Candidate Q&A: Indiana House District 26, Chris Campbell vs. Jim Schenke

State Rep. Chris Campbell, a West Lafayette Democrat, is looking for her fourth two-year terms in Indiana House District 26, challenged by West Lafayette Republican Jim Schenke

This is part of a series of Q&As with candidates in contested races in the Nov. 5 general election in Tippecanoe County.

Chris Campbell and Jim Schenke (Photos provided)

State Rep. Chris Campbell, a West Lafayette Democrat, is looking for her fourth two-year terms in Indiana House District 26, challenged by West Lafayette Republican Jim Schenke in the November general election.

House District 26 covers West Lafayette and a section west of the city to the Tippecanoe County line.

Here, Campbell and Schenke answer questions about their approach to the two-year position in the General Assembly.

• For more: Find bios of each candidate, along with information about where and when to vote at the end of this article.

Why do you want this job? Why are you running now for this position?

Chris Campbell: I am running to serve the people of District 26. As a long-time volunteer in the community, I am passionate about making sure the values and issues that are important in District 26 are recognized and fought for at the state level.

Jim Schenke: I’m a teacher and ferociously protective father of three teens. Unlike my opponent, I trained diligently and specifically for this job. But, within a year of graduation I abandoned politics because it’s a nasty business and I wouldn’t spend my entire life fibbing for a living. I came to West Lafayette to be a journalist. I stayed to be a husband and father because there’s no place I’d traveled that was safer, with great education and culture, while still affordable. All that is now threatened. I’m standing for office to defend our community, while providing common sense leadership.

Name two of your top priorities for the position. And how will you handle them?

Chris Campbell: Education is important to me and our community. From high school diploma changes to threats to higher education, I work hard to ensure the people of District 26 are heard by the state board of education and the General Assembly. Meetings with local constituents and school leaders help me advance their ideas and affect decisions being made. I will always fight for funding for our local public schools. Another top priority is the fight for water rights in Indiana. Decisions must fairly represent all citizens, not just industrial water users. Plans must balance current water use with future availability. Local control cannot submit to regional commerce. We must protect the future of water for our area and the entire state. A legal balance between water rights and economic development can and should be established.

Jim Schenke: West Lafayette needs to be affordable and safe. Campbell supports policies that make it expensive and dangerous. Over 1,000 Hoosiers died from fentanyl last year. Most were young and didn't know they were consuming it. But when the Statehouse overwhelmingly voted to penalize trafficking the poison on par with heroin, Chris opposed it (House Bill 1186, 2019). I’m for reducing property and income taxes and reducing housing costs by sensibly increasing supply. Campbell serves on the committee that writes the state budget. The state FSSA had a billion dollar shortfall because of “accounting error.” She thinks it could be balanced by reducing education budget.

What, if any, changes do you support to Indiana’s law that includes a near-total ban on abortion?

Chris Campbell: I support the repeal of this legislation. Reproductive rights are human rights. The protection of a woman’s right to determine her personal health care must equal the protection anyone has when obtaining any other health care. Reproductive decisions should remain between a woman, her doctor and others she deems necessary. Expanding access to contraceptives and providing age-appropriate, medically accurate, comprehensive sex education in schools is crucial. I will continue to fight for this as well as for women's right to choose.

Jim Schenke: Throughout six failed years, Chris Campbell enthusiastically advocated for almost completely unhindered abortion. Indiana’s post-Roe abortion law highlights that Campbell is completely ineffective in representing our district, even on one of the few topics that motivates her. We may or may not need to change the law. We definitely need to change our lawmaker. Pew Research shows most Hoosiers want abortion banned or illegal in most cases. Indiana allows abortion to protect the life or health of the mom, for rape/incest, babies without a heartbeat. That’s not a ban. That’s reducing abortion as birth control after consensual conception.

Give your assessment of how the Indiana Economic Development Corp. has handled its role, including with development of the LEAP district in Boone County? What, if any, changes do you support in the powers given to the IEDC?

Chris Campbell: The lack of transparency, funding and control of Indiana tax dollars must come under scrutiny as we examine the role of the IEDC. Not enough consideration is given to how the state invests tax dollars versus how the state benefits as a whole. The assumption that the IEDC should just move water from Tippecanoe County to Boone County to prop up economic development and increase population does not properly account for current and future water demand in either location. The IEDC's focus has been on localized businesses and available workforce. They must start prioritizing statewide, long-term planning for Indiana citizens. We need comprehensive water planning.

Jim Schenke: The IEDC was founded to lure business into the state. When seducing a manufacturer from another state or nation, all is fair (if it’s legal). OK. But, no state-funded entity should be picking winners and losers within the state, pitting county against county, engaging in water piracy under a veil of secrecy. The IEDC is supposed to be overseen by the governor and the General Assembly. But it is increasingly self-funded and secretive. Autocratic. Arrogant. Abusive. It needs transparency and accountability. When it comes to multibillion dollar projects like LEAP, too many politicians are bought, bullied or bamboozled. I won’t be.

