(Cross-posted from WRTV's Capitol WatchBlog)
Ten days ago, it looked like Marion County Democratic Party Chair Mike O'Connor would be stepping down to make way for former Marion County Democratic Party Chair Ed Treacy to re-ascend to power.
Now comes word that there's another candidate in the potential race to replace O'Connor when the time comes.
That man, a rough-and-tumble political pro, is recently retired UAW Vice President Terry Thurman, who's back in Indianapolis after a two-year stint in Detroit. While he was away, his wife, Connie, a shrewd insider in her own right, took over where he left off. Two go-to leaders for the price of one?
The question now on the horizon is whether Treacy will back down and let someone new have a chance to lead the party or whether he'll put up a fight to get his old job back.
Time will tell, but this will most definitely be one to watch.
Thurman might do a good job. His union record is certainly solid, and he married right.
I'm one precinct-level Dem who doesn't care who the chair is. It honestly doesn't seem to make much of a difference. Those of us who were thrilled when Bart ran for his first term, were stunned that he chose someone like Ed to be chair. It wasn't pretty. And his tenure, while marked with victories, was curious, at best.
Then came Napolean O'Connor. Talk about wasted opportunities.
We haven't had a street-level fighter since Providence Benedict. I don't know if that's what's required now, but, with a reduced number of precincts, the fight for this empty bucket will be among a smaller group of folks.
It's important to raise money, but it's almost important for the chair to have the confidence of committeemen and women. That has not existed for quite awhile. Ed Treacy won't bring that back--quite the opposite.
Time will tell. But Thurman's potential candidacy is damned good news. Would he fill out his leadership team with a bunch of hacks, or real live precinct people who don't need a public job to validate their worth?