When arrested, 5th District council member Diane McCartin Benedetti was reported to have said “Do you KNOW who I am?” Yes, ma’am. We think we do. And you do not share our values. In fact, we are insulted that you would campaign on that basis.
We know that she has no respect for the oh-so-American principle of “one-person, one vote,” because she has continuously refused to draw equal council voting districts as the law and the Constitution require. Equal representation is a value we in the 5th District honor – but our incumbent council representative does not.
We know that she does not share the 5th District’s values when it comes to the equitable allocation of tax funds. She would rather take the city’s income taxes and divert them to the pocketbooks of people who don’t even pay income taxes into this city. Diane McCartin Benedetti does not share our values.
We know that when it comes to preserving the historic legacy of our city, Diane McCartin Benedetti sides with the slumlords. Why else would she be the leading proponent for gutting our Historical Preservation Commission?
Since this is the Democratic Party primary coming up, we ought to know if she shares the values of Democrats in her district. At her most recently attended city council meeting, she fought back against a resolution to retain local, democratic government, going so far as to say that Ron Grooms and Ed Clere, both Republicans, were “fighting” for our cities. Diane, are you in fact a Democrat?
We know that Diane thinks it’s just fine to drive around with Ohio license plates, ensuring that the vehicle taxes for her personal luxury transportation are paid to a neighboring state. That’s certainly not a 5th District value.
Mrs. Benedetti doesn’t believe that debating and arguing for her own brother’s development project (one that was heartily opposed by the voters in her district) is inappropriate. The voters of the 5th District don’t share that “value,” either.
In light of all of the above, we wonder if Diane McCartin Benedetti believes that she is subject to any laws whatsoever? No candidate should be allowed to use “dog whistle” words like “values” when it is clear that she does not share our values.
Tuesday’s election is going to be a critical one that decides the direction of this city for years to come. I urge all of my friends to reach out to the voters of New Albany’s 5th council district and encourage them to get out and vote. With rain expected, the people with values will be voting. I hope that’s a value we all can agree on.
Randy Smith for New Albany 
Great points. However, Justin Benedetti did ask for me to vote for his mom. I do live in Indiana, it is a basketball state and he does play ball. Obviously his opinion on this matter is the most important one to me. Did you have a chance to speak with Justin about the issues? Did he not see eye to eye with you on the direction of the 5th District? Surely that must be the case. I am sure he did his due diligence before endorsing a candidate.
For the first time, all 3 in her family will be voting in New Albany. I do give Mrs. McCartin and the Benedettis credit for not registering their lawn jockey for an absentee ballot like other candidates are doing with phantom voters.