Indian Hill turning blue?

Barbara Gould must be driving her Indian Hill neighbors crazy. She keeps dragging these Democrat politicians into the neighborhood.

Gould, an interior designer known for many years for her role as a matron of the arts in Cincinnati, has become, in recent years, a prodigious fundraiser for Democratic candidates, particularly at the state level.

During the 2006 election cycle, she raised hundreds of thousands for a raft of candidates, from Ted Strickland to Sherrod Brown to Jennifer Brunner, not to mention the Ohio Democratic Party itself.

Gould is at it again - on Feb. 20, she'll host a $1,000 per head fundraiser for the state party at her Indian Hill home, featuring Strickland and state party chairman Chris Redfern. Valet parking will be available.

Indian Hill's not what it used to be. There was a time, not long ago, when Democrats practically needed to show a passport just to drive their cars on Shawnee Run Road. Now, it is home to one of the Ohio Democratic Party's biggest fundraisers and has produced the last two Democrats to run for Congress in the 2nd District.

Indian Hill may not quite be blue yet, but it's taking on a definite purple hue.