A familiar face and a political newcomer are running for the Indiana House of Representative, District 70 seat, on Nov. 4.
Democrat Paul Robertson, a 30-year incumbent, is being challenged by Republican Tim Hunt, 51, who is director of business development for Koetter Construction.
Robertson, 62, a retired educator, said one reason he is running for re-election is to help make state government work better for everyone.
In his questionnaire to The Tribune and The Evening News, Robertson said he will continue to be “accessible to my constituents.” He also said funding education is one of his top priorities.
“The budget is always our No. 1 priority, to fully fund education, including all-day kindergarten, and to provide increases to every school district,” he said. “I believe we must continue to work on property tax reform, explore innovative childhood education options and help make college more affordable.”
Hunt said the legislature has become nothing more than a group “of professional politicians.”
“It’s time we took back the state house for the good of all Hoosiers,” he said in his questionnaire. “We must stop the wastefulness of our state government and restore economic development in Southern Indiana.”
Hunt said property tax reform is the most important issue facing the next state legislature.
“Indiana voters have the right and should hold all politicians to spending only what is necessary,” he said in his Q & A.
The state legislature faces a second vote on House Bill 1001 that puts a permanent cap on a home’s assessed value, which means less property taxes for some homeowners. If the bill passes a second vote, it would be placed on the ballot next year.
“We as homeowners spend our entire life trying to pay off our mortgages and then we rent our homes [because of property taxes] from the state. We need to reduce or eliminate property taxes,” Hunt said. “Education reform must be an important issue as well as defining one man, one woman as a marriage.”
Robertson said the state legislature has provided $870 million in immediate tax relief for homeowners as well as passed legislation which provides permanent caps and protects senior citizens.
District 70 includes most of Harrison County, a small section of western Floyd County and the western half of Clark County. Communities in the district include Sellersburg, Greenville, Corydon, Lanesville and Elizabeth.
Hunt said if he is elected, voters can expect to see more economic development, which would bring high paying jobs to the state, and reduce government regulations on businesses and individuals.
Robertson said voters can expect a strong voice for south central Indiana, lasting property tax reform, more jobs created by helping businesses expand and recruiting of new companies to diversify the economy. He also said lower cost of prescription drugs and expansion of choice of home health care programs would be a priority.
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