HANCOCK COUNTY — Like all political candidates, Leah McGrath has had to change her plans for campaigning due to social distancing requirements and the COVID-19 pandemic. The circumstances have made running for the state legislature more difficult for the former deputy mayor of Fishers.
“It’s taken away those serendipitous in-person interactions,” she said.
However, McGrath has aimed to make up for it by making hundreds of phone calls to voters, mostly in the Hancock County areas of the district where voters may be less likely to know of her from her previous office.
McGrath is running for the District 88 seat in the state legislature, the one being vacated by newly retired Speaker of the House Brian Bosma. The district encompasses parts of western Hancock County, including Fortville and McCordsville. Chris Jeter is also running for the position; a story on Jeter will appear in the Saturday, May 22, issue of the Daily Reporter.
Originally from the Pendleton area, McGrath owned a small consulting business and was involved in volunteer work before being appointed as the deputy mayor of Fishers in 2015. In that office, she led projects for the city including the development of its comprehensive plan, Fishers 2040. She also helped start an arts and culture committee and a committee on disability and community engagement.
“It’s been such an honor to have the opportunity to serve in the community where I live and make a direct impact,” McGrath said.
She also said her husband and three sons helped encourage her to run.
“It’s a family decision if you decide to run for office,” she said.
As a member of the legislature, McGrath said she would want to pursue policies aimed at helping Indiana achieve long-term success in the global economy. She would also want to reduce what she sees as inflexible government regulations — for example, by allowing schools to choose more individualized curriculums and making it easier for property owners to install solar panels.
In talking with Hancock County residents, she said, she has heard many say they would like to see more road projects come to the county to keep up with population growth in the area and hopes to represent those concerns in the legislature as well.
While COVID-19 has changed her campaign, and the political conversation in the state as a whole, McGrath said she feels fiscally responsible leadership in Indiana over the past 10 years has put the state in a good position to weather the storm.
“We’re so fortunate in Indiana that we have a strong legacy of leadership,” she said. “We’re going to be very creative and innovative about how we handle this.”
McGrath said she supports Gov. Eric Holcomb’s handling of the pandemic and is optimistic that the state will come out of the situation strong.
“It’s going to really come down to Hoosier grit and each of us having individual responsibility,” she said.
Megan Ritter, a Fortville resident and a friend of McGrath, said the two bonded over having children the same age as well as their shared interest in community service. She described McGrath as a person who seeks to break barriers and find innovative solutions to problems.
“I just know Leah to be the kind of person who is hardworking and cares a lot about her community,” Ritter said.
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Age: 42
Party: Republican
Office sought: State representative (District 88, which includes parts of western Hancock County)
Political experience: Deputy mayor of Fishers (2015-19)
Family: Husband Brian, three children
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