Fort Wayne, Indiana may not be hyped by all the attention United States Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) is getting in running for president and beating out their hometown favorite son, Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN). Perhaps Fort Wayne voters are thinking politics are local and if that's the case, the heavily republican laden district may have their eyes and ears more focused on their hometown race for Mayor.
Reports from the local newspapers, suggest that the incumbent Graham Richard, Democratic Mayor may not run for reelection. And that set the stage for an early nomination battle from two republican hopefuls, Nelson Peters and Matthew Kelty. Matthew Kelty stepped smack dab center ring without any hesitation and announced his candidacy. While a more timid newly elected Allen County Commissioner, Peters, tested the ropes with a exploratory team before fully committing to the race.
On November 16, 2006, Peters officially announced he would run for mayor. Peters announcement came after forming an exploratory committee on October 12,2006, two day after Kelty officially announced he would run for mayor. The more confident Kelty formed an exploratory committee during the early spring of 2006.
Both men are in, where as the democrats are a no show.
Peters is currently serving as secretary of the Allen County Board of Commissioners. Nelson Peters was elected 1st District Allen County Commissioner in November 2004. He took office on January 1, 2005.
Kelty currently does not hold an elected political office. However, Kelty is no stranger to politics. In 2004, Kelty challenged long time democratic political leader, Win Moses for the seat on Indiana House of Representative. Moses, an old time veteran politician won by a mere handful of votes.
The fact that Peters, who recently was elected to Allen County Commission position may have generated some buzz as to how serious was he at the time he took the oath for the position. Certainly, Kelty, would be at least one individual who would be interested in the answer to that question.
Kelty, an architect by trade, is methodically putting together his campaign to draw in the taxpayers to participate in the race for Mayor. According to his website, Kelty, has plans for a new Fort Wayne with "innovation, invention and prosperity".
Kelty similar to Obama has an appeal that reaching out to the taxpayers while at the same time appeals to the needs of the small business owners. Kelty campaign is favored with a more inclusive participation that does not resonate from belonging to the republican party.
Peters campaign appeared to tainted with the prominent party members as he selected the Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce to make his announcement for Mayor. The old guard rule of the prominent party members believes in appointment to a political office rather than the voters determining its representative candidate. Even more interesting, the Chamber is demanding consolidation whereas Kelty is suggesting a limited consolidation.
Both republicans have hired campaign managers, with the Steve Shine distraction some damage control would be needed. Kelty may be counting on Peters' run for Mayor to face the same fate as Bayh's brief moment as a Presidential hopeful...brief.
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