State Elections

Frank Anderson wins race for Marion County sherriff\nINDIANAPOLIS -- Democrat Frank Anderson, a former U.S. marshal honored for overseeing the peaceful seizure of the Indianapolis Baptist Temple last year, on Tuesday won the race for Marion County sheriff.\nHis opponent, Republican Thomas D. Schneider, conceded the race early Tuesday evening.\nWith 31 percent of precincts reporting, Anderson had received 36,894 votes, or 63 percent, to Schneider's 20,545 votes, or 35 percent. Libertarian Barry Campbell trailed with 1,448 votes, or 2 percent.\n"This is a sweet victory for me," said Anderson, who becomes the first black elected sheriff in Marion County and the first Democrat since 1982.\n"I just want you to know I'm going to continue to do the people's work," Anderson said. "I don't owe any favors to anybody other than the people that elect me."\nAnderson stepped down in November following seven years as the U.S. marshal for central and southern Indiana. He won the Marshal Service's top award last year for overseeing the peaceful seizure of the Indianapolis Baptist Temple, the first time in American history the federal government seized a church over a tax debt.\nAnderson faced no opposition in the Democratic primary.\nSchneider, a four-term mayor of Lawrence and former Indianapolis police officer, edged out former Marion County Sheriff Joe McAtee in one of the most expensive primary races for sheriff in recent history.\nMcAtee later endorsed Anderson, saying that he remained a Republican but that he had decided to support Anderson because their philosophies on running the sheriff's department were more closely matched.\nIncumbent Sheriff Jack Cottey, a Republican, was barred by law from seeking a third consecutive term.\nJULIA CARSON WINS TOUGH RACE THROUGH DISTRICT 7\nINDIANAPOLIS -- Demo-cratic Rep. Julia Carson won re-election Tuesday, turning away an aggressive Republican challenge in the race to decide which party represents Indianapolis in Congress.\nCarson extended her hold on the state's 7th District to a fourth term. But Republican Brose McVey, a former congressional aide, offered her most serious competition yet.\nCarson had 68,524 votes, or 54 percent, compared with McVey, who had 55,012 votes, or 43 percent, according to unofficial results tallied by The Associated Press.\nLibertarian Andrew Horning had 3,649 votes, or three percent, with 92 percent of precincts reporting.\nCarson has turned back repeated GOP attempts to unseat her and has never lost an election since first running for the state Legislature in 1972. McVey relied on his experience as a political consultant to make his first bid for public office.\nThe race intensified in its final weeks, when both sides stepped up television advertising and began trading accusations.\nMcVey repeatedly contended that Carson has not been a strong enough advocate for Indianapolis. Republican commercials also criticized her for paying property taxes late.\nCarson walked out of a debate last week, complaining in an opening statement that McVey was running an unfair campaign.\nThe race also attracted national figures from both parties to Indianapolis.\nSen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, the 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee, appeared with Carson at a fund-raiser. The McVey campaign received a visit last week from Vice President Dick Cheney, who attended a GOP breakfast and raised as much as $300,000 for the final leg of the campaign.