Libertarian Councilor Candidate Raises $65,000 in One Weekend; GOP Will Have to Defend Solidly Republican Turf

Libertarian Councilor
Ed Coleman

Big local news came out of the annual Libertarian National Committee meeting held the weekend in Columbus, Ohio. The campaign of Libertarian Councilor Ed Coleman came back $65,000 wealthier, buoyed by a $50,000 contribution from the national party and several smaller contributions.

Coleman, who was elected as a Republican at-large councilor in 2007, switched to the Republican Party because of a disagreement with how the Republican council majority was being run, including the backlash he faced in his own caucus when tried to ask questions about the Capital Improvement Board.  Coleman, who has always expressed libertarian-type views, said he felt more at home in the Libertarian Party.

In what was one of the shrewder political moves I've seen in awhile, Coleman opted to not run for re-election for a at-large position, but rather to concentrate on trying to win in h his southside district, District 24, a which leans heavily Republican.  The district is represented by Jack Sandlin who replaced Mike Speedy after he was elected to the General Assembly.  Sandlin came to his position though with baggage.  Sandlin lost badly to Gary Coons in the 2006 Republican primary after having served for years as Perry Township Trustee.  Animosity in the township, in particular among Perry Township firefighters, doomed Sandlin's re-election.

Coleman's efforts in District 24 have been aided by Marion County Democratic Chairman Ed Treacy who decided not to appoint a Democratic candidate to contest Sandlin's district, a move which could have caused anti-Sandlin vote from going to Coleman.

Republican Councilor
Jack Sandlin

With the $65,000 worth of contributions this weekend, Coleman will undoubtedly outraise Sandlin in District 24.  Sandlin reported just $4,516 cash on hand in his pre-primary April 2011 filing, raising $2,307 during the first 3 1/2 months of the year  With a district only being 1/25th the size of the county, Coleman will be able to concentrate his resources.  Now that the campaign is well-funded, the challenge for Coleman is to employ a well-crafted strategy that uses the money to target District 24 voters.  In that effort, he could take a page from Coons' well-executed 2006 campaign that ousted Sandlin.

Finally, I can't help but note how giddy the Democrats undoubtedly are at Coleman's fundraising success.   Now faced with an opponent funded to the tune of $65,000, the Republican Party will likely have to spend to defend an incumbent councilor who would have been in a safe seat. Given the number of close districts Republicans have to defend, this isn't good news for Republican Marion County Chairman Kyle Walker.

Thanks to Featherstone on Government for tipping me off to the story.