Although Frank O'Bannon's staffers say he was in good health andthat his stroke and illness came without warning, his unfortunatedeath shows how important health issues are for the state'sexecutives.
That's part of the reason why the health records of the sixIndiana gubernatorial candidates were requested for publicrelease.
"The public has a right to know if a candidate for governor isphysically able to perform the duties of the job," Eric Miller, aRepublican candidate, said.
According to an Associated Press report, the U.S. presidentannually releases health statistics, but a similar practice hasrarely been discussed for Indiana's elected officials.
The gubernatorial candidates' records could indicate potentialhealth risks, that if elevated, could lead to surgery,hospitalization and other time away that limits governing abilityand delays the pursuit of the state's agendas.
So now, after the loss of its governor, Indiana's voting publicdeserves to have access to health records because their decisionson next November's election day could, and probably will, beaffected by the content of these releases.
But some of Indiana's hopefuls, like Republican candidate RandyHarris, in this case, argue that their right to privacy shouldoverrule the public's right to know.
But Harris, and other candidates who oppose the mandatedrelease, is a public official, and has only a qualified right toprivacy. Once he decides to inject his influence and participate inshaping public policy, his right becomes less than that of aregular citizen.
Still, Indianapolis mayor Bart Peterson, according to anAssociated Press report, doesn't believe the public would gainuseful information from the releases, saying the numbers won't showwhat may happen during a term.
And it is true that viewing statistics like blood pressure,heart rate and prescribed medications -- those that the presidentreleases -- will not predict or prevent an untimely death inoffice, but the public has a right to know that their votes will goto a candidate who, at least on paper, is healthy enough tocomplete his term.
If a candidate is in good physical shape, and has no reason tobelieve he would become ill, then this request is notintrusive.
But if a candidate is not healthy enough to pass a routinephysical (or is reluctant to reveal information that would prove hecouldn't), then he is not healthy enough to govern.
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