Effects of Local Elections

I was asked today by a customer, "Steve what affect will the elections tomorrow have on real estate and home building."

My thoughts, summarized of course. First I think that the current state of anti-growth in Porter County is beginning to reach it's natural end. Our commissioners have shown little energy or strength to combat this obviously failed policy. If we stop growing, we stop creating jobs. We need the jobs.

In Portage I think that Dave Highlands untimely death portends a classic power struggle in the Democratic Party, with the winner facing some unknown Republican in November. I think the Democrats will hold their mayor's seat, but lose some council seats. Does it even matter? Yes, because we need office holders that believe in growth. Doug Olson believes in growth, will his successor?

In Valparaiso, Jon Costas will coast to an easy victory tomorrow. Then, surprise surprise, Dave Buterfield former mayor for 20 years will throw his hat in the ring to face Jon in November. This is a battle over "old" Valpo and "new" Valpo. Growth and job creation will be in Costas' court, and anti-growth and going back to the old ways will be in Butterfield's.

I post occasionally over at Porter County Politics, go there for more aggressive writers on polical issues in Porter County Indiana. Home builders in general are hoping that job creation will remain a key strategy of our elected officials.

In short, pro-growth candidates are good for home building and good for affordable housing and good for real estate values. Anti-growth candidates would run up prices and tax into oblivion, while rendering homes unattainable for working class families.