Indianapolis, the capital city of Indiana. The economic hub of the entire state. The city that hosts multiple conventions year round, multiple Final Fours, and once the Super Bowl. Home to the historical "Greatest Spectacle in Racing". The nation's 15th largest city by population and the 18th largest by land area, is no doubt the most critical city in our state. With 897,041 residents and  678,067 registered voters, it is no wonder the Republican super majority in the state house will craft any type of legislation they can to regain control of this magnificent and very unique consolidated city.  Yes, Indianapolis - Marion County is the ONLY consolidated city in the nation and the only city in the state whose council does not have At-Large council seats.

But they can't have it.

This year, with Marion County having an open primary, voters will get the chance to determine who will be the next mayoral candidate in November's general election. That is why, this week I am super excited to have the first, of what I hope will be multiple, Indianapolis Mayoral candidates on the show giving our listeners the reason why she should lead this city.  I am excited to announce Rep. Robin Shacklford, with her second visit to Turn Left, as the guest on this week's show.

Turn Left, Indiana Politics from the Left Side of Things!

*Candidates who appear on Turn Left is not an endorsement from Indiana's Own Dana Black.

The candidate filing deadline has come and gone, and the primary races are set. Excitement is in the air, especially in Indy, where we will have an open primary for the first time in decades. I, for one, am happy slating is gone. Competition is good and now everyone who wants to represent the people of Indianapolis will have to earn the votes.

That being said, the main fundraising mechanism is also gone. So for those of you who wanted to see the end of slating and you want the party to offer support to candidates in the general election, then you will need to pony up some coins, offer to host fundraiser and volunteer with the Marion County Democratic Party. Now, if we could just get our At-Large seats back like the rest of the state has.

But this week on Turn Left we are focusing on the states second largest city and the little blue dot, Fort Wayne and Bloomington. These primary races help us get a good idea of who the people are. You can hear their stories each week on Turn Left.

A huge part of building our bench is empowering our young people to be leaders today. There is enough room and work in our party to give space for any young person ready to take on the challenge. But we can't just toss them into the fire, we, the elders, should offer guidance but space to let them learn through action.

I'm excited to chat with a young leader who does not take "no" for an answer, rolls up his sleeves and gets to work. Sean Johnson has burst on the scene, sees the issues in his community and is cultivating relationships to solve problems. This week we will learn about the work he is doing as President of the Fort Wayne chapter of Indiana Young Democrats and his decision to put his name on the ballot in 2023.

And if we are talking Fort Wayne, we must have the smooth voice of the city and My Labor Radio, Mark Gevaart as co-host.

Tune on Thursday for Turn Left, Indiana Politics from the Left Side of Things.

While the Indiana General Assembly is completing its first full week of committee meetings, candidates running in municipal elections around the state are filing to run for office. By the way, you still have until February 3, 2023 to put your name on the ballot for the primary election.

As they say, all politics are local and having strong voices on our city councils can have a direct impact in your communities. The council determines how the funding allotted for your municipality will be allocated. Are your sidewalks in disarray? Do you need more lighting on your streets? How about updating your neighborhood parks? The city councils determine which communities within the municipalities receive the necessary funding to make the much needed improvements. If you don't have the right people representing your community, those needs may get ignored.

This week on Turn Left, we will chat with a first time candidate Dylan Liddle and a councilman seeking re-election, Aaron Mishler. Both are action oriented and vocal leaders in their community and want to share with you why you should support their campaign.

Turn Left, Indiana Politics from the Left Side of Things.

For this year’s Bloomington MLK Day observance the theme  is “Keep Knocking!” The January 16 evening keynote speaker, Park Cannon, is Georgia’s youngest State Representative and one of two openly queer lawmakers in the Georgia General Assembly. She represents House District 58, which encompasses a diverse cross-section of Atlanta. The Democratic lawmaker recently made national headlines when she was unlawfully …

Bring It On! is Indiana’s only weekly radio program committed to exploring the people, issues and events impacting the African-American community. On WFHB-Bloomington

I don't know about you, but I was super saddened to learn Emily Styron is not seeking a second term as Mayor of Zionsville. She is a true leader and is a breath of fresh air in our state. I can't wait to see what she does next.

But I also can see her labor is bearing fruit. This week on Turn Left we will chat with Amanda Rubeck who is running for Zionsville City Council At-Large. Tune in on Thursday to learn about this amazing candidate and you can help her win her election.

Turn Left, Indiana Politics from the Left Side of Things

Happy New Year!!

Turn Left is back for another exciting season of chatting with Democratic candidates, elected officals, and party leaders. Since 2017 Turn Left has been the location to learn about our Hoosier candidates running for office at all levels of government. From progressives to blue dogs, every Democrat has the opportunity to share thier vision and leadership style with you.

The first show of the season will be my first lady, the Hon. Nicole Bolden, who is running for re-election to be the Bloomington City Clerk. Tune in as we chop it about the direction of our state and the policies that could have an impact on all of us.

To donate to Nicole's campaign: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/nicolebolden

Turn Left, Indiana Politics from the Left Side of Things

Deadline coming soon!! You have until October 11th to register to vote. Check your registration today! https://indianavoters.in.gov/

We know our democracy is on the ballot this year. We know our rights are on the ballot this year. But for some reason, the other side is all about lies and deflection. Where is the integrity? Where is the concern for Hoosiers? We have an opportunity to elect people who will put the needs of citizens first. Join us this week when we chat with two more Democratic candidates looking to have an impact in our state house.

Turn Left, Indiana Politics from the Left Side of Things.

Join me tonight when I chat with two more Democrats who want to do the work and improve their communities. All politics is local, and gaining some control on county councils around the state will undoubtedly improve communities.

Turn Left, Indiana Politics from the Left Side of Things.

Now more than ever we need to elect more women into office. And this week on Turn Left we will bring you two more amazing women looking for your support as they work to represent you.

Turn Left, Indiana Politics from the Left Side of Things.