Tippecanoe County Democrats —

Mayor Tony Roswarski says he won't run for the District 4 congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Steve Buyer. Despite calls from the state Democratic party and many constituents, the Mayor says the timing isn't right; he has two daughters at home and many projects he wants to complete in Lafayette. Read more from WBAA here.

On Monday Democrat Julie Novak resigned her position representing Lafayette's 4th District on the City Council. The former Purdue professor has a new faculty appointment at the University of Texas and had been fulfilling her duties to the Council on a commuter basis. She was elected to the city council in November 2007. Her term ends Dec. 31, 2011. Mayor Tony Roswarski said,

"She has done a lot for us in two years, and from that standpoint, it's difficult to see her go," he said. "Between taking care of her father and commuting, she realized that she would not be able to perform the job to the best of her abilities. She is making an honorable decision by stepping down."

Tippecanoe County Democratic Chair Heather Maddox said, "I really respect her decision. She served the position well, and she knew when it was the right time to resign. Now we want to get that position filled as quickly as possible because the people living there need representation."

A successor for Novak will be elected at a party caucus, the date of which will be announced by the end of the week. Anyone interested in being considered for the seat should contact Heather Maddox at (765)429-5136.

You can read more about Novak's decision here and here.

A tearful Rep. Steve Buyer announced yesterday that he would not seek re-election as representative to Indiana's 4th congressional district because of an illness that has befallen his wife. Buyer will serve out his current term. He is also resigning his position of colonel in the Army Reserve after 30 years of service. Indiana Democratic Chairman Dan Parker said "Our hearts go out to (Buyer) in a terrible time for his family. He served his country both in the military and Congress, and he's got the right priorities for his family." We echo Chairman Parker's sentiments.

You can see a video of Rep. Buyer's emotional announcement from WISH TV here and read the Indianapolis Star's coverage here.

THe Indiana Arts Commission has designated cultural districts in three Indiana cities--Bloomington, Carmel, and Lafayette/West Lafayette. The designation, established by 2008 legislation, is important because, "the arts and culture are becoming important economic assets and can be an engine for economic growth in Hoosier communities large and small. Our state cultural district designation is an important tool within a policy portfolio designed to help us capitalize on our cultural resources in ways that encourage both economic prosperity and civic wellbeing,” says Rep. Eric Koch, author of the legislation. Here is Mayor Tony Roswarski's response to the designation:

“The development of arts and culture is an essential tool for the City of Lafayette in many ways,” said Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski. “It is a component of overall economic development and quality of life strategies that are vital to attracting and retaining business and residents. It is also central to our efforts for downtown revitalization. The newly designated Tippecanoe Arts and Culture District will further our goals for downtown as a destination for living, working and entertainment. We expect to work with the IAC to promote our district and leverage its assets for tourism and business development opportunities.”

You can read more about the designation here.

Last night local Democrats were introduced to two young men who are working together in pursuit of the offices of State auditor and State treasurer, and they look forward to coordinating with each other in office, hopefully with a Democratic Secretary of State. Sam Locke (left in picture), the candidate for auditor, says he wants to bring transparency to the auditors's office so that citizens can see how the state is spending its money; he argues that this is virtually impossible now. He also notes that many of the state's outsourced providers have no contract with the state, so arrangements are lacking in transparency. Pete Buttigieg (pronounced "Boot-a-judge"), candidate for treasurer, wants to help the state invest its money in labor intensive areas that will create jobs in Indiana and create standards for banks that hold state money.

Both candidates recognize that voters don't care much about the offices they're running for but do care about the economic issues those offices are involved in. Are the offices winnable by Democrats in this election cycle? These candidates think so. Last time both offices were lost by only a few percentage points, which translates into only three or four vote swings in every precinct. They think the public's anger is aimed at incumbents and that candidates offering a fresh approach will do well.

These are bright, qualified candidates who are committed to serving the public. They help voters see the importance and the excitement of the offices they aspire to. Learn more about auditor candidate Sam Locke at www.SaveWithSam.org and treasurer candidate Pete Buttigieg at www.peteforindiana.com.

Today the Indiana Senate voted in favor of the constitutional amendment freezing property taxes at their current level. The vote was 35-15. The amendment must pass a second vote in the House and in the Senate. Then it will appear on the November ballot for a public vote. Rep. Sheila Klinker, who voted for the House bill, told the Exponent that “we need to watch it carefully, and I say that on behalf of the local governments and schools,” citing as an example of caps backfiring, the funding troubles in California. You can read more from the Purdue Exponent here.