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Movies and television shows have glamorized political campaigns. The candidates -- some real, some fictional -- wear tuxedos, tailored suits, and drive around in black Suburbans. Not so with a small campaign for city council.
There are no handlers, no glitz, and sometimes nobody to help. Sometimes, the candidates walk alone in the chilly fall air, passing out literature and trying to talk face-to-face with voters in their various districts.
The coming 2023 Kokomo municipal elections on Nov. 7 have several contested council seats, and lots of ground to cover for candidates who want to personally convince constituents to vote for them on Election Day. Kokomo's 3rd Common Council District stretches from Morgan Street on the north side of the city to State Road 26 and beyond on the south end, covering the entire length of Kokomo’s east side.
All or parts of four major subdivisions are included in this district, and the two candidates vying for this council seat have criss-crossed those streets several times. They were out again on Nov. 1, going door-to-door.
Republican 3rd District incumbent and council president Ray Collins and his opponent, Democrat Michael "Mike" Katcher, both spoke with The Kokomo Lantern as they walked, campaigning in two neighborhoods on opposite ends of the very large district.
In the Prairie Farms addition, just east of Goyer Road, Collins and fellow council member Greg Davis walked down opposite sides of the street, hanging literature on the front doors of the fairly new residences on Stafford Drive.
"I like to see Kokomo grow," said Collins as he hung a plastic bag with campaign literature on a screen door handle. " I did some of this four years ago. Some people have been outside, standing and talking to me, just having conversations. Hard to meet 9,000 people, though."
As he walked along, Collins added, "We have been pretty fortunate. People have been out and conversing, and of course I have been asking them to vote for me, but (also) to just get out and vote."
When asked if the people he has spoken with know that there is a municipal election on Nov. 7, he replied, "The one big thing that people do not know is what district they live in."
Asked if people are tired of the seeming endless cycle of elections and media attention around political campaigns, Collins said, "That's the thing. We are just coming, knocking on people's doors, giving them some literature, then we really try to hit social media.
"I'm going to trust the good Lord whatever happens, but I would love to be on the council for another four years."
On the south side, Katcher walked with campaign manager Andrew Ellison down Teepee Drive in Indian Heights, both trying to navigate the uneven sidewalk.
"They need a sewer system, because they are all plugged up, and with a sewer they can put in good sidewalks," said Katcher. "We have to tap that infrastructure money (The 2021 Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Program).”
Katcher has been talking to Indian Heights residents about streets, sidewalks, and the ongoing problems with that subdivision's sewer system.
"If they are quiet, I ask if they have any issues they want to talk about,” said Katcher. “If they say none, then I ask, 'What about the sidewalks?' And they say, ‘Oh yeah, the sidewalks. They're terrible.’ Safety is a key issue here."
As Katcher walked from house to house, he was asked if many residents he has spoken with know there is an election going on.
“I haven't heard that,” said Katcher. “They are disappointed in their district. People get into office and don't do anything. That's been happening to them for the last 10 years."
At the next house, Katcher had a long and animated discussion with a couple at the end of Teepee Drive. Afterward, Katcher explained how interactions like that make him feel.
“They want to get it off their chest, and I learn from them what their needs are,” said Katcher.