Indianapolis Star

Wednesday, November 8, 2006

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State Offices

Rokita, Mourdock, and Berry Win Close Races over Democrats

Bucking Democratic momentum elsewhere, Republicans retained control Tuesday over the treasurer, auditor and secretary of state offices.

With most precincts in, incumbent Republican Todd Rokita led his Democratic challenger by about 52 percent to 45 percent.

In the treasurer's race, Republican Richard Mourdock led Democrat Michael Griffin 52 percent to 48 percent.

For the post of auditor, Republican Tim Berry, the state's present treasurer, was leading Democrat Judy Anderson 52 percent to 48 percent.

Rokita was the driving force behind the state's new voter ID requirement. He also has overseen a number of election reforms, including the establishment of the first-ever statewide voter database.

Democrat Joe Pearson, a former O'Bannon and Kernan administration official, pushed a plan to put the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles under the purview of the secretary of state. The BMV is presently under the control of the governor.

In the contest for treasurer, both Mourdock and Griffin traded barbs over how best to manage the $3.8 billion generated by the lease of the Indiana Toll Road.

A former Vanderburgh County commissioner, Mourdock supports a constitutional amendment that would protect some of the Toll Road money from being used for anything other than road projects.

Griffin, clerk-treasurer of Highland, proposed the state keep most of the Toll Road payment and invest it. He predicted he could generate a return of about $11 billion.

Berry campaigned on his eight years of experience as treasurer and said he wants to give greater public scrutiny to the state's finances. Anderson said she wanted to serve as a check against Gov. Mitch Daniels' efforts to privatize parts of state government.

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Article originally appeared in the Indianapolis Star on November 8, 2006 titled "Republicans complete sweep of state offices". Click here to see the original listing.