Biography

My first session in the legislature was a whirlwind of activity that included standing up for government reorganization and consolidation, leading the charge on education reform, and passing significant bills to help our soldiers, our veterans, and our public safety “first responders”.

I am proud to be the only member of the House of Representatives to vote “yes” on The Kernan-Shepard reforms, and I hope that we can encourage more discussion on the topic of government efficiency this January. Writing legislation for the first time was a labor of love. I authored bills that make it easier to file for home mortgage exemptions, that help our Hoosier Veterans more easily transition back into gainful employment after completing their military obligations, and that safeguard the health of school children by improving air quality inside of school buildings. Shepherding them through to ultimate passage in both the House and the Senate was more difficult than this 30-year Government teacher imagined, but I was so happy to get all three through to final passage.

The people down here tell me that it isn’t often that a freshman legislator manages to author three major bills and get them all passed in his first few months in the legislature. In addition, 7 House Bills that I co-authored, one Senate Bill that I sponsored, and 5 Senate Bills that I co-sponsored were enrolled as Indiana law this summer. However, there’s no time to rest on our laurels – we need to keep moving forward.

Even though we have a legislative “short-session” coming up this January, I will continue to work to make sure that we get the job done for the people of House District #89. Working to try to save the Children’s Guardian Home in Irvington has provided me with an opportunity to see how the State Division of Child Services works – or doesn’t work. We need to strengthen the ombudsman position that I helped to create in this last session and improve the safety and efficiency of the foster care system. Too many children are still at risk. We need to continue to “think outside of the box” in terms of reforming education, but we need to do that through strengthening the teaching profession and calling for sensible efficiencies in the school districts. Nothing gets accomplished when public education is assaulted, teachers are bashed, and licensing requirements are watered down.

Many continue to be concerned about property tax issues, and rightly so. In the Irvington area, many have complained to me that the main issue is not the caps (which are already being phased in) but an assessment system that doesn’t work. In spite of the property tax caps, their assessed values continue to climb at an incredible rate. My gut feeling is that we will not have real property tax relief until the assessment system is fixed.

I believe that people, not politics, should be my first priority. That’s why I will continue to be a “raging moderate” who fights for the interests of the east and southeast sides. Please join me so that we can continue the fight together.