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.