State Rep. Heath VanNatter, a Howard County Republican first elected in 2010, faces Democratic candidate Nate Stout in the Nov. 3 election in Indiana House District 38.
House District 38 includes the northeastern portion of Tippecanoe County, along with all of Carroll and Tipton counties, and portions of Cass, Clinton and Howard counties.
Here, candidates were asked about their approach to the General Assembly seat.
For more: Find bios of each candidate, along with information about where and when to vote, at the end of this article. Watch in the coming days for more candidate Q&As in other races on Tippecanoe County ballots.
Why do you want this job? Why are you running now for this position?
Heath VanNatter: Did not respond.
Nate Stout: I’m running for this position because rural Indiana is being sold to the highest bidder. If we continue to allow 700 acres here and 1,000 acres there, we are going to lose the foundation of rural Indiana. Rural towns have been left behind by State government, and I want to give a voice to the hard-working people in my district. We care about our water, land and air quality. We respect nature. I’ve spent my career solving problems in corporate America, and I’m ready to take that same approach to the problems we face.
Name two of your top priorities for the position. And how will you handle them?
Heath VanNatter: Did not respond.
Nate Stout: My number one priority is giving local school districts greater control over their funds. There are a record number of school districts that have referendums on their November ballot. Since 2011, private/mostly religious schools have taken in $2.2 billion from public education. We need to overhaul the voucher program and return control of school budgets to the local districts. The State is too powerful we must stop applying a one size fits all approach to education policy. The second initiative is to protect my district from corporate development without citizen input. We see meetings all across the state where local leaders are signing NDAs and choosing their corporate buddies over their citizens. We must demand transparency in all economic development.
What do you believe is the driving factor that is driving costs for households and contributing to affordability issues in your district? And what is the best way for the General Assembly to fix or ease that?
Heath VanNatter: Did not respond.
Nate Stout: At the local level, our current administration boasts about a few billion-dollar surplus, but I believe we could be putting those dollars to better use than sitting in Indianapolis. Affordability is not just a price problem; it’s a job problem. With Indiana ranking in the lowest quarter for most quality-of-life metrics, we need to make Indiana more attractive for businesses to settle here and hopefully retain Hoosiers in the future.
How would you rate the property tax reform measures of Senate Bill 1, signed into law in 2025? What, if any, adjustments would you advocate in upcoming General Assembly sessions as local governments and schools deal with the roll out?
Heath VanNatter: Did not respond.
Nate Stout: SB1 is a complete disaster. The per person benefits of the property tax decreases pale in comparison to the local costs of losing that tax revenue. Additionally, the business personal property tax exemption going from $80,000 to $2 million was a little extreme. Our number one focus in the 2027 session needs to be the budget and undoing this mess.
Counties in your district are navigating potential development, tax incentives and local regulations for data centers. What should the General Assembly’s role be on either encouraging or preventing data center development in Indiana and your district?
Heath VanNatter: Did not respond.
Nate Stout: The General Assembly was intentionally sleeping at the wheel when hyperscale developers came to town. They looked the other way, with the full knowledge of the reception in their districts. It’s interesting how they pass the worst budget bill in a lifetime, which puts local governments in a desperate position for income, and who shows up at the right time? The hyperscale development firms with a blank check.
Do you support the use of automated license-plate readers, such as those from Flock Safety, by local police departments in your district? What, if any, state regulations should there be for the cameras and the data they produce?
Heath VanNatter: Did not respond.
Nate Stout: In recent days, we’re seeing a high number of people misusing the system to chase ex-girlfriends or harass their enemy. These Flock cameras, with the AI technology, could be great, but we don’t have the systems in place to prevent misuse, and frankly, I believe they’re in direct opposition with the fourth amendment.
What’s the best thing the General Assembly can do to control utility costs? And how would you propose getting that done?
Heath VanNatter: Did not respond.
Nate Stout: Most incumbents for 2027 receive healthy campaign support from our utility monopolies, so this is not going to be an easy battle. I want companies to pay for utility buildout instead of citizens. At the corner of Indiana 28 and U.S. 31, you’ll find an empty factory. It’s been a Stellantis once, a Daimler facility at another time, but the citizens of Tipton County paid for all the infrastructure to be delivered seven miles from town. Corporations need to carry the burden, not the citizens.
