Do you even know who you are talking about? Meet Jo-Ann Davis, 57, Republican of Virginia : 
Meet Rep. Paul Gilmore, of Ohio : 
Posted on 12/15/2007 3:57:18 PM PST by digger48
INDIANAPOLIS - A family spokeswoman said Representative Julia Carson has died at age 69. Spokeswoman Vanessa Summers says the first black and first woman to represent Indianapolis in Congress died this morning after a battle with lung cancer.
The Democrat announced last month that doctors had diagnosed her with terminal lung cancer and that she would not seek re-election next year.
Carson won more than two dozen consecutive campaigns for local, legislative and congressional elections. She also championed children's issues, women's rights, affordable housing and efforts to reduce homelessness. She was a staunch opponent of the war in Iraq.
It will be up to Governor Mitch Daniels to call a special election to complete the last year of Carson's term in the predominantly Democratic district.
Carson served in Congress for six terms. Before assuming her seat in Congress, Carson served in the Indiana General Assembly and was the Center Township Trustee. Funeral plans for Carson are pending.
Julia Carson made a career of serving the public. The lifelong public servant will be remembered for her rise from poverty and for her fighting spirit. Included on her Congressional website is a quote from former Congressman Andy Jacobs about his successor: "The only thing some people learn from oppression is hatred and revenge. Others learn compassion and empathy. From the physical pain of material poverty and the mindlessly cruel persecution of nitwit racism, Julia Carson made her choice of hard work, compassion and a pleasing sense of humor."
Julia Carson first ran for office in 1972. She served 18 years in the Indiana General Assembly, first as a state representative then as a state senator. In 1990, Carson left the legislature and ran for Center Township Trustee. She served six years in that role. After her time as a trustee, she wanted a new challenge and ran for the Congressional seat Andy Jacobs had vacated. She had Jacob's endorsement for the job and he remained a close friend until her death.
Carson's victory in the congressional race led to her being the first woman and the first African-American U.S. Representative from Indianapolis. However, Carson missed her swearing-in ceremony. Instead, she was at Methodist Hospital where doctors performed bypass surgery, unclogging two blocked arteries. After recuperating, she was able to celebrate her win three months later with a reception in Washington, D.C.
Carson spent several days in and out of the hospital around the 2004 general election. During a 24-Hour News 8 debate, the Congresswoman responded to questions about her health saying she would resign her office if she felt physically unable to serve.
Again during the run for her sixth term in office, her health was an issue in the race. Despite ongoing questions about her health, she easily beat her Republican challenger for her sixth term.
She was serving her sixth term when she took a leave of absence from Congress in September 2007 citing a leg infection. Carson announced she wouldn't run for re-election in November 2007 after revealing she had recurrent lung cancer that was discovered when she was being treated for her leg infection.
Stay with 24-Hour News 8 for more on this story as it develops.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The problem in a district like this is that a Republican could win it if the Republicans would come to the polls. But many don’t bother to vote any more.
It does seem large at first glance, but you have to remember that cancer and heart disease are two of the leading causes of death in this country.
Dealing with crappy hospitals and inept-bordering on criminal-administrators is bad enough as it is-as my family can attest to-but I can't imagine the trauma of having to navigate a wholly socialist, single payer leviathan like they have in Canada.
Prayers up for her family. Any loss is hard, but a relatively sudden one is heartbreaking.
I can only imagine how painful that must be. I don’t know what else to say. Be strong.
There are a lot of deaths in Congress because they continue running to have power.
Many like Byrd and Kennedy should have retired a very long time ago.
Worthless dottering old fools.
You said it just right! Thank you.
I hope she went to Heaven because is she went to the other place, she will be surrounded by the followers of al-Lah in unending “peace al-Lah-al_Qaeda”.
May she rest in peace and prayers for the family.
Eric Dickerson?
Is the same Eric Dickerson who played in the NFL back in the 80’s?
Prayers for her family in their time of need.
“Eric Dickerson?
Is the same Eric Dickerson who played in the NFL back in the 80’s?”
No. This Eric Dickerson was a local car dealer and more recently an automotive collision center owner.
God bless her and her family. May she rest in peace.
I am not so sure her health was the only reason it was close. But it should have been the extra reason she was defeated. As it turns out, she has only cast a few votes since she was re-elected.
Indianapolis has taken a hard right in the past year as a result of local government and the representation there of. Indy is much of her district. Ms. Carson was one of those that was pushing hardest left for many years. She won her election, I believe, as a result of the representative boundaries that are her district.
It is not my place to judge her personally and I believe she is as much of God's family as any other mortal. Her beliefs and mine are diametrically opposite. For the good of her constituency, however, the most honorable thing she could have done would have been to resign instead of run for reelection. Her motives seemed purely political. And that is not judging her person or soul. It is stating my opinion of her professional expertise.
Again, Rest in Peace.
Jon Elrod is a very viable candidate. He has my vote when we go to caucus.
Do you even know who you are talking about? Meet Jo-Ann Davis, 57, Republican of Virginia :
Meet Rep. Paul Gilmore, of Ohio :
I hope, as an Indiana resident, that Indianapolis elects a wonderful, dedicated republican to replace this long term democrat who truly stayed in office too long.
You a Marion County PC? What township?
Center Township
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