GREENFIELD — Two Republican incumbents who represent Hancock County in the Indiana House of Representatives promise to keep advancing Gov. Eric Holcomb’s agenda if re-elected. Their Democratic opponents are hoping to bring a different voice to the mostly conservative legislature.
House District 53, represented by Bob Cherry since 1998, includes most of Hancock County. District 88, which includes precincts in Vernon and Buck Creek Townships, is represented by the speaker of the House, Brian Bosma.
Cherry will face Democrat Nancy Tibbett for the second consecutive time. Political newcomer Poonam Gill is challenging Bosma. Another Republican incumbent who represents a portion of southern Hancock County, Sean Eberhart, is running unopposed for District 57.
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House District 53 candidate Q&A
House District 88 candidate Q&A
Cherry said he would work to increase funding to teachers. He pointed out the state will spend nearly $7.2 billion on K-12 education this school year.
The 10-term representative from Greenfield said the legislature has been working to balance the needs of a more-skilled Hoosier workforce, while also creating legislation to increase substance abuse services in the state. He said successful treatment programs could help those who are addicted to find better “purpose and prosperity.”
Bosma was first elected in 1986 and has been in the GOP House leadership for 24 years. If re-elected, Bosma said he’ll work to further champion recent steps taken by lawmakers and Holcomb to double the number of opiod treatment programs in the state and provide additional funding toward school safety.
Indiana lawmakers appropriated $5 million for school safety in the May special session and also made $35 million available in loans for school safety projects through the Common School Fund.
In the 2016 general election, Tibbett ran against Cherry and lost with 24 percent of the vote. The New Palestine resident said she’s running to give District 53 voters a choice in the race. Tibbett said she would advocate for Hoosiers struggling to make a living wage as well as women and minorities.
Tibbett, the executive director of Bicycle Indiana, said counties need to collaborate to respond to the opiod crisis. She said schools should have evidence-based substance abuse programs and the state should have more medication-assisted treatment and syringe exchange programs.
First-time candidate Gill has been running a grassroots campaign in District 88. Gill, who lives in Fishers, said her campaign has knocked on nearly 10,000 doors in the district, hoping to convince voters to reject the status quo. Gill said all Hoosiers deserve equal opportunities.
Gill, who formerly worked for a manufacturer and has a degree in electrical engineering, said people’s she has talked with want lawmakers to “properly fund” public schools. She said all schools need an equal chance to hire school resource officers and implement other safety initiatives.
In responding to the opioid crisis, Gill said health professionals need to approach addiction differently, possible through alternative pain solutions such as medical cannabis.
Each candidate also recently submitted their campaign finance reports to the Indiana secretary of state’s office, located for the public to view on the office’s website, www.in.gov/sos.
Cherry’s campaign received $29,571 in contributions year to date, receiving most of the funds between the May primary and November general election.
A third of Cherry’s campaign contributions came from 20 political action committees. The largest contributions were $1,500 from the Indiana Bank PAC and $1,000 from the Eli Lilly Co. PAC.
Tibbett self-funded her campaign, which received $1,130 year to date, through loans and direct contributions.
Gill’s committee recorded $133,491 in year-to-date contributions. Most of the donations came from individuals both in and out of state. The largest contribution came from John Scofield, the founder of Scofield Digital Advertising in Indianapolis, as an in-kind donation used for campaign advertising.
Bosma had nearly $2.2 million in contributions listed on his finance report for the year.
During the most recent reporting period, from April 4 to Oct. 12, Bosma received $342,350 in contributions. Indianapolis businesswoman and philanthropist Christel DeHaan, who runs Christel House International, donated $75,000 to Bosma’s campaign. Other large contributions include $25,000 from Indiana Multi family Housing Political Action Committee; $10,000 from Zink Properties LLC; and $10,000 from Indiana Bank PAC.
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Local Indiana House of Representatives year-to-date campaign contributions
District 53
Bob Cherry, Republican — $29,571.03
Nancy Tibbett, Democrat — $1,130.14
District 88
Brian Bosma, Republican — $2,191,078.23
Poonam Gill, Democrat — $133,491.19
Source: Indiana Secretary of State’s office
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