Elrod to try to defend his seat in District 97
By Renee Bruck, October 23, 2008
Democrat Mary Ann Sullivan is challenging one-term incumbent Republican Indiana Rep. Jon Elrod for his District 97 seat in the Indiana House.
Both of the candidates grew up in and around the Indianapolis area and currently live in the downtown area of Indianapolis. But Sullivan has said Elrod is not concerned with representing his district’s constituents. Rather, she said, his focus is on his political career. Elrod briefly ran in a special election earlier this year against Democrat Andre Carson for the state’s 7th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, vacated by the death of Carson’s grandmother, former U.S. Rep. Julia Carson.
Elrod said he believes that property tax reform, implementing statewide vocational systems in high schools across the state, and reducing the amount of vacant housing in Indianapolis are the most important issues of his campaign.
“I would like to prohibit the purchase of homes at sheriff sales to landowners that already have property that health [departments] mandate are in disrepair and [mandate] banks to maintain properties [that are in repossession],” he said.
He also said that the issues are fairly pragmatic, but he would still need bipartisan support on the issues.
“With the House currently at a split of 51 Democrats to 49 Republicans, we have to work with each other,” Elrod said.
Elrod currently practices law as a partner at his family’s general practice law firm in Indianapolis. He first began his political career in 2004 when he ran for the Center Township Advisory Board.
Sullivan said that she is focusing on the issues of education, increasing jobs and taxes, which is a major issue currently in District 97.
“I think I have a pretty good record of working collaboratively with others,” she said.
Sullivan said that there is an incredible challenge in the statehouse currently with the limited resources, and that everyone must work together to achieve a common goal.
Sullivan has worked for the Indiana Department of Education as well as IUPUI, Indianapolis Public Schools, the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, and she has served on numerous boards and other community organizations for more than 20 years. Sullivan was a candidate in the Indianapolis City-County Council District 15 caucus special election in 2007.
Add Comment
There are currently no comments.
You must log in or register to post comments.
