Indiana power list includes several with St. Joseph County ties

The 2022 Power 50 rankings by Howey Politics Indiana includes five governmental figures with prominent St. Joseph County ties, one of them at the top of the list. Not a bad showing for one of the 92 counties, even if it is fifth largest.

No. 1 is Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, former Notre Dame law professor, now seen with decisive power over the Roe v. Wade decision on abortion.

The Howey list is on power of Indiana figures to do what’s important, not on evaluating whether what they will do is good or bad, popular or unpopular. Barrett, nominated and confirmed for the court by supporters of curbing abortion rights in Roe, will be hailed by “right to life” advocates and denounced by “freedom of choice” supporters if she does what is expected in a monumental court decision.

Those decisions, Howey notes, could affect President Biden’s popularity and future prospects of Democrats, including those of Buttigieg.

No. 13 is Joe Donnelly, former U.S. senator from St. Joseph County, who is to be ambassador to the Vatican.

While the Vatican post is prestigious, the high Howey listing is because Donnelly could return late in 2023 to run for governor, giving Democrats “the best shot” at finally winning a governor race.

No. 19 is South Bend’s Mike Schmuhl, the Indiana Democratic state chairman and former campaign manager of Buttigieg’s meteoric presidential bid.

Howey cites Schmuhl’s efforts to revitalize the bedraggled Indiana Democratic Party and says that if Donnelly doesn’t run for governor, Schmuhl could, with a solid resume in business, in government as Buttigieg’s mayoral chief of staff, in fundraising and in communication skills.

No. 32 is Congresswoman Jackie Walorski, former St. Joseph County resident, who represents that county and surrounding Republican areas in the 2nd Congressional District.

Howey calls her the most likely member of the Hoosier congressional delegation to obtain a leadership post. She already is a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee and will have expanded power if, as expected, she wins reelection in her solidly Republican district and the GOP gains control of the House.

In the rankings right after Barrett as No. 1 are Gov. Eric Holcomb, 2; Holcomb’s chief of staff Earl Goode, 3; and Indiana Senate President Pro Tem Rod Bray, 4.

Most readers will be puzzled by No. 3 ranking for Goode, someone whose name they don’t recognize. Well, this is a power list, not a ranking of statewide visibility or popularity. Howey describes Goode as “the most consequential chief of staff in Hoosier political history.” He has served across 12 years in the administrations of Govs. Holcomb and Mitch Daniels.

Sen. Todd Young, No. 6, is cited for “All-American aura” as he seeks reelection in Trump-supporting Indiana without Trump’s endorsement. Sen. Mike Braun, is No. 7, described as sometimes seemingly “in over his head,” but with potential power for self-funding a race for governor.

The Howey list for 2022 is sort of like the preseason rankings of college football teams. Alabama was No. 1 in Associated Press preseason rankings. It finished second after coming into the final quarter or the championship game with the lead. Solid preseason pick? Yes. Indiana University was listed in the top 20. Solid? Not so much.

So it will be with the Howey list. Some will deliver. Some won’t. For folks in the St. Joseph County area, it will be particularly interesting to see whether the five with prominent county links still rank high in 2023 or whether some of them run out of power.

Jack Colwell is a columnist for The Tribune. Write to him in care of The Tribune or by email at jcolwell@comcast.net.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: The Howey list is on power of Indiana figures to do what’s important,