First City News is providing coverage of the Indiana House District 45 race ahead of the upcoming primary election.
Three candidates are running for the district seat. The district covers all of Sullivan and Greene counties and portions of Vigo, Daviess, and Knox counties.
The Republican primary is contested. Those candidates participated in on-camera interviews. Those interviews are available to view on our YouTube channel.
The Democratic candidate is unopposed in the primary and will advance to the November ballot. That candidate was sent the same set of questions and provided written responses.
All candidates received the questions in advance. Republican responses are presented as direct transcriptions from the in-person interviews. The Democratic response is presented as submitted in writing.
Minimal editing has been made for clarity and sentence structure.
Candidate responses are presented below.
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Bruce Borders (Republican)
QUESTION: Please introduce yourself and tell voters why you are running for office again.
ANSWER:
My name is Bruce Borders, a state representative from House District 45 here in southwest Indiana. And the primary reason I’m running, I know it’s, you know, people have said this before — well, I’m doing this for my children or my grandchildren — but I guarantee you that’s absolutely true. I look at some of the issues that we’re fighting today, some of what I would call classic spiritual or moral issues. And I’m definitely, without a doubt, one of the most conservative and constitutional members of the General Assembly on either the House or Senate side. And so, I enjoy and feel it necessary to fight the battle for the sake of the future of our children and grandchildren. And I want to be back in that battle and make sure that they have an opportunity for religious freedom in the future, the same thing that I’ve enjoyed throughout my life. And there’s a lot of attacks on the family, on the church, and on people’s spiritual lives. And I’m in the middle of that battle fighting on behalf of religious freedom. And I’m looking forward to, with the Lord’s help, going back and continuing the battle.
QUESTION: How do you assess the most recent General Assembly session, and what aspects of the legislation were you most pleased with or not pleased with?
ANSWER:
I thought it was a good session overall. I’ve often said that a short session — this was the short session, the non-budget year — seems like anymore what we kind of almost do is we take a long session and just squish it into a shorter period of time. But overall, I felt it was good. I serve on three different committees. I serve on the insurance committee. I also serve on local government, and on local government, I felt like one of the key bills that we dealt with was House Bill 1001. One of the things we do realize today is that, if you look across the nation, families are struggling to purchase homes. And so on that particular bill that went through a committee that I vice chair, the local government committee, we did away with a lot of the regulations, a lot of the mandates, local mandates and so forth in the construction of new houses. There’s still obviously safety requirements, but we did away with a lot of the red tape that’s necessary in building structures just to make housing more affordable, particularly for young families. The average age of people buying their first home has really bumped up a lot, and the cost has a lot to do with that. So the goal was to lower the cost. And then in the insurance committee, one of the bills that we dealt with was the cost of hospitalization. Historically, Indiana is one of the highest-rate states in terms of hospitalization, not due to state statute, but it has to do with hospitals, insurance companies, and pharmaceuticals. Basically, one of the bills that we did pass, authored by or sponsored by Martin Carbajal, told nonprofit hospitals they have to hit a median figure by a certain point in time. This year is when that study begins. Otherwise, the state will step in. What we’re trying to do is work to make health care more affordable for families. And that’s an issue — if the Lord allows me to return up there, I’ll continue fighting that battle. We’ve been working on that, and this year was definitely a deep dive into that area. Ultimately, I felt like that issue is one of the most important, just to make health care more affordable for the average Hoosier family.
QUESTION: What is the top issue facing District 45 right now, and how would you address it?
ANSWER:
Well, that’s certainly one of them. And then one of the areas as well that we’re going to be dealing with is keeping our young people in the area. I think the health care costs and also providing economic opportunities where young people don’t feel the need to move off to the big city, so to speak, that they can actually stay in this area and feed their families.
QUESTION: Beyond that issue, what other priorities would you focus on?
ANSWER:
One of the issues that’s personal to me is that I have a grandson who’s autistic. His name is Andrew, and he is 15 years old. Andrew has some special needs, but he’s, you know, he loves the Lord. Just a beautiful young man. And, my daughter Bethany. Bethany and her husband, Isaac and Andrew and his two brothers, they live down in Texas. And, you know, and with the autism, he does struggle with in a typical learning environment. There is a program funded by PayPal where children with special needs can go into welding. Kids on the autism spectrum are very literal, very focused, and very smart. He struggles with his traditional school but he loves his welding class and brings projects to show us. One of the things I would like to work on is not just for children with special needs, but to work with corporations to plug students into skilled trades where they can see how that applies to real life. I want to bring opportunities for kids so that as soon as they are out of school, they are plugged right into something.
QUESTION: How would you work with lawmakers from both parties to move legislation forward?
ANSWER:
Actually, I already do that. Most people are really surprised when you show them a list of all the bills that have passed, how many bills have a large majority of both Republicans and Democrats. There’s not really a large percentage of bills that are that divisive. Those are the ones that get all of the attention. But the bottom line is that most bills pass with overwhelming support. For example, House Bill 1001 on housing had support from both Republicans and Democrats. The vast majority of bills get broad support and often have both Democrat and Republican coauthors.
