Are Allen County Democrats making a big mistake?
Plus an interview with a delicious new candidate who entered the race today
Kimberly Michaelsen is one of the 98 precinct chairs who can vote in Saturday’s caucus to select the next mayor of Fort Wayne. And like many city residents, she wants to know one thing:
“Why are the precinct chairs not public knowledge?”
The short answer: because the Democratic Party doesn’t want them to be.
Technically, precinct chairs are elected officials — just like mayors, state representatives, etc. — appearing on your primary ballot every four years.
But according to former State Representative Mitch Harper, at some point in the 70s or 80s the Indiana General Assembly passed a bill allowing parties to decide whether or not to make their precinct chairs public.
Allen County Democratic Party executive director Chad Wierzbinski told The Local’s Kara Hackett that their precinct chair list is an internal party document, unavailable to either the public or the media.
What does Michaelsen think of that?
“Well, that’s [expletive].”
She told me she follows various social media outlets posting about the caucus and the public “can’t find their PCs to save their lives.”
Like several other precinct chairs I’ve spoken with, she’s concerned that keeping the list private is going to alienate voters from the local Democratic Party at a time when they need them the most.
“This is the most interest there’s been in the Democratic Party here in years,” a loyal party member told me today. “Why would we try to shut people out like this?”
Another precinct chair said they agree with Michaelsen that the list should be made public.
“We’re public officials. People should know who we are.”
Local drag queen enters the race
Branden Blaettner, who is also known as his drag queen character Della Licious, filed paperwork today declaring himself a candidate in the caucus.
He has no campaign experience but he told me he’s voted in two consecutive Democratic primaries and is a resident of Fort Wayne, so he meets the qualifications to be on the ballot.
Blaettner said he’s considered running for office “multiple times” and is finally doing it now because the process is so simple. “There is never going to be another time in my life where I run for office and only fill out one form.”
He recognizes his candidacy might make some local Democrats uncomfortable, but “progress and comfort aren’t neighbors,” he told me.
“I’m going into this knowing that I’m not going to win, but I want to be a voice for the disenfranchised in our community.”
Blaettner has a particular heart for Fort Wayne residents who are struggling with addiction.
His sister Isabella “Izzy” Blaettner died of a fentanyl overdose on April 18, 2021 at the age of 22. He’s previously spoken to local media about her death and his crusade to help prevent others in the area from experiencing a similar loss.
“The day of the town hall is the three-year anniversary of the day [she] died,” he said, “and the caucus is the three-year anniversary of the day I found her body.”
Blaettner told me he hopes to use the platform being a caucus candidate provides to influence the eventual winner, advocating for people struggling with “addiction, homelessness and food insecurity.”
“I want Fort Wayne to be a shining light of excellence for people of all walks of life.”
Blaettner knows people are likely wondering whether he will show up to Thursday night’s candidate town hall at PFW as Della Licious.
“I thought about going in drag,” he said, “but then I thought no.”
UPDATE: On Wednesday, the Allen County Democratic Party released a statement that Blaettner actually did not have the primary voting record to qualify to run as a Democrat.
I reached out to Blaettner about that and he admitted he voted in the GOP primary this year and in 2016 to cast his ballot against Donald Trump.
He said he voted early this year for Nikki Haley and left the rest of his ballot blank.
Programming note
I’ll be on WOWO’s Morning News tomorrow morning at 6:40AM to discuss the mayor’s race.
You can listen online here or by tuning your radio dial to 92.3 FM or 1190 AM.
Kimberly Michaelsen doesn't live in Fort Wayne anymore. It would have been 99 if she still lived here.
Precinct Level Election Results for Allen County, specifically under Democrat - is there a separate, hidden list? I was digging to find the ‘why’ and found this? https://www.in.gov/sos/elections/election-commission/election-results/precinct-level-election-results-for-state-and-local-contests/