What, if any, fixes or changes would you propose for Indiana’s property tax system? And how would you balance any cuts in what’s paid by property owners and revenues collected by local governments?

Chris Campbell: Instead of little fixes here and there, we need integrated property tax reform. Homeowners and renters are taking on more and more of the burden of funding essential services. Residents in low-income areas have been hit especially hard. Holistic planning would coordinate property tax changes with other taxes like corporate, income and sales tax. The goal here is to minimize the sudden spikes of year-on-year tax hits. Integrated planning would protect families while ensuring underfunded areas of the state continue to have police and fire protection. We also need to consider special rates for low-income seniors.

Jim Schenke: Local homeowners are reporting property tax increases of up to 28 percent in the last two years. That’s outrageous and unacceptable. An increase in the estimated “market value” of a home doesn’t put money in the pocket of the homeowner. It doesn't increase mortgage payments to the bank. Only government is enriched. Property taxes should not increase faster than the overall inflation rate (which has been obscene enough the past three years). Since government spending should not increase more than the rate of inflation, allowing taxes to increase at a rate similar to inflation should cover government costs.

Do you support changes proposed in Indiana’s high school diplomas? Why or why not?

Chris Campbell: Proposed diploma changes have positives and negatives. With a shifting labor landscape, some students may choose a certificate option that prepares them to enter the workforce directly. However, I believe the proposed options are confusing, placing a lot of demand on parents and counselors to make sure students are on the right path. The base diploma fails to meet requirements for college bound students or those that change direction later in high school or after graduation. All but one option requires a minimum of 100 hours work-based learning experience. But safety, transportation and educational quality have not been addressed or assured funding.

Jim Schenke: There is no good reason to remove the honors diploma. It hurts students, especially  in West Lafayette, where so many students compete against the best  in the world to get into the best colleges in the nation. The basic diploma will be so gutted of curriculum that students can  graduate having taken only Algebra 1. Then they are ineligible for colleges like Purdue, IU or Ball State. Not everyone needs to go to college, but don’t deny them the choice. It’s better that a mechanic knows French than a would-be mechanical engineer gets rejected because he didn't complete trigonometry.

Heading into the 2025 budget-making session, what, if anything, would you propose to do with Indiana’s current budget surplus?

Chris Campbell: Unfortunately, we will be forced to reserve much of the surplus as an offset for fiscal problems. Current examples of this include a $1 billion Medicaid miscalculation and the irresponsible allocation of $1 billion to expand private school vouchers. Many aged and disabled Hoosiers are on a year-long waiting list to get health care. The surplus should now go toward shortening that wait. Also, the voucher program was recently expanded to provide tuition for students from high-income families to attend private and parochial schools. The surplus is now forced to cover that too.

Jim Schenke: The “surplus” has quickly plunged from more than $6 billion to less than $3 billion. As we descend from the “sugar high” of trillions of dollars in federal stimulus money (hot-off-the-presses funny money that has devalued the dollar and driven inflation), the surplus may shrink more as people purchase less and the state collects less sales tax. Now is neither the time to spend the surplus or give it back to the voters. The consensus has been that Indiana is most secure when the reserve is at least $2 billion … the range into which we seem to be settling.

Name two specific things that separate you from your opponent and why those matter.

Chris Campbell: I believe in a women’s right to make their own reproductive decisions. I will fight for her access to birth control, abortion, childcare, paid family medical leave, along with support and protection for health care needs. The state priority to divert funding away from public schools has hurt and will continue to hurt public schools throughout the state, especially in rural areas. I will continue to fight to protect funding for traditional public schools.

Jim Schenke: 1. Campbell’s bitterly partisan and focused only on issues she cares about, whereas I work with everyone to solve the problems that affect everyone: the state stealing our water and gutting our education; high taxes and overpriced housing; sensibly expanding the economy. When state Sen. Spencer Deery wrote a bill to cap how much of our water could be stolen, Campbell didn’t sign on because it was a “Republican” bill. If Sheila Klinker (who recruited me to run) wrote a bill to protect our water, I’d hop across the aisle, sign it and ask, “What can I do to get our bill passed?” 2. Campbell the fulltime audiologist is unequipped for the job and doesn’t have enough time or training to do it right. I’ve studied and worked in politics, government, military, education, civil engineering, public affairs, law, investigative journalism. I’ve been preparing for my entire life to serve my community in this specific way.  When the LEAP plan was leaked, Campbell told us she didn’t know about a 9,000-acre industrial park, a $9 billion Lilly factory, or a 45-mile pipeline to suck us dry. Like too many legislators, she is bought, bullied and/or bamboozled. I will be none of those.

