Kora to leave Dem post in 2009

Rick Richards
City Editor, The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Dr. Vidya Kora, La Porte County Democratic Party chairman since 2001, announced Tuesday he will step down from the post when his term ends in early 2009.

Kora, who will attend next week's Democratic National Party convention in Denver as a delegate, said he made the decision to step down earlier this year when he decided to run for Michigan City Area Schools board. Kora is seeking the civil city seat held by Rick Carlson.

That decision, anno-unced July 22, has become part of a dispute between Kora and Coolspring Township Trustee Dennis Metheny, who has publicly criticized some members of the Democratic Party, including State Rep. Scott Pelath and County Assessor Carol McDaniel, on his public-access TV show and weekly radio talk show.

Metheny, who also is a precinct committeeman, was warned by Kora to stop the public criticism of fellow Democrats or face possible removal as committeeman. So far, Meth-eny has refused, saying he has a right to voice his opinion.

As a result of that challenge, Metheny said Kora should resign as party chairman since he is seeking a non-partisan seat on the school board.

On Tuesday, Kora denied the public dust-up with Metheny figured into his decision to step down. However, he said, because the dispute had become public, it did change the timing of his announcement.

"Even though I wanted to make this announcement after the November election," Kora said, "I felt it was important to inform everyone of my intentions now.

"I've talked to close friends and family, and I decided I was at a point in my life where I wanted to change focus."

He said his main focus now is his family, his medical practice, public policy regarding health care and education in Michigan City.

"I've been in Michigan City for 20 years and this community has been wonderful to me," Kora said. "I want to give something back."

If elected in November, Kora, who is concluding his second term as La Porte County coroner, said he would work with other board members to make the education of the community's children the board's No. 1 focus.

As party chairman, Kora has been successful in helping get Democrats elected to office. Currently, all three county commissioners, five of seven county council members and seven of nine elected county administrative offices are held by Democrats.

"The biggest challenge has been keeping everyone together," Kora said. "The Democratic party is a big tent that has a lot of different views and issues. Even so, we have been successful by focusing on economic development, an equitable tax structure and education."

Kora declined to say if he views his tenure as a success.

"That is for others to judge," he said.

Instead, he views his tenure as one that brought people together to work for a common cause, something he said he did when he was president of the Indiana State Medical Association. As for the future, he said the biggest issue facing the party is improving education.

"I've made a commitment to the candidates on the ballot to work for them throughout this election, and I intend to do that," Kora said.

Kora's successor will be chosen by Democratic precinct committeemen vote, but that action won't take place until Kora's term officially ends in February.

Not soon enough if you ask me. He is doing an injustice to either his work for the Democrats, or to the school board.

I do not want Kora to win. The schools need new blood and new faces, like Michele and Tuel.

Yeah, but why do the new guys (our Marram and Michele, for example) have to go and run for the same seats? My fear is that this is just going to split the anti-incumbent vote.

The best way to assure turnover is for there to be only one opponent per incumbent who can challenge the incumbents on their records.