Fishers Democratic Club growing in membership

LarryInFishers.com

When moving to Fishers in 1991, I tried to learn as much as possible about the town and its elections. The first discovery was how few Democrats were candidates for local office. At least one election I recall was canceled because the Republicans on the ballot had no opponents.

Fishers in particular, and Hamilton County in general, have been a solidly Republican area for as long as most people remember. But that is beginning to change. Two Democrats, Sam DeLong and Jocelyn Vare, were elected to the Fishers City Council in last year’s local election. This is the first time any Democrats have been elected to Fishers city offices and no one can remember any Democrat winning a Fishers election, going back to the days of Fishers as a town.

The Fishers GOP Club has been around for many years. I have attended a couple of their meetings when hosting Republican candidate forums during primary campaigns. The meetings have been mostly well attended.

Democrats began forming their own Fishers club in the aftermath of the November election last year. According to the club’s President Julie Chambers and Vice President Jocelyn Vare, the first few months have been centered on doing the administrative requirements such as electing officers and finalizing by-laws, in tandem with the Hamilton County and state Democratic organizations.

I attended the March 9 meeting of the Fishers Democratic Club, and found an overflow crowd of 38 people filling the meeting room at Aurelio’s Pizza. Club members tell me the group has already outgrown its first two meeting venues.

The club invited two candidates for office to the March 9 session. Dee Thornton made her case to those gathered as to why she should be the nominee for the 5th District Congressional seat. Thornton was the Democrat on the 5th District ballot two years ago and is facing four challengers in this year’s Democratic primary.

Also there to speak about her candidacy was Pam Dechert. She has no primary opponent but will seek the Indiana House seat currently held by Brian Bosma. Bosma says he will be resigning from his House seat so this will be a seat with no incumbent candidate.

Chambers says the main focus on club activities will be to support Democrats in their campaigns once the primary election is over.

When I first moved to Fishers, people openly wondered how many Democrats would be able to gather for any kind of meeting. The Fishers Democratic Club is proving that their political party can draw a local crowd and have a regular monthly meeting. Whether this club will have an impact on future local elections will be something to watch.