White for the people

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN - Mike White always wanted to be a state lawmaker and Muncie Democrats granted his dream as the first native American to represent the community at the Indiana Statehouse.

 White, 61, won a party caucus over Lewis Coulter, 66, a well known bar and restaurant owner and activist in fighting the government smoking ban. While the vote among Muncie Democratic precinct committeemen was secret, it was obvious White had the inside track, given his campaign experience and advice to former party chairmen like Phil Nichols and Dennis Tyler, who vacated the state representative seat when he was elected mayor.

 "I can't begin to tell you how humbling an experience this is for me," said White. "I will carry your voice to the Statehouse."

 And that voice  includes fighting Right to Work legislation will be in a House that has a 60-40 Republican majority. White's tenure will depend on whether he can win his party's nomination again in the May 8 primary election. That contest is expected to include Coulter and former state Sen. Sue Errington who was thrown out of her Senate seat in 2010 by Sen. Doug Eckerty, R-Yorktown. 

 Coulter, president of the Delaware County Licensed Beverage Association, offered an impressive list of public service as a former member of the Urban Enterprise Association and Civic Center Authority besides 38 years in the restaurant business, owning the Red Dog Saloon and End Zone. 

 "I hope you vote for the person most qualified and not the one you were told to," said Coulter, also has also run for Indiana Senate, Muncie mayor and Delaware County commissioner.

 White, who owns a computer company, had brief stints in public service like Community Development, and Metropolitan Plan Commission. He recently ran against Mike Jones, a Switzerland County teacher, preacher and county council member, for 6th Congressional District Democratic Party chairman which Jones won. Jones presided over the caucus on Thursday at local Democratic Party headquarters, keeping  the process public but the vote private according to state law.

 The congratulations came as White, holding an iPad, walked to the podium to make his own remarks. He plans to carry on Tyler's legislative agenda and fight to secure public school and higher education funding. It will be a big job, he said, planning to take office next Wednesday, Big media called his a throwback hippie and questioned what  he might be smoking. But White showed his skill at oratory and politics saying he would definitely make a difference at the Statehouse.

Judging from the list of committeemen, the race seemed to be no contest, given Coulter has been outside the party organization in recent elections. And other party outsiders like Team Democrats Linda Gregory, Billie Burkett and James Lutton did not even participate in the caucus. Party regulars like city council members Julius Anderson, Mary Jo Barton and Jerry Dishmen were there. And there were members of Nichols' family, including Ashley, Craig and Terri.  All are precinct committeemen.

 Again, Team Democrats only think about themselves and not the good of the party. Statewide. that could be a disaster for Democratic gubernatorial hopeful John Gregg and  Democratic Congressman Joe Donnelly who wants to represent Indiana in the U.S. Senate.