Local Politics - Northwest Indiana

This past Wednesday I attended a meeting of the Northwest Indiana Democratic Alliance, a small but tenacious group of people that are actually trying to invigorate the politic atmosphere, instill (or re-instill) traditional American democratic values, and offer an alternative to machine politics. The guest speaker was a woman that was tapped by the Porter County Democratic Leadership (Leon West and Company) to run at the last minute against a Republican (unnamed at the time) in a state House of Representatives race where the incumbent suddenly withdrew in favor of retirement. Her name is Sylvia Graham. She is a Nurse Practitioner, a Bass Masters Champion, a grandmother and an entity that the Leadership will have to contend with because, from my perspective, she is not one to be told what to do.

Just listening to her gave one the impression that she is a novice at the politics of the process. She is a bit naive in terms of how to deal with deluge of influence brokering that she is being hit with in an effort to re-take the seat held by Representative Ayres (a strong Republican incumbent) and is trying to do good. She still holds to ideals, which many in the political process have either lost, had stolen from them, or merely cast aside.

She is well-educated and experienced in dealing with people. While not coming across as a practiced orator, one could tell she was genuine in her efforts and approach to speaking to a group. She did not address the "group" per se, but spoke to people. She understood that she needed to be inclusive and involved. She also understands the issues of education, healthcare and the selling off of our resources by those holding the reins downstate in Marion County, Indianapolis and the State House.

Her campaign slogan is "Enough is enough!" and her primary impetus for taking on the challenge of running in a last minute campaign is that she is tired of the current trend in Indiana of sending money outside of the state. She cited contracts with places outside of Indiana to provide services that could be provided within the state and by people and business entities that would be paying taxes and invigorating the economy in INDIANA. Her dander is up regarding the "sale" of the Indiana Toll Road, the loss of control of state resources through the process of privatization, and the way the current administration is disregarding the needs of the Northern part of the state because of its primarily Democratic orientation. She cited that most of the money being generated via the Toll Road lease is being horded downstate and will not be used in our neck of the woods for improvement of our infrastructure and common weal.

I am not easily impressed by most politicians because most of them would tell you something just to hear their own voices and get their names in the paper. But Sylvia Graham is the type of candidate that we need to run in every race. She does not owe the party any favors, she is committed to doing the job, she still holds to her own values and ideals, she believes in self-government by those that are being represented, and she won't cave in on the important issues. This is perhaps one of the few races where none-of-the-above can be taken off the ballot and a positive vote in her favor will do us all some good.