Sorry for the lack of posts yesterday, looks like all our writers were busy conducting their real jobs. I was able to spend a little bit of time on precinct analysis from the election on Tuesday of last week. So far, just surface details on Boone Township, will post more on other townships as I complete analysis.As you can see from the map right here, Boone Township is located in the far southwest corner of Porter County and consists of unincorporated properties as well as the Town of Hebron. The 2000 census reported 5,884 residents in this township, I'll look for an updated estimate of current population. (See City-Data for more detailed demographics)
In 2008 there were 3,916 registered voters, and a total of 2,744 or (70%) voted in the election last week. There are five precincts in Boone Township, #1 and #2 just outside of Hebron to the east, and the rest making up the Town of Hebron.
With an eye toward Indiana House races in 2010, precincts 1 and 2 vote in House district 4, and voters supported the incumbent Ed Soliday (R) who eventually won convincingly in his entire district. Precincts 3, 4 and 5 vote in House district 19, and voters supported Democrat Vandenburgh over the last minute Republican ballot filler Johnon. I have not looked at all of Johnson's Lake County precincts but on the surface it would appear to have been a name recognition vote more than anything. I would guess a solid rematch is in store in this district in two years, Johnson being the choice of many of the former Ron Paul supporters in Lake County.
The combined township supported Barack Obama and Jill Long Thompson, over John McCain and Mitch Daniels. Interestingly, Daniels' votes in this specific area of the county were much weaker than John McCain. For the most part, it would appear that Boone Township is slightly blue but had issues with the Governor specifcally. I'll hope for some comments here to explain which issue had this township voting against Mitch.
Porter County Politics: Red/Blue analysis
- Boone One Leans Red
- Boone Two Leans Blue
- Boone Three Leans Blue
- Boone Four Leans Red
- Boone Five Leans Blue
Additional Links:
Town of Hebron Demographics
Town of Hebron Town Council Members
Boone Precinct One Map
Boone Precinct Two Map
Boone Precinct Three Map
Boone Precinct Four Map
Boone Precinct Five Map
5 comments:
Boone has issues with Mitch because of the Illiana, plain and simple.
Illiana? Really.
If I recall that story, Mitch suggested that an expressway loop around NW Indiana and give access to Chicago without having to go thru Gary right? Additionally I think the original idea was to build it as a tollway to create even more dollars for transportation construction.
I'll assume, though I don't remember, that this new expressway was to pass somewhere south of Hebron and that this has rural Boone county residents concerned about traffic problems?
Thanks for the input. May I ask a follow-up: would you suggest the voters of Boone County are "against" all growth initiatives? Are they wanting to keep their township rural and farming?
I think the Illiana would have been a bit north of Hebron - but I can't remember for certain either. (I'm not from Hebron, but I have many relatives in the rural areas surrounding it.) I don't think that Boone Twp people were too concerned about traffic problems, but about loss of their lifestyle. I don't know if they are "against" all growth or not. I would hope not because Hebron is in pretty bad shape economically. They do, however, greatly cherish their rural lifestyle and the farmers - well, they feel it's in their blood.
South County culture is so completely different from anything north of 30. It's a hard divide to bridge. I think it would help if people wanting to do things that would change life down there would try and understand the magnitude of the effects certain changes would cause for the people in South County. Instead, they seem like predators. Many people supporting projects like the Illiana seem to think that farmers and their lifestyles are expendable. People who don't have any rural roots just don't seem to understand the strength of the ties, they are just so mobile and unattached, but perhaps there's no way to understand. Kind of like trying to explain to a guy without kids what it means to have a child.
I'm no expert, of course, this is just what I see.
PS. Started reading this blog after the election. You do a nice job.
PS. How did the local candidates do? That might show the validity of my argument - or lack of.
Good point on listening and understanding south county better before rushing in with "new ideas" or growth initiatives. And thanks for reading regularly.
On countywide elections:
Boone Township followed the rest of the county in substantial wins for all three Dems running for county council, for Knoblock, for Murphy at Treasurer and for Chidester at judge. They did split and support John Evans (R) for commissioner as well as the sitting Republican judge.
Not sure I can resolve the splits except to say that incumbents faired extremely well, those listed earlier on ticket did as well ... sitting Republican incumbents on county council were beaten badly in Boone Twp as well as countywide.
There is no doubt that something frustrated voters with Republicans on the council, or at least they felt that Democrats would protect them better from things like Illiana, a dump, South Shore, or new taxes.
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