Following the Bouncing Election Ball

Random observations and insights from Election Day thus far:

  • Seems that the Secretary of State’s election division received as many inquiries about liquor stores being open (the law was, in a common sense move, changed earlier this year to allow alcohol sales while the polls were open) than problems at the polls. Good news there.
  • A caller to The Times in Northwest Indiana bragged that he voted straight Republican today. The newspaper’s response, on its blog, was: Well, duh!
  • There were early reports (around 7 p.m.) that U.S. Senate frontrunner Dan Coats had practiced his victory speech from the podium at the Indianapolis Marriott. Guess he didn’t mind tempting fate a bit.
  • Interesting to see those U.S. Senate and other TV ads airing in the final minutes before the polls closed. Candidates seeking a last-minute push? Nah! Just the intricacies of televison scheduling.
  • Indy Star’s Matt Tully notes on Chamber webcast that all Republicans leading the congressional primaries were doing so with less than 50% of the vote (current Indiana Rep. Jackie Walorski did move up to 57% a short time later in dominating her race to challenge Joe Donnelly)

Regionally Speaking … to a Point

In the Northwest Indiana roundtable discussion in our current BizVoice, it is mentioned by an economic development official that we don’t care which county (or community) is home to the next major project. Will others in the Region have the same opinion? 

Bill Nangle, executive editor of The Times, says, "The end result will be that getting that company to develop here will outweigh any other consideration. Doesn’t mean there won’t be one community versus another. The one that I always think of is Krispy Kreme Dougnuts (battle between Highland and Schererville, with the latter the winner but the facility no longer in operation).

Mike Schrage, leader of Centier Bank, offers, "I think the public is very accepting of a business … as long as it comes to the area, that’s great. On the political side, we haven’t quite gotten the changeover; they’re still into a little fiefdom-type thing that unless it comes to our community, we’re not going to get the best benefit out of it."

Read this story and other Northwest Indiana and education features in BizVoice.