Where do you stand on local control? What, if any, areas do you believe state regulations or pre-emption of local government policies make more sense?
Heath VanNatter: Did not respond.
Nate Stout: I believe we have a bloated state government, and with more local control, Indiana will make great strides. In the 2026 session, after wasting everyone’s time with the redistricting session in December, 2025, the Statehouse passed 163 laws. 163 laws that trickle down to every function of government making it so confusing that year after year each county, city and township board must employ a lawyer and a financial consultant to make it through the year. We need to trust our local communities and remove the unnecessary overhead and red tape from Indianapolis.
Name two specific things that separate you from your opponent and why those matter.
Heath VanNatter: Did not respond.
Nate Stout: Unlike my opponent, I show up. He continues to duck community forums, and I always show up. He will not debate me which I believe should be a disqualifying offense, but I’ll still show up. I’m also different from my competitor because I don’t take corporate PAC money. Most incumbent Republicans receive tens of thousands from utility companies and the smorgasbord of lobbyist groups. I’m funded by hundreds of small donations, with a few big ones from family members. Money and greed have corrupted politics, and we must vote for people free from corporate obligations.
Candidate bios
Heath VanNatter
Party: Republican
Occupation: Director of Indiana Builders Association, director of National Association of Home Builders, owner and operator of VanNatter Construction
Nate Stout
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Entrepreneur
Educational background: Indiana University
Past elected positions, if any: N/A
Community boards or other community leadership and service: I have served as a Democratic Judge in 3 elections and I’m a Rotarian in Kokomo.
Immediate family: 19-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son
Your campaign site online: natefor38.com
ABOUT THE NOV. 3 GENERAL ELECTION
Early voting ahead of the Nov. 3 general election runs Oct. 6 to Nov. 2 with contested races on Tippecanoe County ballots for U.S. House, Indiana General Assembly seats, Tippecanoe County commissioner and Tippecanoe County Council seats, township positions and school boards.
Voter registration/ballots
To check your voter registration and to see candidates who will be on your ballot, go to the Secretary of State’s portal at www.indianavoters.com.
Early voting sites
In Tippecanoe County, registered voters may cast their ballot at any vote center.
Oct. 6-31: Tippecanoe County Office Building, 20 N. Third St. in Lafayette. Weekday hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Oct. 6-9; Oct. 13-16; Oct. 19-23, Oct. 26-30. Other hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 24 and Oct. 31; and 8 a.m.-noon Nov. 2.
Oct. 17: McAllister Recreation Center, 2351 N. 20th St., Lafayette; Buck Creek Community Church, 4915 Ferret St., Buck Creek; Otterbein United Methodist Church, 405 E. Oxford St., Otterbein. Hours: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Oct. 20: Convergence Center, Purdue, 101 Foundry Drive, West Lafayette. Hours: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Oct. 22: First United Methodist Church, 1700 Mitch Daniels Blvd., West Lafayette. Hours: Noon-5 p.m.
Oct. 24: West Point Fire Station, 4949 Indiana 25 S., West Point; Clarks Hill Christian Church, 9510 Pearl St., Clarks Hill; Hours: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Eastside Assembly of God, 6121 E. County Road 50 South, Lafayette. Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Oct. 27-Oct. 30: Eastside Assembly of God, 6121 E. County Road 50 South, Lafayette; Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, 1406 Teal Road, Lafayette; Wea Ridge Baptist Church, 1051 E. County Road 430 South, Lafayette; and John Dennis Wellness Center, 1101 Kalberer Road, West Lafayette. Hours: Noon-6 p.m.
Oct. 31: Eastside Assembly of God, 6121 E. County Road 50 South, Lafayette; Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, 1406 Teal Road, Lafayette; Wea Ridge Baptist Church, 1051 E. County Road 430 South, Lafayette; and John Dennis Wellness Center, 1101 Kalberer Road, West Lafayette. Hours: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Nov. 2: Tippecanoe County Office Building, 20 N. Third St., Lafayette. Hours: 8 a.m.-noon.
