TERRE HAUTE —
Less than 48 hours after winning Tuesday’s Democratic Party mayoral primary, Fred Nation is asking his Republican rival, Mayor Duke Bennett, to join him in signing a promise to run a clean fall campaign.
Nation signed a one-page “Clean Campaign Pledge” Thursday at his campaign headquarters on Wabash Avenue.
The pledge, written by the Nation campaign, includes a series of promises to avoid misleading, false or personal attacks during the campaign. It also includes pledges to attempt to discourage “independent organizations or individuals” from running “negative attack ads aimed at defeating either one of the candidates.”
“I’ve been thinking about this for some time,” Nation said of the pledge, which he said he delivered to the mayor’s office in the early afternoon Thursday.
“There’s no tricks in it. It’s very straight forward. It’s not designed to keep us from criticizing each other on issues. That’s not the point. That’s fair game,” Nation said.
Nation signed a large copy of the pledge in front of the media Thursday during a brief news conference. He also distributed signed copies of the pledge to the media. Each copy included his signature and a blank space for Bennett’s signature.
Bennett, reached after Nation’s news conference, said he supports running a clean campaign focusing on the issues. However, he added:
“I would have preferred to have had the opportunity to review [the agreement] prior to him having a press conference. I think it would have been better if we could have reviewed it together first. We shouldn’t have one side deciding what’s in writing.”
Nation said he would be open to changing the wording of the pledge.
“If [Bennett] has reasonable changes or additional clauses, I’m happy to consider them,” Nation said. “But I don’t really believe this should be done behind closed doors. I think it would be a little suspicious if people saw the mayor and I behind closed doors negotiating some kind of a document.”
The desire for a pledge came from past negative and anonymous campaign materials distributed in the 2007 mayoral election and in other recent elections, Nation said. Some of those campaign materials targeted Bennett’s 2007 opponent, then-Mayor Kevin Burke. Nation said he is not aware that Bennett ever publicly repudiated those materials.
Bennett disagreed.
“I did” repudiate those materials, Bennett said. “This will be my sixth election that I’ve participated in. At no point have I ever said anything bad about any of my opponents, or written, printed or endorsed anything negative about somebody. Questioned decisions or ways of doing things, but never have personally attacked anybody. And I would never do that,” he said.
Nevertheless, based on what he has seen in past elections, Nation said he is “still wary. I’m not totally trustful of anybody in this process.” In the past seven or eight years, negative attack materials have “reached a poisonous level” in Terre Haute, he said.
Bennett said he would likely produce his own pledge to run a clean campaign as opposed to signing the document produced by the Nation camp.
Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
Elections 2011
Related Photos
-
Sign of the times: Fred Nation signs his pledge to run a clean campaign at his downtown headquarters Thursday afternoon. Tribune-Star/Bob Poynter
Discussion
Nation vows clean campaign
Democratic mayoral nominee signs promise, asks Bennett to do same
- Elections 2011
-
-
One got more money, one more votes
Voter support propelled Republican Duke Bennett to a second term as mayor of Terre Haute in November, but Democratic challenger Fred Nation outraised and outspent Bennett in that election.
-
Bennett, All foresee bright future for city at swearing in
“I think Terre Haute is right on the cusp of greatness, and I’m proud to be part of it,” the city’s newest councilman said Monday after taking an oath of office in city hall.
-
VOTERS BACK BENNETT: Incumbent shocked by size of landslide
For the first time since the Prohibition era, Terre Haute voters have re-elected a Republican as mayor.
-
City Council District 2: All tops incumbent Democrat Ralston
Terre Haute’s 2nd District city council seat is back in Republican hands after four years of Democratic representation.
-
Reaction mixed on ballot changes
Some Terre Haute voters said Tuesday they preferred a simpler ballot, mandated by a new state law effective this year, that did not contain the names of unopposed candidates.
-
New clerk-treasurer elected in Seelyville
A new clerk-treasurer has been elected while three incumbent council members will return for the Town of Seelyville in a Democrat sweep of the town election.
-
Sarah Mullican cruises to win, retains bench
Taking 57 percent of the vote, Sarah Mullican will retain the bench as judge for Terre Haute City Court.
-
Loudermilk tops Flott in rematch
In what was a rematch of four years earlier, the final result remained the same on Tuesday as incumbent Norm Loudermilk won re-election to a fifth term on the Terre Haute City Council, representing District 3.
-
Incumbent John Mullican takes 64 percent of vote
As he watched election results Tuesday night, John Mullican was cautious about acknowledging victory too soon, even though he appeared to be well ahead with most precincts counted.
