State Rep. Peggy Welch and John Shean have a lot in common. Both agree on many issues ranging from abortion to cutting property taxes. Both are also running for the Indiana House in District 60.\nWelch, a Democrat from Bloomington, is running for her second term as state representative. She is married and has a son at Bloomington High School North. Besides serving in the Indiana House, Welch is a nurse at Bloomington Hospital's cancer unit.\n"I believe leadership begins with listening, and to listen you've got to be where the people are talking," Welch said. "I have tried to make sure I have done that over the last two years and make myself available to everyone."\nShean, a Republican from Ellettsville, is running for public office for the first time. A practicing attorney, Shean has been active throughout his life in the community. He is married and has one son attending Edgewood High School in Ellettsville.\nShean cites his involvement in community programs such as the Crisis Pregnancy Center of Bloomington, the Bloomington Fire Safety Commission and the Children's Organ Transplant Association, as experience that he brings to the office.\n"I want to bring my record of proven leadership to provide solutions to the problems that vex Indiana citizens," Shean said.\nThe Indiana State House is up for grabs this year, with both Republicans and Democrats with a real opportunity to win a majority of seats. This fact makes this race extremely important for both parties. College Republicans and College Democrats are actively campaigning for their respective candidates.\n"I was impressed by (Shean's) community leadership through various organizations such as COTA, the Monroe County Tax Payers Association, the evaluation of the Bloomington Fire Department and his assistance with the development of the Hannah House," said sophomore Marisa Etter, the youth coordinator for the Shean campaign and a College Republican.\nWelch also mentioned the value of the College Democrats in her campaign and their effort to help her in any way possible.\n"The College Democrats have been terrific," Welch said. "They help by going to parades and festivals and working on floats to get my name out to the public."\nWhile not all students can vote in this election because of districting, both candidates see many different issues that concern the students of IU.\n"I have been very supportive of IU, and the Ways and Means Committee has made sure that IU is well represented...," Welch said. "If we increase the funding for IU, that's going to hold the line of raising tuition and that's very important." \nShean said he believes students should be more attracted to his campaign and the Republican Party because they are addressing concerns that affect students.\n"We want to offer more choices in education, and we are taking a long-term view of the education process," Shean said. "We believe that if the state would implement educational reforms… we would have more a competitive, thus higher achieving, system of education." \nWelch points to tax relief on books, public school choice and the support of a community school system as her highest priority in education.\n"I want to make clear I am fully sold on IU and research universities and that we don't rob Peter to pay Paul," Welch said.
District 60 candidates share common ground
Representative race key to winning House majority
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