Voters have returned two incumbents to the Indiana Statehouse and picked new Republican candidates to represent them in the state legislature.
Representative District 47
The new representative for Indiana House District 47 will step into the role focused on improving education throughout the state.Republican John T. Young, an attorney from Franklin, was elected to fill the seat during Tuesday’s election against Democrat Michael “Mike” Reddick. Young won 73 percent of the Johnson County vote compared to 27 percent for Reddick.
Young will represent a district covering much of Johnson County, including Franklin, Union, Needham and Blue River townships, as well as parts of White River and Hensley townships. District 47 extends into the eastern portion of Morgan County as well.
Young will replace current State Rep. John Price, a Republican, who opted not to seek re-election after serving two terms.
Young campaigned on a platform of improving education, making school funding more efficient and finding better ways to gauge if schools and students are succeeding. He wants to ensure that local school officials and administrators have more say in the standards that schools are judged by, doing what works best for students.
Young will serve a two-year term, helping the legislature establish the state budget, as well as draft and vote on bills.
Representative District 93
A familiar face will be returning to the Indiana House of Representatives to represent District 93.Republican David N. Frizzell, who has represented the district since 1992, won Tuesday’s election. He defeated Democrat Gregory A. “Greg” Rathnow, garnering 75 percent of the vote in Johnson County, compared to 25 percent for Rathnow. He will be representing a portion of White River Township in Johnson County, as well as the southern portion of Perry Township and Indianapolis in Marion County, for another two years.
Frizzell was leading by a wide margin in Marion County, but final tallies were not available late Tuesday night.
He focused his campaign on his role in Indiana’s budgetary and financial success since he took office. The General Assembly has been active in keeping taxes low, and the goal is to continue to do so, he said.
As Indiana has entered a period of significant economic growth, the legislature has implemented bills and policies regarding corporate taxes and regulations that have made the state attractive, and it’s important that work carries on, Frizzell said.
Senate District 36
Indiana District 36 was guaranteed to have a new state senator after this year’s election.After the votes were counted, Republican Jack Sandlin has secured that seat, defeating Democrat Sean Gorman. In Johnson County, Sandlin had taken 71 percent of the vote, compared to 29 percent for Gorman.
State Senate District 36 represents parts of White River Township in Johnson County, as well as parts of Marion County. Final results were not in for all of Marion County late Tuesday night, but of the precincts counted, Sandlin was winning.
Sandlin replaces State Sen. Brent Waltz, who did not seek re-election to a fourth term in the legislature and instead sought a Congressional seat in the primary election this year. Waltz was defeated by Republican Trey Hollingsworth.
Sandlin, a former Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department investigator who now runs a fraud investigation business, focused his campaign on finding ways to help local governments with funding problems.
Sandlin will serve a four-year term, making decisions about the state’s budget and proposing and voting on legislation that would impact the entire state.
Representative District 58
Longtime Indiana State Representative Woody Burton has retained his seat in District 58.The Republican candidate, who has represented the district for 28 years, defeated Democrat Edward Dean O’Connor. Burton, a Whiteland resident, took 67 percent of the vote compared to 33 percent for O’Connor, a longtime veterinarian who has been heavily involved in Clark-Pleasant schools.
Once again, Burton will represent a district made up of most of Greenwood, Whiteland and New Whiteland, extending into the rural area east of those communities.
Burton ran on a platform focused on education and a long-term funding fix for community infrastructure. He advocated getting rid of ISTEP testing, instead preferring ongoing testing throughout the school year.
He pointed to his work behind-the-scenes to help people and make a difference in Hoosiers’ lives as the reason he should be elected. His work to enact a bill requiring schools to identify dyslexia among students, offering an “In God We Trust” license plate and securing Build Indiana money to build Tracy Road are examples, he said.
Burton will serve a two-year term.
Representative District 65
Republicans will maintain their control of Indiana House District 65, but with a new representative.Chris May defeated Democrat Chris Woods. He will fill the seat being vacated by State Rep. Eric Koch, who decided to run for a seat in the Indiana Senate this election.
May will represent a district that includes all of Brown County, most of Lawrence County and parts of Monroe, Jackson and Johnson counties.
In Johnson County, May took 77 percent of the votes, compared to 23 percent for Woods. Final votes were not in yet for Monroe County late Tuesday night, but May had been winning with a majority of the votes. May also won in Brown and Jackson counties.
His campaign focused on accountability, fiscal responsibility and having a pro-business approach for growth. He supports education choice, and applauded the voucher program that allowed families to select the best educational options for their children.
May will serve a two-year term.
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State Representative District 47
Michael L. “Mike” Reddick (D);6,872
John T. Young (R);18,389
— Johnson County results only
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State Representative District 93
David N. Frizzell (R);6,364
Gregory A. “Greg” Rathnow (D);2,171
— Johnson County results only
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State Senate District 36
Sean Gorman (D);4,676
Jack E. Sandlin (R);1,895
— Johnson County results only
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State Representative District 58
Woody Burton (R);19,213
Edward Dean O’Connor (D);9,616
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State Representative District 65
Chris D. May (R);2,028
Chris Woods (D);606
— Johnson County results only
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