By the district
District 76:
Wendy McNamara – Republican
Tony Goben – Democrat
District 77:
Jeremy Heath – Republican
Gail Riecken – Democrat
District 78:
Holli Sullivan – Republican
Stephen Melcher – Democrat
By the issue
*Information about where candidates stand on certain issues was pulled from each of their official webpages, which are linked to first references.
Anti-Abortion:
Sullivan – “Life begins at conception and I believe that the law should reflect this. All life is sacred and deserves to be protected. Hoosiers should not be forced to pay for abortions with their tax dollars.”
Children Services:
Riecken – “I have fought to change the Department of Children’s Services and to end the failed policies that have harmed children and families across Indiana…I will continue to fight costly, failed policies such as the IBM debacle that placed technology over people in need. I will continue to fight to put families and children first and help them in their time of need.”
Education:
Goben – “We need to increase funding in education, especially that of early childhood. We need to increase funding to include education on technology. Our legislature has been side tracked by businesses that want to create “for profit” institutes of learning and want to privatize our public education system. Our children’s education should never be for sale to the highest bidder.”
Heath – “The education of our children should not be held hostage by political agendas, nor should Hoosiers be held to the same mediocre standards accepted by other states. Now is the time to develop a plan that will not only improve our educational system here in Indiana, but to shine as an example for our nation.”
McNamara – “There are many new and innovative ways to advance education. School districts need to be given the flexibility to be innovative…I firmly support continued freedom from government intrusion for private, nonsectarian, parochial schools and at-home schooling.”
Riecken – “Decisions about our schools should be made locally without interference from state bureaucrats. We must look to the future and adequately fund kindergarten and begin funding early childhood education…Our teachers should be held accountable but treated with the respect they deserve. Good teachers should stay and bad teachers should go.”
Sullivan – “I support teacher merit pay and accountability and the expansion of charter schools. I will work to improve K-12 education through choice and opportunity, making higher education affordable, and protecting the freedom of Hoosier families.”
Energy and Transportation:
Heath – “The time has come to invest in more efficient ways of travel and transportation. By investing in high speed passenger rail, Indiana could see the creation of nearly 5,000 new jobs for Hoosiers, and nearly $86 million in extra household income…The mere presence of high speed rail would promote the economic expansion that our towns and cities desperately need to come back to life.”
Environment:
Riecken – “I will support policies that use energy conservatively and smartly and that treat consumers fairly.”
Fiscal Responsibility:
McNamara – “As Hoosiers are tightening the family budget, the government needs to learn to operate the same way. We need to ensure that taxes are kept low, and that taxpayer dollars aren’t being wasted on non-essential items.”
Sullivan – “I am committed to government at every level living within its means. That means balancing our budgets without gimmicks and, most importantly, without raising taxes. While this may require difficult funding decisions to be made, I am committed to fiscal responsibility. Living within our means is more than a phrase.”
Gun Control:
Goben – “I believe in the Second Amendment and believe we should be able to protect our families and homes. I also believe in responsible gun ownership and laws that uphold that responsibility.”
Healthcare:
Heath – “It cannot be stated enough that Obamacare is not affordable. It isn’t even healthcare…It is necessary for Indiana to not only nullify Obamacare, but to replace it with a plan that will be beneficial to all who need it, regardless of income.”
Jobs:
Heath – “Instead of fighting legislation that allows all who want jobs to get them, I will pursue businesses and corporations and every available avenue in the attempt to bring them to our district.”
McNamara – “We must continue to make bringing new and better-paying jobs to Southwest Indiana our number one priority. We have a skilled and talented workforce here and we must showcase our ability to large-scale employers here in Indiana and around the country. Additionally, we must cut the bureaucracy and job-killing regulations so that businesses not only make their home here, but they thrive here as well.”
Riecken – “At the local level, let’s coordinate efforts by all levels of government so Hoosiers can learn about job opportunities now and how to get training if they need it.”
Sullivan – “The private sector is the best way to create jobs and spur more economical development. The proper role of government in this equation is to get out of the way and let Hoosier entrepreneurs and job creators build, grow and expand their private enterprises in our state. By keeping taxes low, decreasing regulation, and giving businesses the tools to succeed, job creation will continue to develop in Southwest Indiana.”
Wages:
Goben – “I believe in a state that offers protection to workers. I believe in a state where those workers are able to collectively bargain for increased wages, health coverage, and retirement benefits. I believe in a person’s right to be treated with dignity in their workplaces.”
By the numbers**
- State Representative District 76
Total Contributions:
McNamara – $453,177 (2010: $150,482 ; 2012: $267,506)
Goben – $3,506 (2014)
Unitemized Donations:
McNamara – $12,513
Goben – $645
Contributors:
McNamara – 60.6% Individuals, 38.7% Non-Individuals, 0.7% Other
Goben – 31.25% Individuals, 62.5% Non-Individuals, 6.25% Other
Top Named Non-Party Contributor:
McNamara – Aiming Higher PAC ($76,731)
Goben – Jonathan David Weinzapfel Campaign Committee ($500)
- State Representative District 77
Total Contributions:
Heath – $500 (2014)
Riecken – $257,946 (2008: $29,978 ; 2010: $162,692 ; 2012: $65,276)
Unitemized Donations:
Heath – $0
Riecken – $20,093
Contributors:
Heath – 100% Non-Individual
Riecken – 66.75% Individuals, 33.02% Non-Individuals, 0.23% Other
Top Named Non-Party Contributor:
Heath – Dayat Technologies ($500)
Riecken – United Steelworkers Local 104 ($10,043)
- State Representative District 78
Total Contributions:
Sullivan – $25,253 (2014)
Melcher – $12,700 (2014)
Unitemized Donations:
Sullivan – $0
Melcher – $350
Contributors:
Sullivan – 80.85% Individuals, 19.15% Non-Individuals
Melcher – 33.3% Individual, 60% Non-Individual, 6.7% Other
Top Named Non-Party Contributor:
Sullivan – Rober & Cynthia Koch ($1,000)
Melcher – International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers ($1,000)
**Based on data from www.followthemoney.org