Indiana
New Indiana Democratic Party chair says opportunities for expansion exist
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The new chair of the Indiana Democratic Party said it’s possible to unify the party’s base while still appealing to new voters.
Former state Sen. Karen Tallian was elected party chair on March 15. In an interview with News 8 for All INdiana Politics, she said the party’s base has splintered and it’s time to bring everyone back together. Moreover, she said Democrats need to prioritize voter turnout, particularly among their own base. Even as this happens, she said she sees an opportunity to peel off voters exasperated with the direction the Republican Party has taken.
“I really believe that a lot of what’s going on right now has become so disruptive, so awful on so many different levels, that we will get to bring people back,” she said. “This is our opportunity to say, look, we are the party of working people and rational programs.”
Democrats have not won any statewide election since 2012 and have not won the governor’s race since 2000. To reverse that, Tallian said the party needs to bring people back to the table.
She said political attitudes ebb and flow over time and she expects voters will tire of Trump-style conservatism, particularly if it leads to gutting programs and services ranging from Social Security to national parks.
Tallian said the party should work to peel off disaffected Trump voters, such as some of those within organized labor. Some within the labor community have told Tallian they’re willing to come back to the Democratic camp.
“I think we can do this. I wouldn’t be sitting here if I didn’t believe the Democratic party could not do this,” she said.
The Indiana Democratic Party has been rocked in recent months by sexual harassment scandals involving two Indianapolis Democrats.
In July and August, three former staffers accused Thomas Cook, former chief of staff and chief deputy mayor under Mayor Joe Hogsett, of making unwanted sexual advances. Then, in November, a total of six former staffers accused then-Senate Minority Leader Greg Taylor of sexual harassment. Senate Democrats initially reelected Taylor to his post but later ousted him from leadership.
Tallian said the party as an organization can censure accused harassers if necessary but can do little otherwise because elected officials are responsible to voters and their caucuses, not the party organization itself. She said it’s up to the General Assembly to discipline any member accused of misconduct. As for party staff, Tallian said the Indiana Democratic Party recently updated its sexual harassment prevention policy and has a robust system in place.
All INdiana Politics airs at 9:30 a.m. Sundays on WISH-TV.
RIPLEY COUNTY, Ind. (WSBT) — A statewide Silver Alert has been issued for two young children in Indiana.
Police in Ripley County, southeast of Indianapolis, are looing for the children who may be siblings.
The first child is 3-year-old Aaliyah Buckingham.
She was last seen wearing a pink cat shirt and tie-dye shorts.
The younger child is 1-year-old Shane Buckingham, last seen in a red shirt and diaper.
Police think both are with 45-year-old Timothy Buckingham, who was last seen driving a brown GMC truck.
Timothy is described as a 6′ 3″ white man weighing 225 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.
Photo of Timothy Buckingham provided by Indiana State Police
Police have not confirmed the relationship of the three, or why the children are believed to be in danger.
Anyone who sees the three are asked to contact the nearest police department.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A firefighter for the Indianapolis Fire Department was sent to the hospital Wednesday after battling a fire at a vacant house.
According to a Facebook post made by IFD, the fire happened around 10:15 a.m. at a house on Bluff Rd. IFD says that there were several complications, including limited access to fire hydrants and “interior hoarder conditions” that IFD says was due to squatters.
The injured firefighter received “slight injury,” the Facebook post said.
It took over an hour and a half to get the fire under control, according to IFD, and another hour to put out all the remaining hot spots in the building.
According to IFD, the cause of the fire is currently unknown. Their Fire Investigations Unit is working on figuring out what caused the fire.
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