Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Boy and Granquist vie to fill open State Rep seat

Back To Front Page

 

By KEVIN NEVERS

In the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 6, Republican Dan Granquist and Democrat Patricia A. (Pat) Boy will vie for the open 9th District seat in the Indiana House. The Chesterton Tribune invited both to respond to candidate questionnaires.

The Tribune set word limits for each question and reserved the right to edit for length.

(1) Age, place of residence, occupation.

Granquist: 65; Michigan City; business and real estate attorney.

Boy: 68; Michigan City; has served for 15 years as a member of the Michigan City City Council; recently closed a secretarial/recordkeeping service operated with her husband since 1988.

(2) Why are you seeking election to the 9th District seat in the Indiana House? (75 words)

Granquist: Indiana has been ranked first in the nation for good government, and second for economic outlook, cost of doing business, and cost of living. I love this state and have the desire, experience, and understanding to protect and support the momentum started by our leaders. I can meet this challenge by providing good leadership and right ideas and help Indiana continue to be one of the strongest state economies in America and attract jobs!

Boy: I want to use the experience and leadership I have gained, by serving on the City Council, to make a difference. I want to advocate for social, economic, and environmental justice for everyone, especially the most vulnerable among us.

(3) Describe your qualifications for the seat (100 words).

Granquist: After graduation from Valparaiso University Law School, and admission to the bar in both Indiana and Illinois in 1983, I started my own law practice, representing business and real estate clients. Then, evenings, I pursued further legal education, earning a post-graduate degree from DePaul. For 35 years, I’ve represented clients in many business and real estate matters, involving research and understanding of state laws and dealing with government agencies. For years, I’ve studied and used the laws passed by the legislature to guide and represent my clients. Now I can use my experience and expertise to help guide the legislature.

Boy: Experience matters. I’ve been a member of the City Council in Michigan City for 15 years. I helped to update the city’s municipal code for spelling, grammar, and common sense. I have a B.A. in English. I have written and edited ordinances and resolutions. I have also witnessed the effects of state law changes on local government. I want to bring a fresh perspective, and I want to make a difference.

(4) Differentiate yourself from your opponent and indicate in particular why you believe yourself to be a better candidate (125 words).

Granquist: As a businessman and attorney, I’m best suited and prepared to be the state representative for House District 9. Having represented and advised many small businesses, and having owned small businesses myself, I understand the needs of business owners. My experience and expertise will guide me in making decisions that will create an environment that encourages job growth for our community. The nation’s largest small-business advocacy group, National Federation of Independent Businesses, has endorsed me. I have also been endorsed by Indiana Farm Bureau AgELECT and the Indiana Fraternal Order of Police. I help the people in our community build businesses to provide jobs and I work with community groups and business leaders to provide information and education to those interested in starting businesses.

Boy: I don’t know my opponent well, but he has been cordial every time we have met. I am happy that he also wants to keep the election focused on what each of us offers. I look at problems from multiple perspectives before making decisions. I can work across the aisle. I want to do my best and deliver the best outcomes for Indiana. I believe my previous governmental experience will be invaluable as I jump feet-first into this legislative position. I cannot answer for my opponent, although I have not heard him address these issues.

(5) What are the key issues in this race? (150 words)

Granquist: Economic development strategies that will continue our state’s success to promote job creation and expansion and encourage free enterprise and entrepreneurship for all workers at all levels of the work force. Educational plans to increase funding for training programs for youth and adults that will prepare all students to become responsible citizens and get jobs, including college prep and vocational training. Fiscal policies that will maintain a balanced budget and reduce burdensome regulations on individuals and businesses. Infrastructure planning and budgeting for highway repair and maintenance and the South Shore double-track construction. Rural planning for high-speed broadband development and Kankakee River management and flood control. Planning for treatment of opioid and other drug addiction and supporting HIDTA for education and law enforcement. Support for veterans’ assistance and Veteran’s Court. Protecting individual liberty by limiting government and passing common sense legislation.

Boy: Jobs, education, and infrastructure are key elements. Environmental protection, health insurance, health care, and the drug crisis are very important. The state cannot create jobs, but it can help create a climate that encourages business. We must increase training and education for a highly skilled workforce. We must increase funding for teachers. We must repair and finance future maintenance for our roads and bridges. We need to bring fiber networks to all areas of the state. We also need to hold environmental polluters responsible for both their actions, and the costs of cleanup. We need to test all children under age 6 for blood lead levels and start a program to help homeowner and landlords in lead abatement. We need an independent redistricting commission to ensure districts are based on population and compactness, not party or demographics.

(6) The Indiana Department of Transportation has retained an engineering consultant to development a plan to introduce tolls on a number of currently non-tolled interstates, including I-94 between Illinois and Michigan; and I-65 from I-90 south to I-465. Would you support such a plan? Why or why not? (75 words)

Granquist: Proper economic development and business growth will improve the state revenue without needing to increase taxes and add to the tax burden of our citizens. Before anyone can support or oppose such a plan, it is important to review the plan first to learn what the plan claims to be the benefits and burdens, and to understand expected consequences and to anticipate unintended consequences.

Boy: The outline of the Governor’s Next Level Connections program doesn’t include this proposal, just mentioning the increased truck tolls on I-90 which was leased to create the increased funding for Motor Vehicle Highway Funds for local roads and streets. The first company went bankrupt and the new one has already renegotiated for higher tolls. I understand the public/private partnership, but we can’t make all of our roads tolled unless we have alternative options.

(7) The Indiana Coalition for Independent Redistricting is currently campaigning to introduce independent, non-partisan redistricting in the state, to end the practice known as gerrymandering: the majority party’s power in the Indiana General Assembly to re-draw districts to protect its own candidates and suppress meaningful competition from the opposing party’s candidates. Are you in favor of independent, non-partisan redistricting? Why or why not? (75 words)

Granquist: I’m against gerrymandering. Making districts necessitates drawing lines to enclose a population quantity. Redistricting raises questions: What are standards for fairness? Is it possible for any informed, competent individual to be non-partisan? Is it possible to draw boundaries that don’t favor one party? Who gets elected to draw the lines, if not the elected legislators? Is it a valid presumption that elected legislators cannot fairly draw boundaries? Do we want to amend the constitution?

Boy: I am in favor of independent redistricting, or at least evenly divided bipartisan redistricting. The process should create compact districts based on population and community. With computer precision it has devolved into partisanship and racial and economic division. Without change, the process can only get worse. Gerrymandering is wrong, no matter which party does it.

(8) On what single issue do you believe bipartisanship to be vital to the future of the State of Indiana? (75 words)

Granquist: The opioid crisis has taken the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans and has cost the United States more than $1 trillion since 2001. In 2016, there were 794 opioid-related overdose deaths in Indiana--12.6 deaths per 100,000 persons. Northwest Indiana is part of HIDTA. Hoosier bipartisanship in the legislature is vital to support law enforcement and to care for and protect the families and health and economy of our great state.

Boy: I believe independent or evenly-divided bipartisan redistricting and protection of voter rights are vital. Without these, people lose faith in the whole system. When people don’t come out to vote, elected officials don’t really know what is important to all the voters, just the few who vote. This can lead to decisions that inadvertently have a negative effect on residents, causing even less faith and fewer voters. Voting is essential to our democracy.

 

 

 

Posted 10/10/2018

 
 
 
 

 

 

Search This Site:

Custom Search