Voicing out loud a thought that has been on the minds of local Democrats for several weeks, Columbia City Mayor Jim Fleck may have announced his future political aspirations Thursday night.

“Yes, I am running for vice president,” Fleck said, laughing, as he addressed the Whitley County Democratic party at the Eagles Nest Event Center during the annual Thomas Riley Marshall dinner.

Alluding to the political qualifications of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, a former small town mayor, Fleck outlined his own qualifications.

“We fixed potholes, we collected garbage and we provide for little children in the park,” Fleck said. “The difference is that our population is 6.1 per square mile and hers is 1.1 per square mile.”

Fleck went on to say he’d been to Washington more times than she has, has met the head of the United Nations, adding, “So that makes me doubly ready!”

For more go to our Whitley Web News partner Talk of the Town …

 Story and photos by Jennifer Zartman Romano

Above, local Democrats socialize before the Thomas Riley Marshall dinner Thursday evening in Columbia City. From left is Tim Bloom, Mayor Jim Fleck, John Passey and Councilman Roger Seymoure. Below, Fleck shakes hands with Congressional candidate Michael Montagano.