CLAYTON — Forget red. Come November, the Democratic Party wants Hendricks County and the rest of Indiana to be blue.
Confidence reigned Friday at the annual Hendricks County Jefferson-Jackson Dinner at Martha’s Orchard. The event is named after Presidents Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson, the two who are considered the founders of the Democratic Party.
Indiana House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer was the featured speaker. Democratic candidates on the state and local levels also were invited.
The state has long been considered a Republican bastion, though half of Indiana’s governors in the 20th century were Democrat. Hoosiers last supported a Democrat for president in 1964. But with this year’s primary figuring so prominently in the presidential election, Bauer sees a turning tide.
“It used to be that people here would vote Republican all their lives,” he said. “But now there’s more of them looking for solutions.”
There’s a reason Bauer says the party has attracted 400,000 new registrants statewide this year so far.
“With gas prices and foreclosures on the rise, suddenly people are a lot more interested in the policies coming from their government,” he said, citing the fact that Indiana is among the top 10 nationwide in home foreclosures.
State party leaders see the ongoing fight between Democratic presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama as an advantage too. Besides drumming up interest for the primary in general, “It’s keeping us in the press,” said Nick Schmutte, former chair of the county Democrats who’s running for election in House District 40. “John McCain just isn’t getting as much coverage right now.”
All signs seemingly bode well for the Democrats currently. But Schmutte remains “cautiously optimistic.”
“There’s the feeling that things could turn in some areas (like central Indiana and the suburbs, where Republicans have long enjoyed a majority),” he said. “Whether that happens in this county remains to be seen.”
Schmutte is especially hopeful for that revolution in District 40, which includes the eastern half of Hendricks County. That’s where a lot of the demographics have changed. But Michael Herring, secretary for the Hendricks County Democrats, says much work remains.
“We’re just trying to get ourselves known in the county,” he said. “There are a lot of Democrats in the county. We’re just trying to get them unified. This is just the start.”
County Democrats meet the first Tuesday of each month, though there will be no May meeting because of the primary election. The next gathering is 6 p.m. June 3 at the Golden Eagle restaurant, 50 Old Farm Rd. in Danville. For more information, visit the website www.hendrickscodems.org.
wade.coggeshall@flyergroup.com
Local News
Related Photos
-
Len Behling (right), chair of the Hendricks County Democratic Party, chats with Indiana House Speaker Pat Bauer Friday at the county Jefferson-Jackson Dinner at Martha’s Orchard. / Photo by Wade Coggeshall
Local Democrats hopeful of political turnaround this election
- Local News
-
-
County looks to battle water illnesses
The week prior to Memorial Day serves as National Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week.
-
Howie Mandel to serve as 500 honorary announcer
Howie Mandel, standup comedian and judge on “America’s Got Talent,” will serve as honorary announcer for the 96th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on May 27.
-
Why do young white women risk cancer to be tan?
A CDC report out this month found that nearly one in three white women aged 18 to 25 had used a tanning booth in the previous year. White women aged 18 to 21 went the most often, averaging 27.6 sessions per year—that’s over two sessions per month—while nearly 70 percent said they had gone at least 10 times in the last year.
-
BCSC raises $30,000 for Race for the Cure
Basketball season may have ended a few months ago for the Bulldog community, but the school system decided to give the Susan G. Komen Foundation one extra large, record assist as they recently announced raising $30,000 in the Race for the Cure fight against breast cancer.
-
Drive for Damon golf scramble set
A golf scramble to raise money for disabled former Ben Davis High School basketball star Damon Parks is set for 1 p.m. June 3 at Riverside Golf Course in Indianapolis.
-
Brownsburg fights back with Relay for Life
For 24 hours, it will be non-stop community versus cancer in town as the Relay for Life event will takes place. The event will start at 5 p.m. June 1 at the Brownsburg West Middle School track.
-
Dawes, county celebrate retirement
The impact that Dennis Dawes has left on Hendricks Regional Health will not be soon forgotten.
-
Young racing team plants roots and more in Brownsburg
When Belardi Racing decided to uproot its operation and move to Hendricks County, they got the idea that maybe they should put some roots down.
-
500 Festival celebrates with breakfast event
With practices and qualifications going on at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Saturday was a busy day for everyone involved.
-
Relay returns
With battling cancer and raising awareness in mind, the Wayne Township area hosted its Relay for Life this past weekend at the Chapel Hill 7th and 8th Grade Center.
- More Local News Headlines
-
County looks to battle water illnesses
Astrodome Fades As Houston Decides Fate
Egyptians Vote in Historic Presidential Election
Franciscan Files Tell Stories of Priest Abuse
Wildfire Destroys 2 Homes
Flight Diverted After Suspicious Note
Joplin Remembers Deadly Tornado, 1 Year Later
Panel Recommends Against Routine Prostate Test
Fired Lingerie Employee Claims Discrimination
Joplin Marches to 'Remember' Tornado Victims
Facebook Shares Continue Negative Slide
Cuba Waiting for Cyber Age to Come
8 Hurt in Oklahoma Shooting After NBA Playoff
Sheriff: DNA Links Suspect to Missing CA Teen
US Airways: Diverted Flight Has 'Landed Safely'
Revived Focus on Regulation After JPMorgan Loss
