A Pittman Coup of the GOP

As forecast by Zionsville Confidential, sources close to Chad Pittman have revealed that the developer is orchestrating a coup of the Boone County Republican organization, and announcing his intentions to insiders.

And, Pittman did it from the ground up.

In the May 8 primary, Pittman's camp put up candidates for Republican precinct committee spots in all 20 of the Zionsville precincts and won 18 positions, defeating many longtime committee persons, such as Jim Holden.

That means of the 53 precincts in Boone County, Pittman now has allegiances with about one-third of the county GOP organization.

This is significant for all you non-politicos because the precinct committee persons elect the county chairperson, who currently is Debbie Ottinger, of Lebanon.

And, how willing will Lebanon be about having another Zionsville person head the party, after Tom Easterday, and Paul Green?

So, how did the boy wonder deliver the coup d'etat?

Zionsville Confidential was told of instances where certain Town Council members campaigned in their respective districts with Pittman's candidates for the precinct positions. Some of his minions even had yard signs asking voters to support their candidacy.

The groundwork for the takeover began several years ago with Michelle Barrett, former Zionsville Town Council member, Pittman, Ottinger, and Steve Jacob, of Zionsville. Jacob is currently president of the Boone County Council and county GOP vice-chair person.

So, what are the rewards of holding sway over county Repubs?

Ask Doug Rapp and Kate Swanson, two of Pittman's trusted lieutenants.

This week, both completed a two-day workshop in Washington, D.C. hosted by the Indiana Leadership Forum. The tariff to attend was $1,500. As a coincidence, a member of the leadership forum board is Jeff Papa, a Zionsville Town Council member.

In case you missed it, Swanson was the treasurer of the Citizens For A Better Zionsville political action committee, spawned by Pittman for an overthrow of the Zionsville Town Council in 2008. Rapp, also a Zionsville resident, was in Pittman's platoon during tours in the mid-East.

The rewards for Pittman is that as a result of the 2011 Town Council election, he now can ask for favors from a majority of the council. And, ''his'' council has the appointments to the Zionsville Plan Commission, which decides land use issues. And for a developer, that's a big tool in the tool box.

So, how will all this play in Peoria?

Stay tuned to Zionsville Confidential.