QUESTION: Why should voters vote for you?
ANSWER:
I show up for work, literally. I’ve served for 20 years, , and I’m not ashamed of saying that people go, well, you know, haven’t you been in there too long? No, I the bottom line is I show up for work, and in all of those years, I’ve never missed a day. There was one day where a radiator hose blew out on my vehicle, and I had to go home and get another vehicle, and the log showed me not being there, but I was there. The voters sent me to do a job, and I take that very seriously. If I’m being paid to do a job, I’m going to show up for that job, and I do. I show up every day. One time I was even in the hospital, and I asked the doctor to release me so I could go back to the State House to vote. State police took me to the hospital and then back to the State House so I could finish my day before returning to the hospital. The bottom line is I show up for work every single day.
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Kellie Streeter (Republican)
QUESTION: Please introduce yourself and tell voters why you are running for State Representative.
ANSWER:
My name is Kellie Streeter, and I am a long-time county government employee. Going all the way back to 2005, where I started in emergency management as a deputy director, and then I moved on throughout to Daviess County as their deputy director and then the administrator of the health department. And during that journey, while I lived in North Knox and Freelandville, my commissioner seat came open and I then ran because of my sense of understanding how local government works, how it should work together for continuity of all forms of government and business. I ran for commissioner, and 10 years later, I stand here to run for the Indiana House of Representatives on that experience, over the years of managing a vast transportation system, a very large hospital that serves many counties, and really understanding day to day as a mother what it takes to pay a mortgage and also put kids in school. So, it felt natural to run. And I’m here as a local official that’s ready to go work at the State House.
QUESTION: How do you assess the most recent General Assembly session, and what aspects of the legislation were you pleased with or not pleased with?
ANSWER:
Well, in my position as past president of the Indiana County Commissioners, I’ve been in the State House for about four years. As some of our lobbying team leads, I’ve testified amongst the years, and this year was a little different. The session was short. Budget sessions are always very active. But saying that, they started out early, and redistricting was something we haven’t seen before, and it became a rollover into that short session. So, there was a lot of hurry. There were some great bills that were introduced, especially the House priority bill around housing. But with the time constraints and so many pieces to work through with local governments, it was a good start. So, I do look forward to that next session being more involved in those discussions, hopefully as a representative. But I think there’s a lot of great people in our General Assembly. I think that we will see an election which kind of also has everyone a little different this time of year. But there’s still a lot of great work to be done and a lot of great people ready to go.
QUESTION: What is the top issue facing District 45 right now, and how would you address it?
ANSWER:
Well, in my experience over the last two years specifically, I have found property taxes is becoming more and more of a real concern on top of other living expenses and inflation across the board. But I recently saw a poll in our House district that included data from Farm Bureau’s membership, which is very large. And they, even in our district, said the same — the cost of property taxes, the fluctuation on ag land, all of the changes that are perceived to be coming, how is that going to affect their services? So, property taxes is so confusing. And I think as a taxpayer myself, when you get that bill in the mail, it is so confusing. What does it mean and why and how did it get here? So, I want to be a part of working on that system because it is identified as a priority. Secondly, there is housing as well. We’ve done a vast housing study amongst the districts, the different counties. How do we find a solution to that to make it easier, quicker for building and permitting, but at the same time keep the costs down? So that is definitely an issue that I hear quite often. And then, of course, roads. As a commissioner, I’m probably a little jaded because I hear a lot more about roads than most might, but it is an issue of my gas tax, but my roads are bad. How is that going to be addressed? So top three I would say I hear the most about.
QUESTION: Beyond that issue, what other priorities would you focus on if elected?
ANSWER:
Absolutely. Right out of the gate, a bill that I believe locally that I’ve learned would be introduced is property tax sales. I don’t know if you’ve been to one or anyone has seen that process go, but here in Knox County, like many others, a company comes in that we trusted many counties wide, and they sell the property. And there’s a lot of adjacent landowners. There’s a lot of other local people there, but someone out of state has sent someone and they buy up and they bid on large properties that are really meant to be in the locals’ hands. And then they sit dormant, vacant, trees fall, houses are in decay, and I want to address that. I look forward to having that ability, but I will always stand on home rule. That is the foundation, the basis. I will make sure that is maintained, which is an action, but it is where I stand firmly. We have, from our fuel taxes or excise taxes all the way to our property taxes, we should be able to have a say in how those are levied and how they’re not. But to do some hard work, housing is a big deal in Indiana. That is definitely going to be a priority of mine to follow that along and how we can build in rural Indiana and still receive the same benefits of other urban areas. Behavioral health and mental health — I’ve been a part of the governor’s mental health commission in the past, behavioral health, and I’m on the board at Good Samaritan Hospital here in Vincennes. And I understand the challenges we face with Greene County, Sullivan, Good Samaritan hospitals, and then the services to wrap around an individual so we can have a judicial system that isn’t so extremely burdensome and costly. So that’s a lot. Then there is energy. That is going to be a major priority of mine to follow. How do we make sure our energy bills are affordable, and at the same time, how do we move forward where Indiana is no longer an importer of energy? So big priorities, big issues, but I’m ready to go.
