ballard. 

“In some ways he is the Accidental Mayor,” I said.

Whether the events constitute an accident, you can decide.  But the line is mine.

It was later picked up by a Democrat who ran a website by that title for a time.  I’m OK with that.  Just give credit (or blame) where it is due.

The spin machines are in full motion for both Republicans and Democrats in Marion County in anticipation of Mayor Greg Ballard’s first budget.  Budgets are always political documents but this one will be more political than usual based on the buildup.

Look for new accounting methods and the exposure of what the Republicans believe to be poor accounting practices by the administration of Bart Peterson.

Democrats, meantime, should have ample opportunity to question spending levels, the bottom line, and how they compare with cost cutting promises made by Ballard during the 2007 campaign.