And an interesting cover..

Party Crasher?
By Michael Summers
michael_summers@fortwaynereader.com
Fort Wayne Reader
2007-05-21

In the early evening of Tuesday, May 8, supporters of Nelson Peters’ campaign for the Republican nomination for mayor of Fort Wayne packed the Park Place Grill. Anticipation was high; practically everyone there, including many G.O.P. area heavyweights, thought that Peters would not only win the Republican nomination, but that they were welcoming the next mayor of Fort Wayne.

Including Sen. David Long and his presence at the GOP’s headquarters during the speeches was curious. I saw him stick his head in the door briefly, maybe 15 seconds and I never saw him after that.

The word “surprise” was used to describe Kelty’s victory, though close followers of the race recognized that Kelty was a more serious contender than some people gave him credit for. A very articulate and passionate speaker, Kelty ran an aggressive, smart campaign, hitting the streets almost immediately after filing. In an interview with the Fort Wayne Reader last February, Kelty claimed that his support comes from the “real people” of Fort Wayne, the families and small businesses owners that he believes make up the backbone of the community. “I’m glad for Nelson that he has those sources of support,” Kelty said in FWR #72, referring to Peters’ lengthy list of endorsements from Republican officials. “But I’ll take the family down the street or the small businessman from two blocks over everyday.”

And that’s what will make Kelty prevail this fall. He’s in touch with the working-class people of this town. Tom Henry’s a nice guy but he’s also a career politician and part of the “good ole’ boy” network. He’s also making the same fatal mistake that both Hayhurst and Peters’ did in not making anyone aware of where he stands on the issues. As of this writing his web site section on “the issues” is still a blank page. I suppose that he not unlike Hayhurst and Peters may be waiting to find out what public sentiment is before declaring his stance on the issues. That will be dangerous.

Read the entire article at Fort Wayne Reader

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