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Secretary’s Note: Sorry for the lack of updates this summer. It’s been a busy summer outside of IDC for this secretary but meeting updates are now resuming.

Meeting Minutes for September 2007 General Membership Meeting of the Indiana Democratic Club

Meeting Called to order by: IDC President Ken Kern at 7:40pm on 10/25/2007

Moment of Silence: For

• Israel Cruz’s son, killed in Afghanistan
• Letty Oliver recovering from surgery
• Rosemary Vandeveer, former IDC VP, who is ill
• Elwood Black who passed this morning
• Eileen Collins who is ill
• Karen Williams who has passed today

Pledge of Allegiance: Marion County City/County Counci At-Large Candidate Rozelle Boyd

Speakers: Marion County Democratic At-Large Council Candidates: Rozelle Boyd, Joanne Sanders, Ron Gibson, Lonnell Conley.

• Lonnell Conley: We are a team. What’s important is that we remain and keep this team so we can continue the work of the last 8 years. We have done some very good things along with the Mayor and the Democratic Council Caucus. With the registered voters we know we have, we have to make sure they get to the polls and vote so we retain the council. If that doesn’t happen we will be in trouble again and could be set back 30 years. We have accomplished alot but there is more we need to do. In the last 8 years the city has progressed. When people elect you to lead, the expect you to lead and make tough decisions. You cannot just keep sweeping away problems. the police merger, the tax situation, the court, we could not avoid these problems anymore.
• Ron Gibson: This election we need to keep and grow our majority. A key issue is how to deal with crime. We stepped up to the plate and did a real package for crime including fixing the pensions as well as key resources for courts, public defenders, crime labs etc. More money was also found for more officers on the streets. We now have money to fund ways to prevent crime before it starts. Another issue is growing public transportation in Indianapolis. we need to increase bus routes and number of busses on the streets. we need to find a better way to provide mass transportation for our city.
• Joanne Sanders: It’s important to run with a team she can trust. What we are about as democrats is building a community and that every neighborhood is safe (sidewalks, well lit, etc). Building good jobs IS crime prevention. We are proud of our budget record. The 2008 budget is a slim budget but does pay for the services that constituents say they want. An Efficiency Commission was created to analyze local government (especially taxing units) to determine where savings can be had. We owe it to our constituents to operate the most efficient government. Public transit is important, beef up IndyGo. IndyGo would be the feeder system for any alternative transit system (such as train or light rail). IndyGo must be ready for that. We need to put together the best system possible and get dedicated funding to keep it growing and working.
• Rozelle Boyd: While we are a team, we are not duplicates. We work together to push Democratic ideas for the county. One question in a recent candidate forum had to do with somehow past decisions were reversed, and if they could vote again (specifically on the tax question) how would you vote again? He is comfortable with the decision and process that led to that vote. We were thoughtful about it when we went into it in the first place. The kicker came when the GOP candidates had to respond to the same question. Two of them said they would vote in favor of the income tax increase. One would vote against the income tax (he was an incumbent and largely had to). If any said no, they would not vote for the income tax increase, where would you get the money for the crime programs, for the increased police, etc.

Q&A:
Q: What sort of things is the council looking at for additional mass transit? ANd what abotu the image of Indygo?
A (Ron Gibson): The image is improving. Ridership is up. Airport shuttle is coming. ALlowing IUPUI students to ride for free (in exchange for some money from IUPUI)
A (Joanne Sanders): Regional Transportation Authority includes Marion, Surrounding, Monroe, Morgan. Looking at three different types of solutions. 1) Automated Guideway (like the monorail at Clarian) 2) Light Rail, looking at 7 different corridors. 3) . We can’t get to tangible publicity step until the studies are compelted. Another lane for 465 would be $1 billion. it would cost $1 billion to fund the transportation plan. But we are up against a state that thinks solely about the auto industry and more roads. there is also the pollution question, which makes another reason for shifting the money from a 465 addition to mass transit.

Q: IndyGo needs to consider expanding out to suburbs, especially serving things like the movement of St. Francis hospital out of town to further south.
A (Ron Gibson): Will look into that and start working on it.

Q: Where will the funding have to come from? State? Local? Federal?
A (Ron Gibson/Lonnell Conley): need the trifecta of state, local AND federal to pull it off.
A (Lonnell Conley): This is why we need to maintain our Democratic caucus to work on issues like this and not ignore them, even if they are tough topics and decisions. At join forums with the GOP candidates, the GOP candidates rarely answer the question about transit but instead deflect things to attacks on the Mayor.

Comment (Rozelle Boyd): trying to piecemeal a budget and handle base problems in the city, the state legislature has not given them the tools they need. Some media calls it finger-pointing, but he will not apologize when it is finger-pointing warning of a serious problem.

Q: It’s not just Marion county, other municipalities have had the same problem right?
A (All): Right. Unfunded pensions are one major issue. Many of these issues were in the Hometown Matters (bill) but the legislature decided that doesn’t matter.

Q: Feels the police skim over the unfunded pension issue, something our party is trying to fix. Why don’t the police see our party as the one trying to fix the problem?
A (Joanne Sanders): they are engaging in retaliation over consolidation. It’s not the 1600 members of IMPD complaining about consolidation. It’s a core group of about 20% that controls the endorsements etc. They don’t acknowledge that the 5% pay increase would not exist if not for consolidation.

Comment (Rozelle Boyd): the primary was a fiasco and we can admit that. Some people on the right came up with the “idea” to consolidate precincts. This was a Democratic idea 6-7 years ago but was defeated by Republicans at the state level. NOW that we’ve had a problem, they see it as a good idea. It’s unfortunate it took a crises to possibly get things done.

Last Month’s Minutes/Treasurer’s Report:
Deferred to October

Meeting Sponsors Needed: Contact the IDC if you are interested in being a meeting or refreshments sponsor.

Announcements:

• Local NAACP meetings are first thursdays of each month, here, at 6:30. All are welcome
• The Indiana voter ID bill is being heard by the Indiana Supreme Court
• Lou Rosenberg: Running for circuit court
• two candidates for Marion Superior Court
• Larry Ryan, president Southside Club: Truck Driver’s breakfast, Saturday, Oct 6. Southside Club on South Shelby in Fountain Square. 16th October is Third Tuesday luncheon. Regular meeting is October 2nd at 7pm.
• “Democracy Not For Sale” a summit for changing campaign funding. 9am - 4pm at University of Indianapolis. Pre-registration is $20.
• Debs Dinner in Terre Haute, October 6th. barbara Ehrenreich is the speaker and a group is going from the club. If you want to go it is $30 and you need to let Ken know ASAP. Meeting at 5pm at the Southside Club to leave.
• Holiday Party is December 11th. We need candidates as sponsors.
• Next month, we have invited the other people running in Marion County (Lawrence, Speedway, Beech Grove mayors, other town council candidates).

New Business:

• Soldiers’ Angels: A group started by General Patton’s granddaughter or great granddaughter. This group started in 2003 to ‘adopt’ a soldier and commit to sending a letter a week and a care package every month. Support for chaplains and also programs to send cards and supports to wounded. Other programs for providing voice controlled software for laptops for wounded soldiers. Many other services for deployed soldiers as well.

Meeting adjourned at 9pm.

Respectfully Submitted, Jason Borneman, IDC Secretary