Anderson Asks Schneider To Sign Clean-Campaign Pledge
Democrat Wants Race For Sheriff To Be Attack-Free
POSTED: 9:30 p.m. EST May 8, 2002
INDIANAPOLIS -- Democrat Frank Anderson called on his newly selected opponent in the race for Marion County sheriff Wednesday to agree not to engage in attack advertising.
The race pits Anderson (pictured, left) against Republican Tom Schenider, who won his party's primary election Tuesday against sheriff's deputy Schuyler Atkins and former Marion County Sheriff Joseph McAtee.
Schneider (pictured, right), the four-term mayor of Lawrence and a former Indianapolis police officer, was trailing McAtee in polls a few weeks ago. But Schneider began gaining after his campaign released a TV advertisement charging that McAtee, when he was sheriff, presided over a record increase in the Marion County crime rate. Anderson, a former U.S. marshal who ran unopposed in Tuesday's Democratic primary, said he hopes Schneider -- whom he counts as a friend -- will sign a "code of ethics" denouncing negative advertising during the current campaign, which will culminate in the November elections. "I felt that we owed it to the citizens to have a good, clean campaign, and certainly that's been my intention all along," Anderson said. A Schneider campaign representative said that aides hadn't seen Anderson's document Wednesday night. The representative said the Schneider camp wouldn't make any promises yet, except that Schneider would run on his record. Earlier Wednesday, before Anderson made the pledge request, Schneider said he and Anderson would address relevant issues during the campaign. "Frank and I will -- no question in my mind -- we'll define the issues, we'll address the issues, and then in November, the public will really have a choice," Schneider said. Anderson said he and Schneider have an opportunity to discuss several concerns of the public, including overcrowding at the Marion County Lockup and car pursuit policies. "There are a lot of concerns, and this goes hand in hand with why I think we need to spend positive energy as opposed to negative energy," Anderson said. The incumbent, Sheriff Jack Cottey, is barred by law from seeking a third consecutive term.
The race pits Anderson (pictured, left) against Republican Tom Schenider, who won his party's primary election Tuesday against sheriff's deputy Schuyler Atkins and former Marion County Sheriff Joseph McAtee.Schneider (pictured, right), the four-term mayor of Lawrence and a former Indianapolis police officer, was trailing McAtee in polls a few weeks ago. But Schneider began gaining after his campaign released a TV advertisement charging that McAtee, when he was sheriff, presided over a record increase in the Marion County crime rate. Anderson, a former U.S. marshal who ran unopposed in Tuesday's Democratic primary, said he hopes Schneider -- whom he counts as a friend -- will sign a "code of ethics" denouncing negative advertising during the current campaign, which will culminate in the November elections. "I felt that we owed it to the citizens to have a good, clean campaign, and certainly that's been my intention all along," Anderson said. A Schneider campaign representative said that aides hadn't seen Anderson's document Wednesday night. The representative said the Schneider camp wouldn't make any promises yet, except that Schneider would run on his record. Earlier Wednesday, before Anderson made the pledge request, Schneider said he and Anderson would address relevant issues during the campaign. "Frank and I will -- no question in my mind -- we'll define the issues, we'll address the issues, and then in November, the public will really have a choice," Schneider said. Anderson said he and Schneider have an opportunity to discuss several concerns of the public, including overcrowding at the Marion County Lockup and car pursuit policies. "There are a lot of concerns, and this goes hand in hand with why I think we need to spend positive energy as opposed to negative energy," Anderson said. The incumbent, Sheriff Jack Cottey, is barred by law from seeking a third consecutive term.
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