Do they know about us in Jay County? (06/27/06)

Parade season is upon us, which means the politicians are already on the trail.

At least some of them are. In one notable race, both the challenger and the incumbent have been virtually invisible.

Apparently, Jay County is considered such a safe Republican stronghold in the Sixth Congressional District that neither incumbent Mike Pence nor his Democratic challenger needs to bother with the place.

While Rep. Pence can rely on name recognition and the power of the incumbency to coast to victory, his challenger has no such luxury.

Can’t name the Democratic nominee for Congress for this district? You’re not alone.

This time two years ago, Jay and Randolph counties had been visited numerous times by Melina Fox in her Democratic Party challenge to Pence. Party workers, officeholders, and the media knew her by name. She seemed to pop up at every available meet-and-greet event and was ready for an interview at the drop of a hat.

The current race is strikingly different.

Barry Welsh — yes, that’s the Democratic nominee — is either hoping for a post-Labor Day surge or is running a stealth campaign.

On paper, Welsh looks like an interesting candidate. He’s a United Methodist Church minister but has also worked as a teacher, a coach, a broadcaster, and in business. He made an unsuccessful run for the Indiana Senate in 2004.

But a resume isn’t a campaign.

As it stands, Jay County voters are going to have an odd choice come November: An incumbent they never see anymore or a challenger they’ve never met. — J.R.[[In-content Ad]]