Architect approaches decision on Democratic bid for ’08 governor

INDIANAPOLIS – Indianapolis architect James Schellinger said Friday that he expects to decide next week whether he will seek the Democratic nomination for governor in 2008.\nThe South Bend native, who has been president of the architectural firm CSO Schenkel Shultz for 10 years, has never run for public office. But he has been active in state Democratic politics for several years by, among other things, helping numerous candidates at the city, state and national level raise money.\n“I think it’s important that people in my case be supportive of public officials that we believe in because they are people that provide leadership and are ultimately responsible for the quality of life we have in all our communities,” said Schellinger, 46.\n“Most of them are not doing it for the fancy title and they’re not doing it for the pay. The fame, I’m sure that fades fairly quickly. They’re doing it because of a sense of social responsibility and a call to public service, which is a call I’ve been hearing myself lately.”\nIf he decides to run, he said he would file paperwork with the state to form a committee to raise and spend campaign contributions. He has spent many days of late traveling the state to meet with party officials and others to discuss his possible run.\nState Senate Minority Leader Richard Young, D-Milltown, already is seeking the nomination, and former U.S. Rep. Jill Long Thompson has said she is considering a run and expects to make a decision by this summer.\nRepublican Gov. Mitch Daniels has maintained an active campaign committee but said he will wait until the legislative session is over to announce whether he will seek a second term. The regular session is scheduled to end April 29.\nState Democratic Chairman Dan Parker said the party leadership is taking a neutral stand among the Democratic candidates and potential candidates for governor.\n“But we would love to see the party coalesce behind a single candidate so we can avoid a primary,” he said. “My hope is that candidate is one who can put together a broad base of support, raise a significant amount of money and have a very compelling message.”\nParker said Schellinger would be a good candidate, in part because of his skills as a successful businessman and the fact that he is a fresh face.\n“He brings a lot to the table for Democrats to look at,” Parker said.\nAfter graduating in 1978 from St. Joseph’s High School in South Bend, Schellinger spent a year at Butler University before transferring to the University of Notre Dame, where he earned his degree in architecture. He graduated in 1984, spent more than two years at one Indianapolis architectural firm, then joined his current one.\nHe became a partner in the firm in 1991 and president in 1996. The firm employs about 100 people. Schellinger and his wife, Laura, have three sons.\nHe said he was considering a run for governor because, “I believe that we can do better and I believe that Indiana deserves better leadership.”\nHe said that to win the office would take “incredible effort and time” and then it would come down to message, money and media. But he said he was hesitant to say how much money he thought it would take to win.\n“At the end of the day I don’t think it will take out-raising to beat somebody,” he said. “I think it will take making sure your message gets out, and whatever it takes from a financial resources point of view, I’m committed to doing that.”