Tuesday, March 11, 2008 will be a special day for Indiana. Democrat
Andre Carson, Libertarian Sean Shepard and Republican Jon Elrod seem to
think so, anyway. These three political hopefuls have spent significant time

and money trying to tie up a position that will essentially last only a little
more than a few months.

On Nov. 25, 2007 Julia Carson, who had represented Indiana's 7th
District in the House of Representatives for over 10 years, announced
that she had terminal lung cancer. Two days later she announced that she
would not be seeking a seventh term. She passed away on December 15,
2007 - leaving her seat open for the taking.

Julia Carson was viewed as a candidate that represented the minority,
truly growing up through poverty and working her way up to her place in
the political arena. For a conservative state like Indiana, her views
were more on the liberal side, especially on issues such as abortion,
the death penalty and government programs. However, in Indianapolis and
Indiana she was seen as a long-standing icon of her community, and was
voted back each election even while fighting illness.

After her death, Gov. Mitch Daniels set March 11, 2008 as the date of
the special election - a date that both parties agreed on. The
Democratic caucus then chose Andre Carson as their candidate, the
Republican caucus agreed on Jon Elrod, and the Libertarians chose Sean
Shepard. Both Carson and Elrod are currently serving on the Indianapolis
City-County Council, and Shepard is a small business owner.

According to the campaigns' financial disclosure reports, Elrod has
raised over $70,000 and Carson has raised over $375,000 for this
election and both have spent numerous hours campaigning. Why, one might
ask, all the effort for a seat that will be up for reelection later this
year?

For Republicans, this is a seat they have long been trying to win back,
but have failed each time because of Julia Carson's long-standing
history in the state. For Democrats, this is a seat they have been able
to count on in the past, and they do not want to lose. From an
outsider's point of view, it seems like they are hoping to win on name
recognition, and I think they may be on to something.

No matter the outcome, and no matter how one feels about Carson's
politics, she was an icon for our state, and having someone new in the
seat will change the face of Indiana politics.