Two candidates are seeking the Indiana House District 73 seat in the Nov. 5 general election.
Incumbent Rep. Jennifer Meltzer, R-Shelbyville, is seeking a second term representing the district. Meltzer is being challenged by Democratic nominee Hollie Payton.
The district covers the eastern half of Bartholomew County, as well as parts of Decatur, Shelby and Jennings counties.
Q: What would be your priorities for District 73 and the state of Indiana if you are elected?
Meltzer: After knocking on thousands of doors and talking to the constituents of District 73, I have heard that their concerns are property taxes, mental health and addiction, school choice, and simplifying government regulations for small business. These will be my focus if re-elected.
Payton: My top three priorities for District 73 and the state of Indiana are disability rights, women’s rights, and housing inequality. As a dedicated union supporter and advocate for teachers, I am committed to championing the rights and interests of educators and workers alike. I believe in being the voice for all individuals, striving to ensure everyone’s concerns are heard and addressed, regardless of political affiliation. My goal is to foster a unified community where everyone’s contributions and perspectives are valued and respected.
Q: A report from Prosperity Indiana this year found that there are 34 affordable and available rental units for every 100 extremely low-income households in the state. What should the state legislature’s role be in encouraging more affordable housing in Indiana?
Meltzer: The state’s role should be to create opportunities and tools for local government to best decide what works in their specific locations. What may be best for Columbus may not work well in Greensburg.
Payton: I believe that Indiana’s legislatures should encourage more affordable housing by looking into rent control laws. Currently, Indiana doesn’t have a state-wide rent control law, which is detrimental to low-income households. Without the state-wide rent control law in place, landlords can increase rent by any amount, with the exceptions of retaliation, discrimination, or in the middle of a lease’s term. We need to offer solutions to fix our housing crisis here in Indiana.
Q: Local Technical Assistance Program, a partnership between the Indiana state government and Purdue University, has estimated that the state would need to spend an additional $2.4 billion per yer for a decade to eliminate poor and failed roads and bridges across the state. The program also estimated that the annual funding gap to just maintain the state’s roads and bridges is nearly $1 billion. What should the state legislature do to address the funding gap?
Meltzer: Our roads and bridges are fundamental to the success of our communities. Everyone needs this critical infrastructure to get to work, school, church and other activities. The Community Crossings grants have been successfully leveraged by many of the local governmental units in District 73 to replace old roads and bridges. Some of the restraints on these funds limit the ability of local government to use them over two fiscal years or for design and build projects. I think we need to look at ways to make these monies more effective.
Payton: The funding gap in Indiana’s infrastructure is huge. Since 2025 is a budget year within the Indiana Legislature, we need to take a deep dive into where all the funding is being appropriated to. Last year, Indiana’s Medicaid Program experienced a $1 billion shortfall, which has led to more Hoosiers demanding more transparency about the state budget. We need to look at spending more conservatively in certain areas so we can have a balanced budget, while also addressing the need of infrastructure.