QUESTION: How would you work with lawmakers from both parties to move legislation forward?
ANSWER:
I’ve done that a long time locally as a county commissioner. You don’t just have the county that you are worried about. The cities are the county, and we have to work together. And politically, we are not on the same ballot. On social issues, we don’t always agree and many others. But for the most part, we want what’s best for our county. And I’ve had to mediate and broker many times for us to work together. So, I am by nature a mediator. I do enjoy a good debate. However, I appreciate getting good work done, and I also know that sometimes bipartisanship is the only way to do it.
QUESTION: Why should voters vote for you?
ANSWER:
Well, I am very accessible. Throughout the years, I have formed many paths to contact me to meet. That is not going to change. Also, constituent services, as I mentioned, is very important, and I want to be involved. I take this very seriously, and I want to learn about the chambers and the rotaries and the community programs and the addiction programs and how the jail is managed all across the spectrum. I want to be in the know. So, I will be there listening and understanding and learning. So, when bills are faced to me, I understand our district and the needs of our district. I also am a hard worker, and I’m ready to go to work. I have the ability to offer legislation. I will work those bills for us and be a part of the larger team effort for the state.
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Rebecca “Becky” Mayfield (Democrat)
QUESTION: Please introduce yourself and explain what led you to run for State Representative.
ANSWER:
My name is Rebecca “Becky” Mayfield, and I am a lifelong resident of Indiana. I am married, with 2 grown children, and my husband and I have had a small business in Linton for close to 40 years (Mayfield’s Transmission and Mayfield Forge and Fabrication). I am running for state representative because I feel like I could make a difference in this state, and I am tired of people running in races where no one will oppose them.
QUESTION: How do you assess the most recent General Assembly session, and what aspects of the legislation were you most pleased with or not pleased with?
ANSWER:
A couple of issues I have had with the most recent session:
HB 1086-10 Commandments in Public Schools — I am wholly opposed to this, and it did get voted down, but I am a firm believer in the idea that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and a bill passed in Indiana forcing this issue would be against the Constitution’s Establishment Clause.
HB 1423-School Boards — The idea of this bill is to remove the election of school board members by the citizens and taxpayers and give it to appointed members for IPS schools. While IPS is out of my district, this bill opens the door to all boards being appointed across the state and gives power to the state government and takes it away from the local stakeholders. School boards should be answerable to the taxpayers, always.
SB 76-Immigration Bill — I am a firm believer that schools should be “safe spaces,” and children, even if they come from illegal alien situations, should be safe at school. It is also very disruptive, not only to the students being targeted, but their classmates, peers, and school staff.
QUESTION: What is the top issue facing District 45 right now, and how would you address it?
ANSWER:
My focus and the most important thing I feel needs to be addressed is the public education system and the voucher program. Too many schools are losing hundreds of thousands of dollars with our current government. Charter/private/parochial schools that are benefitting from the voucher system in Indiana are siphoning off funds from public schools and are not treated the same as public schools. The voucher systems are great but should be available for public schools only and not private institutions. If people wish to send their children to the private schools, they should be the ones to fund those schools, or the schools should be funded by donations they seek on their own.
QUESTION: Beyond that issue, what other priorities would you focus on if elected?
ANSWER:
Personally, I am concerned with the way our current government is operating and the disenfranchisement of people outside of the conservative realm. I believe that all people should be heard in public policy and not naysaid just because they come from the opposite party.
Legalization of marijuana, for medicinal or recreation, needs further investigation. Currently, tons of money are leaving Indiana to land in Michigan or Illinois through this type of trade, and Indiana could benefit from this influx of money. I am not sure on the actual designation of what should be executed, but I think this is definitely worth more investigation.
QUESTION: How would you work with lawmakers from both parties to move legislation forward?
ANSWER:
I am a government teacher by trade, and the main thing I tell my students is that our system seems to be broken because it is an “us vs. them” situation. I am used to working with people of all different aspects and opinions. I am a firm believer in the idea that we are always learning in our lives, and there are always things we can learn from others as long as we keep an open mind. I will not dismiss a good idea or bill just because it comes from the opposite side of the aisle. Our whole style of government was built on compromise, and I feel that is a core tenant of the way our system should work.
QUESTION: Why should voters choose you to represent District 45.
ANSWER:
I think it is time for change in our District, and the current incumbent has spent many years in this seat (or the past district before the reorganization), and I think voters are ready for something different. I am determined to be different and to work for the people.
