Three candidates vying for seat in District 36 this year
Democrat Terry Rice and Libertarian Barry Campbell will challenge incumbent State Sen. Brent Waltz for his District 36 seat in the state senate.
Waltz is the youngest state senator in Indiana history at the age of 35. Waltz said he is capable of navigating through propaganda and can identify key points and make important quality judgments.
“Property tax reform has to be No. 1,” said Waltz on the issues that are important in his campaign.
Property taxes have sky rocketed in recent years, which is causing candidates to look at options dealing with property tax reform.
“Property tax reform is pretty much the single issue,” Campbell said.
During his campaign, Campbell has called for a complete elimination of property tax as well as all local sales and income taxes. Instead Campbell said he believes in flat land value taxation. Implementing such a tax in Indiana is the single issue Campbell’s platform is built on.
Because of the recent economic troubles, Rice said the economy is the most important issue he faces. Rice said he’s a person who can reach across the aisle for a solution.
Waltz agrees the economy is important, with job creation being a good solution.
“We need to be able to create jobs,” said Waltz.
Both Rice and Waltz agree that education is also an important part of the election. Waltz said young Hoosiers need to be prepared for the global economy. Rice has been a teacher for 36 years.
None of the candidates are strangers to politics. Campbell ran in 2002 and 2006 for Marion County Sheriff and was also a candidate for the U.S House of Representatives. Waltz has had relatives in political positions. Rice has previously served as been the president of the local teacher’s union, the Perry Education Association.
