Ballard Doesn't Dispel Rumors He's Not Running For Re-Election

I've been hearing and saying for some time that I don't believe that Mayor Greg Ballard is planning to run for re-election. WTHR's Mary Milz quizzed Mayor Ballard about a rumor he is considering a job with Cathedral High School, his alma mater, and he did little to dispel those rumors. The school's current president is planning to step down in 2016.

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard may be considering a new job. Sources close to Eyewitness News say the mayor may not run for a third term. 

Eyewitness News asked the mayor about rumors that he's been talking to Cathedral High School about a job there. It's his alma mater. While he didn't confirm anything, he didn't go out of his way to dispel the talk.

Ballard turns 60 in three months and he has said several times he's not sure if he's going to run again. WTHR asked him about any potential plans to work for Cathedral.

"Well...no...I wouldn't read too much into that. I mean, just personally, if I do or I don't, we'll find out by the end of the year. I guarantee you that," said the mayor.

When pressed on the question of his future plans, he added, "When I go to people - I may have told you this a couple of days ago - when I got to people, I say, 'what do you think I should do?' I do have quite a few people who say, 'well, if you decide not to, come back.'"

As far as his goals right now?

"I'm thinking about what's best for me and Winnie, to be frank with you. I don't think like a normal guy in this office, I suppose. My motivation is probably a bit different, so I'm just trying to do what I can for the city right now. Winnie and I are a little older. We're not 40 years old anymore so we're gonna have to look at what to do."

What I've been hearing is that the powers that be have asked Ballard not to seek re-election. WTHR asked House Speaker Brian Bosma if he was interested in running and he said no. The more likely candidate is J. Murray Clark, Jr., a former state senator and Indiana State Republican Party chairman. Insiders say Clark was kicking himself for not running in 2007 after seeing Bart Peterson's political fortunes crumble amidst a grassroots anti-tax movement that propelled Ballard in his upset win despite being overwhelmingly outspent in that race and having little backing from the party. Clark offered Ballard no help that year as the party chairman. Instead, he focused on other mayoral races, including losing races in Fort Wayne and South Bend that year. Clark's uncle, Alex Clark, was elected for one term as Indianapolis mayor from 1952-56. He lost to Richard Lugar in the 1967 Republican primary for mayor in his last bid for public office.