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When Republican businessman Jefferson Shreve jumped into the race for Indianapolis mayor in February, he made crime-fighting his focus and his ads for months hammered home that message. But in October, he started to pivot to other issues. And last week, he debuted five new policy proposals unrelated to public safety, including a temporary property tax freeze and bag-free leaf pickup.
The flurry of new proposals, most of which came a little more than a week before he faces incumbent Democratic Mayor Joe Hogsett in Tuesday’s election, left some political experts scratching their heads. Releasing five unrelated proposals in one fell swoop in the waning days of the campaign is unconventional and not typically advisable, they told IBJ.
Laura Merrifield Wilson, a political science professor at the University of Indianapolis, said the shift in focus could be Shreve’s attempt differentiate to himself from Hogsett. Shreve has been criticized for a crime plan that mirrors Hogsett’s, and some even think the two candidates look alike.
But, Wilson said, some of the moves looked like a “Hail Mary” or a last-ditch effort to win over voters even though many voters already have gone to the polls to cast their ballots early.
At Wednesday’s close, the Marion County Election Board had already tallied 16,247 in-person votes and had mailed out 12,266 ballots.
On that very day, Shreve stood outside a Broad Ripple home and championed a method of leaf pickup that does not use plastic bags. He noted that public safety has dominated his agenda so far, but said the mayor must tackle simple issues as well as giant ones.
“This is a simple issue – but one that can make a meaningful quality of life difference,” Shreve said.
At the same time as Shreve’s stump, Hogsett held an event on the installation of flashing signs at school intersections. Hogsett campaign manager Blake Hesch pointed to the contrast in a statement.
“This morning, Mayor Hogsett highlighted the installation of flashing beacons at schools across the city, prioritizing pedestrian safety as part of his $1.2 billion infrastructure plan,” Hesch wrote. “Jefferson Shreve talked about leaves.”
In an emailed statement, Shreve campaign manager Matt Organ said the No. 1 issue in the race is still crime, and that the Shreve campaign already has “won that debate.”
“Voters know Hogsett has been a disaster with homicides skyrocketing, 350 unfilled IMPD positions and only 1/3 of murders solved,” Organ said in the email. “As all smart campaigns know, a sizable percentage of undecided voters don’t start paying attention until the final 10 days. We’re talking when they’re listening. We’re hearing positive reaction, and the momentum is with Shreve.”
Shreve’s pivot to others issues began in early October when he started criticizing Hogsett for animal care at the city shelter and for slow progress on the construction of a new facility. He followed up with campaign commercials carrying the same message.
Last week, he outlined five new initiatives unrelated to crime in an op-ed for IBJ. It acknowledges that “public safety has dominated the agenda because we can’t be a successful city until the violent-crime problem is solved.” But he adds that there’s “a lot more to being mayor.”
The proposals include a temporary property tax freeze intended to help seniors stay in their homes, a door-to-door transportation system in lieu of IndyGo and the new leaf pickup method.
Political consultant Andy Downs said the slew of policies might leave voters wondering what went wrong. “Some voters will see it [as] ‘Why so much in such a short period? Why weren’t you telling us about this earlier?” he told IBJ.
Downs also said the moves also could be the result of some internal polling.
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Shreve didn’t release any proposals for the first couple months after he won the primary. All he did was say “I would have done that better than Joe Hogsett, vote for me”.
Then again, if I was going to propose shutting down IndyGo and replacing with “door-to-door public transportation”, which sure sounds like “subsidized third-rate Uber clone that someone who donates to my campaign will get the parking meter-like contract for”, I’d also sneak that out there in the waning days and hope no one notices too.
I like the cut of your jib, Joe B.
Cities that have adopted ride share instead of transit usually end up spending more on ride share than they would’ve spent on transit. Especially as ride share costs have ballooned following their shareholders desire for these companies to actually make a profit.
The average actual cost of a ride on IndyGo is $18.83
An IndyGo fare is $1.75
A lot of people find this offensive but then again they find the amount of subsidization that the existing road infrastructure gets as “OK”
I also don’t think it’s “higher, better technology” to crowd into the back of a random person’s high mileage Toyota Corolla but that’s just me. To your point, Robert, the cost for me to take a Lyft from one side of town to the other is $40.
https://www.ibj.com/articles/indiana-public-transit-ridership-cracks-20m-trips-but-far-from-pre-pandemic-years
Shreve said he would get a group to study the situation and propose a solution. Did not indicate he would shut down IndyGo. His stated objective is to provide a reliable and affordable solution to those that need in the most fiscally sound way.
Finally…your inference that somehow he will give contracts for contributions is simply ludicrous and what is an example of what is wrong with society today. Some people feel they can say things because they have a platform…but should check their moral compass before stating flat out lies.
Patricia – I think it’s adorable you think he’s going into it with an open mind, especially since killing IndyGo is the ultimate wet dream of Marion County Republicans, along with selling off everything not bolted down in order to pay for quick-fix infrastructure patches.
And you’re welcome to tell me where Shreve has stated he wouldn’t give any special favors to the people who help pay him back ten million dollars. Shreve created the issue when he made it a loan, not a gift – he obviously wants the money back. After his campaign finishes, if he wins, why would anyone give to his campaign if they weren’t wanting something in return?
Like you, I’d like to see an alternative to Joe Hogsett. But a return to the days of asset stripping the city of Indianapolis to make today’s problems the problems of our kids and grandkids instead isn’t the solution. The problem is at the state level, and we need to stop electing people to the Statehouse who won’t stand up for Indianapolis.
Shreve thoughtfully conferred with several constituencies across the community on public safety and released a thoughtful plan. Joe said me too…but missed out on making any attempt during eight years to make public safety a priority at the state house. In the most recent long session, he did not push any initiatives to help improve public safety. Shreve spent time learning about the deplorable situation at the animal shelter…conferred with people involved and pet defenders and announced a plan. Meanwhile Joe, finally figures out how much he has failed on the animal wellbeing front….wakes up and decides to announce a plan. He could have done that a year ago..but failed…and he will likely fail again. Finally after conferring with residents throughout Marion County, Shreve identified some concrete ideas (e.g. freeze prop taxes for those most in need, pick up leaves instead of bagging) and he announced when they were ready.
Hogsett has had eight years and has failed on so many fronts. Whether it be the murder rate over 200 people three years in row, a 35% solve rate for murder cases, the deplorable conditions at the animal shelter or the miss management of road construction just to name a few. In the last five months, Shreve’s tireless pursuit of interviewing for the mayor’s job in Marion county, has put heat on Joe and now he has ideas that should have been in place years ago. We deserve better. It is time for a change. Shreve for Mayor.