-
Dems find success in Valley mayoral races
Cities throughout the Wabash Valley placed Democrats at the helm Tuesday, as the party swept mayoral races by large margins.
-
No Knew City Council seat — Auler tallies victory
Amy Auler anxiously darted from room to room at her parents’ home as family, friends and co-workers monitored television, Internet and smart phones for election results.
-
Election problems few; voter turnout light
Despite an unusually warm November day, just 28 percent of Terre Haute registered voters made their way to the polls Tuesday to cast ballots.
-
Voters flock to polls to support their candidates
Small towns throughout the Wabash Valley cranked out the votes Tuesday, electing town council members and officials.
-
Mississippi defeats life at conception ballot initiative
Mississippi voters Tuesday defeated a ballot initiative that would’ve declared life begins at conception, a proposal that supporters sought in the Bible Belt state as a way to prompt a legal challenge to abortion rights nationwide.
-
Ohio voters reject Republican-backed union limits
The state’s new collective bargaining law was defeated Tuesday after an expensive union-backed campaign that pitted firefighters, police officers and teachers against the Republican establishment.
-
Democratic challenger concedes Indy mayor’s race
Republican Mayor Greg Ballard appears poised to win his second term as Indianapolis mayor.
-
Election Day: Bennett-Nation mayoral faceoff leads TH ballot in today’s voting
Terre Haute voters will select a mayor and city council members today as polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 6 p.m.
-
Write-in candidate Bissey takes issue with ballots
Terre Haute mayoral write-in candidate Bob Bissey is objecting to the size of the words “Write-in” on the Nov. 8 electoral ballot.
-
Candidates make their case with organized labor
Mayor Duke Bennett and Democrat challenger Fred Nation appealed for union support in the Nov. 8 election during a candidates night Monday, hosted by the Wabash Valley Central Labor Council and Sheet Metal Workers Local No. 20.
-
District 2 candidates report finances
Financial reports for the race for the District 2 seat on the Terre Haute City Council were reported Monday.
-
Mayoral candidate announces plan to keep, bring new jobs Terre Haute
Democratic mayoral candidate Fred Nation on Thursday announced a “jobs for Terre Haute plan” he said he will implement if elected mayor on Nov. 8.
-
Vigo County tests out voting machines
Voting machines are ready for the Nov. 8 municipal election after a public testing Thursday in a storage facility on South 13th Street.
-
Mayor Bennett opens campaign headquarters
Mayor Duke Bennett officially opened his 2011 campaign headquarters Monday evening amid dozens of enthusiastic supporters.
-
Dems open headquarters
Terre Haute Democrats rallied Thursday to show their support for mayoral candidate Fred Nation at a “grand opening” of the Vigo County Democratic Party Headquarters on Wabash Avenue.
-
Dem, GOP candidates seek office in Seelyville
The town of Seelyville will have an election on Nov. 8 to select a clerk/treasurer and town board members, while West Terre Haute must hold a party convention.
Candidates had until Aug. 1 to file for town officials in Seelyville, Riley and West Terre Haute. -
Mayoral candidates gear up for campaigns
With the 2011 Terre Haute mayoral election six months away, incumbent Mayor Duke Bennett, a Republican, and challenger Fred Nation, a Democrat, are well into making plans for the fall campaign season.
-
Nation vows clean campaign
Less than 48 hours after winning Tuesday’s Democratic Party mayoral primary, Fred Nation is asking his Republican rival, Mayor Duke Bennett, to join him in signing a promise to run a clean fall campaign.
-
Sullivan mayoral hopeful looks to move forward with city
Democrat Clint D. Lamb said it is time to put the past behind and look to the future to build a better city of Sullivan.
-
Fred Nation wins mayoral primary in a landslide
Olive branches were in the air Tuesday evening as the sun set on a sometimes hard-fought Terre Haute Democratic Party mayoral primary.
-
Incumbent out: Amy Auler bests Rich Dunkin for Terre Haute City Council D-1
Incumbent City Council member Rich Dunkin, who publicly flip-flopped on a bid for a third term, was unseated Tuesday by challenger Amy Auler, who won the Democratic nomination for the District 1 seat on the council.
- More Elections 2011 Headlines
-
One got more money, one more votes
Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Gay Boys
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Obama Renews Call to Close Gitmo
Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Oklahoma Family Reflects on Lost Son
Chain-Reaction School Bus Crash Injures About 50
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
Raw: 80-Year-Old Climbs Mount Everest
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