Election Day vote centers
Voting on Tuesday, Nov. 3, will be 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Registered voters in Tippecanoe County may choose any of these sites.
Lafayette
Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, 1406 Teal Road
Lafayette Community Church of the Nazarene, 3801 Union St
The Grove Covenant Church, 3600 S. Ninth St.
Tippecanoe County Historical Association History Center, 522 Columbia St.
Wea Ridge Baptist Church, 1051 E. County Road 430 South
Eastside Assembly of God, 6121 E. County Road 50 South
Northend Community Center, 2000 Elmwood Ave.
West Lafayette
Faith West Community Center, 1920 Northwestern Ave.
Córdova Recreation Center, 355 N. Martin Jischke Drive
Connection Point Church, 2541 Cumberland Ave.
John Dennis Wellness Center, 1101 Kalberer Road
Outside Lafayette/West Lafayette
Shadeland Town Hall, 2485 Indiana 25 West, Shadeland
Tippecanoe Township Volunteer Fire Station No. 2, 448 W. County Road 650 North, West Lafayette
Sheffield Township Fire Station, 285 Market St., Dayton
Battle Ground Fire Station, 112 North St., Battle Ground
On the ballot
Here are candidates who will be on Tippecanoe County ballots in the Nov. 3 general election. (* = incumbent)
Congress
U.S. House, District 4: Jim Baird*, R; Drew Cox, D.
General Assembly
House District 13: Matt Commons*, R; Brenna Geswein, D; Ben Davis, independent
House District 26: Chris Campbell*, D; Magdalaine Davis, R
House District 27: Sheila Klinker*, D; Tracy Brown, R
House District 38: Heath VanNatter*, R; and Nate Stout, D
House District 41: Mark Genda*, R; Jackson Hayes, D
Senate District 22: Ron Alting*, R; Natasha Baker, D
Senate District 23: Spencer Deery*, R; David Sanders, D; Joshua Brant, independent
State offices
Secretary of State: Beau Bayh, D; Max Engling, R; Lauri Schillings, Libertarian; Greg Ballard, Lincoln Party
State auditor: Jessica Bailey, D; Elise Nieshalla, R; John Schick, Libertarian
State treasurer: Coumba Kebe, D; Daniel Elliott*, R
Tippecanoe County
Commissioner, District 1: Julie Roush, R; Andrea Burniske, D
County Council, District 1: Ben Murray*, D; Trent Richter, R
County Council, District 2: Jody Hamilton*, R
County Council, District 3: Lynn Beck, R
County Council, District 4: Lisa Dullum*, D
County Clerk: Carrie Sanders, R; Karan Benner, D
Assessor: Anthony Hustedt-Mai, R; Kaitlyn Butler, D
Auditor: Jennifer Weston*, R; Eric Grossman, D
Recorder: Kristy Martin*, R; Monica Casanova, D
Prosecutor: Jason Biss, R
Judge, Superior Court 1: Kevin McDaniel*, R
Judge, Superior Court 2: Sarah Wyatt, R
Judge, Superior Court 4: Matt Sandy*, R
Judge, Superior Court 5: Kristen McVey*, R
Judge, Superior Court 7: Dan Moore*, R
School boards
Lafayette School Corp.: District A, Gary Mueller; District B, Brent Clemenz*; District D, Oscar Trujillo Jr.* (all non-partisan)
Tippecanoe School Corp.: District 1, Holly Keckler*; District 2, Josh Loggins*; District 3, William Sondgerath* (all non-partisan)
West Lafayette Community School Corp. (vote for 3): Maria Koliantz, Dacia Mumford*, John Robinson and Laurence Wang* (all non-partisan)
Township offices
Fairfield Township trustee: Ted Hardesty, D; Ray Williams, R
Fairfield Township board (vote for 3): Jessica Holsinger, Amy Paget and Susan Schechter*, D; Perry Barbee and Justice Amos, R
Jackson Township trustee: James Stafford, R
Jackson Township board (vote for 3): Christian Gamble, Tami Greer Minniear and Christine Wise*, R
Lauramie Township trustee: Harold Tull, R
Lauramie Township board (vote for 3): Butch Hammond, D; Jeffery Tull Jr.*, Hal Graham and Joe Sturm*, R
Perry Township trustee: Frank Cedarquist*, R
Perry Township board (vote for 3): Greg Brown*, Joseph Daubenmier* and Dan Huff, R
