What I’m hearing: Precinct chairs’ big worry
What I’m hearing: Precinct chairs’ big worry
Plus read the first mailer sent out by a caucus candidate
Here’s a quick overview of what I’m hearing about the race to replace Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry:
The town hall has people worried
Last week the Democratic Party announced it will hold a town hall forum for the precinct chairs to hear from all the mayoral caucus candidates on Thursday, April 18th. Andy Downs, former director of Purdue University Fort Wayne’s Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics, will serve as moderator.
It’s scheduled to start at 6PM and last two hours, and will be held at the David Hefner Pavilion at Franklin School Park (1903 St. Marys Avenue). This venue has a capacity of around 150, and several precinct chairs I spoke with last week are concerned the venue will be way too small.
“That place only holds 148 people,” one told me last week. “You’ve got 98 precinct chairs, plus the candidates and their people, plus the media, plus other people who just want to be there. It’s not going to hold everybody.” (See video below)
Another precinct chair acknowledged the caucus and its timing are required by state law, but believes Allen County Democrats need to be extra careful so Fort Wayne residents don’t feel the party rushed to install a new mayor in a secretive process.
At present, there are no plans to stream or broadcast the town hall to the public. While the candidates have been making calls to precinct chairs over the past few days, the forum may be the only opportunity for the general public to hear from them. Holding it in such a small venue “could alienate a lot of voters from us in the future,” that same precinct chair said.
It appears a change might happen. “We have heard the concerns about space size,” said Allen County Democratic Party executive director Chad Wierzbinksi in a statement sent to Fort Wayne Politics, “and have been exploring potential alternatives.”
The other concern I’ve heard about the forum is out of the party’s control: there won’t be enough time to hear from each of the candidates because there will be so many.
As of today, seven have publicly declared their candidacy:
City Councilwoman Michelle Chambers (At-Large)
State Representative Phil GiaQuinta (80th District)
City Councilwoman Sharon Tucker (6th District)
Wayne Township Trustee Austin Knox
City of Fort Wayne Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Stephanie Crandall
Jorge Fernandez
Palermo Galindo
One insider I spoke to suggested as many as ten candidates may be in the race by the day of the town hall. Factoring in introductions and questions from the audience, each candidate may have less than ten minutes to address the audience.
Chambers mailer targets female precinct chairs
Michelle Chambers was one of the first caucus candidates to announce she was running, and it appears she’s first out of the gate when it comes to direct mail, too.
This mailer was sent out last week. It appears to be targeting female precinct chairs, emphasizing their number (58) and stating Chambers is “reaching out to you not just in my capacity as a public servant but as a fellow woman who understands the immense power we hold together.” She says their collective action “has the power not just to save but to redefined the soul of our beloved city.” (Full text is below.)
In the inspiring words of Coretta Scott King, “Women, if the soul of the nation is to be saved, I believe that you must become its soul.” Today, we, the 58 women precinct committee members, alongside our 43 male counterparts, are poised at a historic crossroads in Fort Wayne’s history. Our collective action has the power not just to save but to redefined the soul of our beloved city.
As your Councilwoman Michelle Chambers, I am reaching out to you not just in my capacity as a public servant but as a fellow woman who understands the immense power we hold together. With our city on the cusp of making history, we have the opportunity to lead with courage, compassion, and conviction.
On April 20, 2024, at the Democratic Caucus, your vote is not just a procedural act; it is a legacy-defining moment. I am asking you for your support to become Fort Wayne’s next mayor, to continue and expand upon the legacy of Mayor Tom Henry, and to chart new paths that affect our collective aspirations and strengths.
This is a pivotal moment for Fort Wayne—a chance for us to showcase the power of female leadership and to ensure that our city’s future is shaped by voices that are as diverse and dynamic as the community we serve. A vote for me is a vote for a Fort Wayne where every voice is heard, where every child can dream without limits, and where women lead not just with strength, but with the depth of their soul.
Let us seize this moment to stand on the right side of Fort Wayne’s history. With 58 women precinct committee members, we have a unique opportunity to influence our city’s direction and leadership. Let’s lead Fort Wayne into a new era, reflecting the very best of who we are and all we aspire to become.
With deep respect and unwavering hope,
Councilwoman Michelle Chambers
Crandall holds event tomorrow
Tomorrow afternoon at 2PM, Stephanie Crandall will be holding a kickoff event for her campaign to replace her former boss, Mayor Tom Henry, at the Promenade Park Pavilion in Downtown Fort Wayne.