03/09/2009 - A year into office, Congressman Carson is going strong (Indianapolis Star)

A year into office, Congressman Carson is going strong

Matthew Tully

A year ago this week, Andre Carson became U.S. Rep. Andre Carson, winning the congressional seat that had been held by his late grandmother. As a big fan of anniversaries, I decided to check in with the Indianapolis Democrat last week.

When Carson returned my phone call from D.C., I asked what he was up to.

"Working, working, working, working," he said.

Then I asked how things were going after a year in Congress.

"Great, great, great, great."

That's Andre Carson.

During his short stint in public office, he's proved himself to be relentlessly positive and seriously hardworking. He's constantly in motion and constantly smiling. He's frustrated his grandmother's fiercest critics by emerging as a solid U.S. representative -- one who has worked hard to expand the base of support he inherited.

"We've been able to get people from a broader spectrum," he said, nervously, when I asked about differences between him and his grandmother, whose death in late 2007 led to a special election for the 7th District seat on March 11, 2008.

That would be the first of several races Carson ran in 2008. He won a party caucus, then a special election, then a crowded Democratic primary and, finally, the fall general election.

Any questions about his political toughness were erased during those campaigns. Any questions about how seriously he would take the job have been erased since then; he has been highly visible throughout the Marion County district and insists on stellar constituent services.

"There isn't a place we won't go -- outside of not breaking the law," Carson said with a laugh. "Southside, Northside, Westside and Eastside -- we're all over the place, and we're meeting constituents because we love people, and we want to represent their interests. It doesn't matter who you are. We'll come see you."

In interviews, Carson is cautious. He sticks to talking points -- too much so at times. But he's also a smart politician. When many top Indiana Democrats were supporting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential bid, Carson backed Barack Obama. He goes out of his way to praise members of both parties; he said he is trying to emulate U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, a Republican, as well as Democrats such as former Reps. Lee Hamilton and Andy Jacobs.

"One of the major reasons for their success was not only their innate understanding of how the Senate and House operate," he said, "but they also nurtured critical relationships on both sides of the aisle."

Because he's a junior member of the House, Carson's office is far from the center of power. But he doesn't complain, saying the long walks to the House provide exercise. They also give him time, he said, to chat up his colleagues.

"I was that way growing up, and I won't stop," he said. "I'm a people person. I love people. I call my Republican neighbors across the hallway to talk to them about issues that concern me. I'll just continue to work to nurture those relationships."