Elrod Wins GOP Slate

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State district 97 rep Jon Elrod

Photo by Jay Thompson

(posted Jan 13)


Jon Elrod will now square off with Andre Carson in the March 11 special election for the US Seventh District Congressional Seat. The Marion County GOP slated Elrod as the party's choice for the special election and May Primary while the State caucus vote made Elrod the official nominee for the special election. Three hundred committeemen voted at the January 13 caucus meeting.

Elrod has a big challenge in trying to take the seat back from Democratic control where it has been since 1974. Raising money will now become the critical issue. Elrod's acceptance speech included a request for campaign contributions. Elrod still plans to retain his state representative seat for the 97th District. He informed the party he could campaign and still serve as representative since he is freshman with little influence.

He told everybody to log onto jonelrod.com. During his campaign speech, Elrod told the caucus that as of Saturday the Republican Party did not want him to run. But like Mayor Greg Ballard, Elrod explained that he is ready for the challenge. Elrod told the caucus that he could appeal to the independent and the soft democratic votes.

Marion County GOP Chairman Tom John and State Chairman Murry Clark both indicated they had no knowledge of what Elrod had said about the party not wanting him to run. Murray explained Elrod is everything you want in a candidate. He works very well with the committeemen and he expresses his gratitude to them for dedicated work.

Earl Salisbury, former district 13 City County Councilman, said it is not unusual for the party to tell some candidates not run because it is expensive. He said that Gary Hoffmeister spent over $2 million of his own money only to be defeated by Julia Carson. Even the city council races are not cheap.

Salisbury raised $6,000 for his city council race. Salisbury questioned the practically of the costly fund raising when the council job only paid $11,000. Candidates often ask their odds of winning because it does involve personal money.

Scott Keller, former Councilman for district 16, said he raised $150,000 with $85,000 going to his victory, which had a 5 vote margin. The balance of his funds were given to the other Republican candidates. Keller admitted that he was discouraged from running because nobody thought he could win in 2003.

Murray estimated about $1 million to $1.2 million will be needed for the Congressional race since TV ads will be used.

Elrod defeated Tom Rose and Gabrielle Campo for the Republican slate.The county's slating process determines the party's preferred candidate in the primary. During the caucus for state nomination, Greg Stroude joined the pack. He said he refused to be part of the Marion County Republican slating process because of the $8,000 fee.

Ballard attended the function to thank the precinct committeemen for their hard work in getting him elected in November. He asked them to vote with their heart and to do the right thing and not to follow a hidden agenda. Ballard contends the seat can be won despite the long term Democratic stronghold.

"I am a terrific example that anything can happen," Ballard said.