Candidate for Indiana State Senate - District 27 in 2022 Indiana General Election.
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Get StartedI will always support a women’s right to access health care, including the right to access a safe and legal abortion, because access to health care and bodily autonomy are issues that affect the real lives of real women in our state. Learn more
We must work to end disparities in employment and pay by race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and identity. Indiana workers deserve equal pay for equal work. Learn more
I will work towards a bipartisan agreement to legalize the medical and recreational use of marijuana in Indiana. Learn more
I support free training and educational programs for high-demand, high-paying industries, and programs to reskill unemployed workers. Learn more
Allow a free-market economy so that industries and energy companies can follow the market in pursuing renewables and green energy. Learn more
Invest in Technical and Scientific Education: Manufacturing is becoming more technical and scientific and we need a workforce that is ready for this new reality. I support increased funding for STEAM (science, technology, economics, art, and mathematics) education and improved access to trade schools and community colleges. Learn more
Family farms are a powerful tool in our battle against climate change and I will work to increase investment in sustainable farming practices. Learn more
I support incentives for people and businesses to stay in and move to rural areas. Learn more
End Disparities in Educational Attainment: Indiana has become more diverse, but disparities in educational attainment still persist. I support programs that will help low-income, non-white, and rural students attend community college, trade schools, and college or university. Learn more
Increase Access to Universal Preschool and Pre-K: Every Hoosier students deserves the opportunity to pursue a quality education, and that should start at a young age. Indiana’s On My Way Pre-K program already shows significant benefits for enrolled students. As your state senator, I will vote to expand funding for the program and work to increase access to high-quality classrooms throughout the district. Learn more
Invest in Technical and Scientific Education: We need to ensure students are prepared for the new economy and I support increased funding for STEAM (science, technology, economics, art, and mathematics) education and improved access to trade schools and community colleges. Learn more
We must increase teacher pay to match our surrounding areas and to provide educators with a living wage. Teachers shouldn’t have to work multiple jobs just to make ends meet. Learn more
Teacher residency programs pay student teachers, provide mentoring, and ensure they are prepared to succeed after graduation. We must extend Indiana’s teacher residency grant program to meet the needs of our education workforce and end our teacher shortage. Learn more
Keep School Board Elections Non-Partisan: Public education shouldn’t be a partisan issue, but the supermajority proposed making school board elections partisan in the last legislative sessions. Candidates should be selected on the merits of their ideas and their commitment to excellent education, not a party label. Learn more
The 21st Century Scholars program closes the achievement gaps highlighted above, especially for rural students like those in District 27. As your state senator, I will work to extend eligibility guidelines and support programs that ensure every eligible student enrolls, including automatic enrollment into Scholars. Volunteer. Learn more
Return Control to Local School Boards and Leaders: Too often, state legislators have usurped local control of education policy. The state’s role should be to provide the tools and resources school districts need instead of passing laws that infringe on school board responsibilities and oversight. Learn more
Increase School Support Staff: We expect teachers to teach, care for student’s mental health, and provide for their basic needs. Educators should be able to do what they do best–teach. I will fight for expanded support resources, including more classroom aides, school psychologists and counselors, social workers, and mental health professionals, allowing teachers to focus on educating our students. Learn more
Teachers shouldn’t have to fundraise for supplies or pay for materials out of their own pockets. We need to devote more of our budget to funding public education and eliminate unfunded mandates that filter money away from instruction and towards fulfilling state regulations. With a state budget surplus in the billions of dollars, not investing this money in our schools and teachers is irresponsible. Learn more
Protect individual, home-owner rights by supporting rooftop solar-panel implementation and limited association overreach, as introduced by Rep. Mike Speedy (R, Indianapolis; HB 1196). Learn more
I would encourage further data collection on the importance and feasibility of tree-culling vs tree-protection and support a bill that would do both responsibly. Learn more
Reverse the Wetlands Bill, SB 389, which the legislature passed in 2021 and which greatly weakened wetlands protection. Learn more
Family farms are a powerful tool in our battle against climate change and I will work to increase investment in sustainable farming practices. Learn more
Make Indiana’s waters and air clean again: Our state is 45th in air quality which is shocking given the blue skies we may think we enjoy. We also have 25,000 miles of rivers and streams too polluted for recreation and swimming, top of the list of all states. These facts are nothing to brag about and I would advance legislation which would give much more support to IDEM to do its job of air and water-quality compliance and enforcement across the state (IDEM air compliance ). Learn more
Allow a free-market economy so that industries and energy companies can follow the market in pursuing renewables and green energy. Learn more
Preserve net-metering which gives incentives to companies and individuals for solar implementation by allowing them money back when their energy creation exceeds their needs and goes back into the grid. Sen. Liz Brown (R, Fort Wayne) proposed just such a bill (SB 248) that needs further support. Learn more
Protect wilderness areas and virgin forests in our state, which reverse the impact of greenhouse gases: HB 1376, which would give budget appropriations to conservation trusts, wildlife diversity programs, and recreation around the state, needs to make it out of the House Natural Resources Committee. Learn more
We need to expand access to health care, including mental health care, and lower costs to ensure that Indiana’s workforce remains healthy. Learn more
Protect individual, home-owner rights by supporting rooftop solar-panel implementation and limited association overreach, as introduced by Rep. Mike Speedy (R, Indianapolis; HB 1196). Learn more
Reverse the Wetlands Bill, SB 389, which the legislature passed in 2021 and which greatly weakened wetlands protection. Learn more
Bills like SB167 further demoralize teachers and hasten their exit from the profession. I will oppose any bill that makes it harder for teachers to do their jobs. Learn more
Protect wilderness areas and virgin forests in our state, which reverse the impact of greenhouse gases: HB 1376, which would give budget appropriations to conservation trusts, wildlife diversity programs, and recreation around the state, needs to make it out of the House Natural Resources Committee. Learn more
Teachers shouldn’t have to fundraise for supplies or pay for materials out of their own pockets. We need to devote more of our budget to funding public education and eliminate unfunded mandates that filter money away from instruction and towards fulfilling state regulations. With a state budget surplus in the billions of dollars, not investing this money in our schools and teachers is irresponsible. Learn more
I support free training and educational programs for high-demand, high-paying industries, and programs to reskill unemployed workers. Learn more
Senate District 27 has a strong union history and I support organized labor and will fight to restore the right to collectively bargain. We must also enforce existing labor laws to ensure Hoosiers are treated fairly by employers. Learn more
We must work to end disparities in employment and pay by race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and identity. Indiana workers deserve equal pay for equal work. Learn more
We must work to gradually increase the minimum wage to meet the needs of Indiana’s workers. Learn more
We must increase teacher pay to match our surrounding areas and to provide educators with a living wage. Teachers shouldn’t have to work multiple jobs just to make ends meet. Learn more
I will work with state leaders and businesses to develop a paid family leave policy for new parents and those caring for their families. Learn more
Teacher residency programs pay student teachers, provide mentoring, and ensure they are prepared to succeed after graduation. We must extend Indiana’s teacher residency grant program to meet the needs of our education workforce and end our teacher shortage. Learn more
View your personalized ballot, check your voter registration, make a plan to vote, and research every name and measure on the ballot with BallotReady.