Randolph Township trustee: Jeanne Benjamin*, R
Randolph Township board (vote for 3): Fred Inskeep*, Natalie Kanaby* and William Kitterman*, R
Sheffield Township trustee: Pamela Crum*, R
Sheffield Township board (vote for 3): Jerry Arvin*, Jane Coleman* and Terry Thayer, R
Shelby Township trustee: Treeva Sarles, R
Shelby Township board (vote for 3): Susan Rowe, D; Heather Beasley, Steve Lange* and Donald Nesbitt*, R
Tippecanoe Township trustee: Bill Jones*, R; Holden Mugford, D
Tippecanoe Township board: John Muller, Barbara Whitlock and Dean Whitlock, D; Jim Fields*, Dan Haan* and Sam Richardson*, R
Union Township trustee: Jo Ritchie*, R
Union Township board (vote for 3): Mary Grace Gish*, Steve Plantenga* and Paul Sietsma*, R
Wabash Township trustee: Angel Valentin*, D; John W. Wilson, R
Wabash Township board (vote for 3): Ian Pytlarz*, David Tate* and Briton Weise, D; Frank Hannan, Eric Hoppenjans and Jeffery Stefancic, R
Washington Township trustee: Karen Cadle, R
Washington Township board (vote for 3): Tom Davidson*, Nate Hofmann* and Kevin Riggenbach, R
Wayne Township trustee: Norman Hayman*, R
Wayne Township board (vote for 3): Larry Guentert, D; Mark Christian*, Phil Katter* and Pam Rosen, R
Wea Township trustee: Alfonso Salazar Jr., D; Alan Williams, R
Wea Township board (vote for 3): Dennise Grater, Talitha Huber and Jesse Washburn, D; Andrea Moore*, Susan Pfeifer and Aaron Slagel*, R
Towns
Dayton town clerk-treasurer: Stephen Parks, independent
Dayton Town Council: Steven Schuhle*, Marc Buhrmester*, Vickie Beavers, Robert Hainje and Mike Harris, independent
Otterbein clerk-treasurer: Deandra Pritchett, R
Otterbein Town Council: Jackey Apache* and Craig Martin*, R
Shadeland Town Council: Ken Stacy, D; Tim Balensiefer*, David Downey* and David Vanderkleed*, R
Ballot questions
West Lafayette Community School Corp. property tax referendum: “Shall West Lafayette Community School Corporation increase property taxes paid to the school corporation for no more than eight (8) years for the purpose of funding academic programming and operating expenditures and sustaining educational and operational stability in response to reductions in property tax revenue by imposing a property tax rate that does not exceed $0.5706 and results in a maximum annual amount that does not exceed $16,100,000. If this operating referendum public question is approved by the voters, for a median residence of $350,000, the property’s annual property tax bill would increase by $956 per year. The most recent operating referendum public question proposed by the school corporation was held in 2023 and passed.”
Public question No. 1 (statewide): “Currently, under the Constitution of the State of Indiana, a person charged with murder or treason is not entitled to be released on bail if the proof is evident or the presumption strong. Shall the Constitution of the State of Indiana be amended to provide that a person charged with an offense other than murder or treason is not entitled to bail if: (1) the proof is evident or the presumption strong; and (2) the state proves by clear and convincing evidence that no release conditions will reasonably protect the safety of any other person or the community. (This question concerns Article 1, Section 17 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana.)”
Public question No. 2 (statewide): “Shall the Constitution of the State of Indiana be amended to permit the judge of a city or town court to reside in: (1) the county in which the court is located; or (2) the bordering county closest to the city or town in which the court is located? (This question concerns Article 6, Section 6 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana.)”
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