Two races

Some comments on a couple of the primary contests:

• Sheriff: Some in law-enforcement and criminal-justice circles are worried about this race, because they aren't all that thrilled with any of the candidates. Sheriff Jim Herman's choice to take over the department decided not to run, and the sheriff has decided to let the process play out rather than backing any of the four Republican candidates. This means a likely break in continuity. As in any large, complex organization, it makes sense for the current boss to groom the next one. That can be tricky in a political process in which a new boss has to be chosen by voters every eight years, but the sheriffs have generally managed to make it work. The person the sheriff wants to succeed him is made chief deputy and learns all he needs to, then the sheriff backs him in the race. Since Republicans rarely lose, this has been a pretty good system -- till this year. It's not that people think the four Republican candidates are awful, just that they have deficiencies that might hurt the office. Ken Fries, seen by some as the most likely to win at this point, for example has the reputation of being a bit of a blabbermouth, talking about cases he shouldn't be talking about with people he shouldn't be talking about them with. Two prominent Republicans have told me privately they actually think the most interesting candidate seeking the office is Democrat Tina Taviano. Being sheriff is at least as much about running a business as it is about the law-enforcement part, and Taviano has a graduate degree in public management. Then again, her people skills are said to be somewhat lacking, and she is, you know, a Democrat.
• Commissioner: Many think the race to watch this year is the one between County Commissioner Marla Irving and businessman Bill Brown. Some had thought the three County Council members who strongly support consolidated government and ran more or less as a slate would face strong opposition, but only one of them is being challenged. The race between Commissioner Linda Bloom and challenger Roy Buskirk from the council isn't seen as very interesting because there really isn't that much difference between the two. But Brown is a smart businessman who started a business in his garage and is strongly committee to the inner city of Fort Wayne. He might have some creative ideas about how to create government efficiencies short of outright consolidation. Irving has had billboards up for some time, and Brown has already started running radio ads. Races are always more lively when each candidate honestly thinks the other one has a legitimate chance to win, and I suspect that's the case here.