Thursday, January 20, 2005

Jerry Abramson for Mayor (2006)

Yep, it's that time of year again when Louisville Mayor for Life Jerry Abramson decides he's ready to seek another term, not that it's a surprise or anything (Jerry Abramson is a family friend). As such, the Courier-Journal reports that he's running again.
Jerry Abramson, who has spent more than a quarter of his life as Louisville's mayor, wants to serve another four years.

"I will seek re-election as mayor next year" of the Louisville Metro Government, Abramson, 58, announced today during the annual State of the City address before the Downtown Rotary Club.

Abramson has set up an election campaign committee chaired by lawyer Tim Corrigan, allowing him to raise money, said Jim McGovern, Abramson's senior assistant who managed his 2002 metro mayor campaign.

Abramson served three terms as mayor of the old City of Louisville and would be eligible for three terms as metro mayor.

During his first term, Abramson has focused on shepherding the 2-year-old metro government through the merger, concentrating on maintaining services and consolidating agencies without raising taxes.[...]

But Metro Council member Kelly Downard, R-16th, said yesterday that he "is very, very seriously" considering running for mayor. Recent problems with snow removal illustrate where Abramson's effort to deliver services more efficiently has failed, he said.

Metro Council member Hal Heiner, R-19th, also said yesterday he is "considering all options." He said Abramson has done a good managing merger but that an overall community "vision hasn't been established, and no work in that direction has begun."

Jefferson County Republican Chairman Jack Richardson IV said defeating Abramson would be tough, "but not unthinkable. There is a lot of time yet, and things might develop."
Kelly Downard just won re-election against his Democratic challenger, Art Hoffman (Art is another family friend--I know every Jewish Democrat that either is running for office or elected in this darn fine state of Kentucky...)

Former State Senate candidate Kathy Groob writes on what the Republicans in Frankfort are doing.
As witnessed by their tactics throughout the 2004 campaigns, and despite their promise of bi-partisanship, the Republicans are continuing their same old win-by-any-means attack style. But this time, in a move to stun even the most jaded political observers, their level of partisanship has sunk to a new low, and looks to set the tone for yet another unproductive and destructive legislative session.

Of course, in one sense, the Republicans have kept their bipartisan promise. When our elected leaders ignore the Kentucky Constitution for shortsighted political gains, we are all - Democrats and Republicans alike - ultimately the losers.
She had a column or editorial in the Kentucky Post as well.
Wait a minute, Gov. Fletcher. When you ran for governor in 2003, people bought into your mantra that you were going to clean up the waste, fraud and abuse in Frankfort. It was one of the best campaign messages in a long time, and it worked. You garnered widespread bi-partisan support by making people believe our government had been pilfering our tax dollars for years and you were offering a refreshing change. True or not, people bought into your message.

At a time when our state is in a financial crisis; on the verge of a bankrupt Medicaid system, how can you possibly expect us to believe that the $645,000 that was spent to develop the new logo "Unbridled Spirit" is not waste, fraud and abuse?

As a marketing executive, I understand the concept of branding and recognize that it is important to convey a consistent message when marketing to prospective companies. I can list a half dozen marketing firms in Northern Kentucky alone that would have done a superb job of developing a slogan and a logo for $20,000 or less. And the $645,000 that was spent to develop the new slogan doesn't even begin to touch the cost of replacing state signs and printed materials to incorporate the new logo. I call this waste with a capital "W."
If I didn't know any better, I'd say that Kathy Groob is considering a future run for office. I hope she does. She'd be a darn good candidate at that!

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