CANDIDATE BIOS

Chris Campbell

Party: Democratic

Age: 60

Occupation: Audiologist

Education background: BS, Purdue University, MS, Purdue University

Past elected positions, if any: State Representative, District 26, November 2018 to present

Community boards or other community leadership and service: Current board membership:  Red Cross of Central Indiana, Adult Learners, Inc., Daybreak Rotary Club, Tippecanoe Drug Coalition member, Tippecanoe Resilience & Recovery participant, Lafayette Transitional Housing Center Governance Committee. Prior volunteer service: West Lafayette Redevelopment Commission, West Lafayette Library Board member

Immediate family: Rob, husband; two children

Your campaign site online: votecampbell.org

Jim Schenke

Party: Republican

Age: 57

Occupation: Former media relations director and journalism teacher, Purdue; former reporter for WLFI, WASK/WKOA; Sherwood Property, managing agent

Education background: University of Maryland, bachelor’s, government and journalism

Elected positions: Precinct Committeeman, Wabash 11; State Delegate, 2024, 2014; Wake Robin Estates, HOA board member

Community boards or other community leadership and service: Stop The Water Steal, member; Wabash River Conservancy, member; DeTrash the Wabash, volunteer; Stop The Annexation, chair

Immediate family: wife, three teen children

Your campaign site online: voteschenke.com/

---

ABOUT THE NOV. 5 GENERAL ELECTION

Early voting ahead of the Nov. 5 primary election started Oct. 8 with contested races on Tippecanoe County ballots for president, governor, U.S. Senate and Houses, Indiana attorney general, several Indiana General Assembly seats, Tippecanoe County commissioner and Tippecanoe County Council at-large seats, several county elected seats, and Lafayette, West Lafayette and Tippecanoe school corporation school boards. A few things to know:

VOTER REGISRATION/YOUR BALLOT: To check your voter registration and to see candidates and public questions that will be on your specific ballot, go to the Secretary of State’s portal at www.indianavoters.com.

WHERE TO VOTE: In Tippecanoe County, registered voters may cast their ballot at any vote center.

EARLY VOTING

• Oct. 8-Oct. 11, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Tippecanoe County Office Building, 20 N. Third St., Lafayette

• Oct. 15-Oct. 18, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Tippecanoe County Office Building, 20 N. Third St., Lafayette

• Oct. 19, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., McAllister Center, 2351 N. 20th St., Lafayette

• Oct. 21-Oct. 25, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Tippecanoe County Office Building, 20 N. Third St., Lafayette

• Oct. 22, noon-5 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1700 Mitch Daniels Boulevard, West Lafayette

• Oct. 24, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Purdue Co-Rec, 355 N. Martin Jischke Drive, West Lafayette.

• Oct. 26, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., West Point Fire Station, 4949 Indiana 25 S., West Point; Otterbein United Methodist Church, 405 Oxford St., Otterbein; Clarks Hill Christian Church, 9510 Pearl St., Clarks Hill; 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Tippecanoe County Office Building, 20 N. Third St., Lafayette;

• Oct. 28-Nov. 1, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Tippecanoe County Office Building, 20 N. Third St., Lafayette

• Oct. 29-Nov. 1, noon-6 p.m., Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, 1406 Teal Road, Lafayette; Eastside Assembly of God, 6121 E. County Road 50 South, Lafayette; John Dennis Wellness Center, 1101 Kalberer Road, West Lafayette.

• Nov. 2, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, 1406 Teal Road, Lafayette; Eastside Assembly of God, 6121 E. County Road 50 South, Lafayette; John Dennis Wellness Center, 1101 Kalberer Road, West Lafayette.

• Nov. 2, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Tippecanoe County Office Building, 20 N. Third St., Lafayette

• Nov. 4, 8 a.m.-noon, Tippecanoe County Office Building, 20 N. Third St., Lafayette

ELECTION DAY VOTE CENTERS: Voting on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 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.

• Evangelical 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.

• Margerum City Hall/West Lafayette City Hall, 222 N. Chauncey Ave.

• Connection Point Church, 2541 Cumberland Ave.

• John Dennis Wellness Center, 1101 Kalberer Road

Others

• Dayton Gathering Point Church, 7201 Wesleyan Drive, Dayton

• Shadeland Town Hall, 2485 Indiana 25 West, Shadeland

• Battle Ground Fire Station, 112 North St., Battle Ground

• Tippecanoe Township Volunteer Fire Station No. 2, 448 W. County Road 650 North, West Lafayette

ON THE BALLOT

Here are candidates and questions on Tippecanoe County ballots for the Nov. 5 general election. (Incumbents are marked with an asterisk*.) To see your specific ballot, go to the Secretary of State’s portal at www.indianavoters.com.

Tippecanoe County

• Commissioner, District 2: David Byers*, R; Steve Mayoras, Libertarian

• Commissioner, District 3: Tom Murtaugh*, R; Jaime Ortiz, Libertarian

• County Council, at-large (choose 3): Republicans: John Basham*, Barry Richard* and Kevin Underwood*. Democrats: Katy Bunder, Ben Carson and Amanda Eldridge. Libertarians: Dean Bertelli, Holly Mayoras and Randy Young

• Coroner: Carrie Costello*, R; Benjamin Milanowski, Libertarian

• Treasurer: Yadira Salazar*, R

• Surveyor: Zach Beasley*, R

• Judge, Circuit Court: Sean Persin*, R

• Judge, Superior Court 6: Michael Morrissey*, R

Statehouse races

• House District 13: Matthew Commons, R; Ed Moyer Jr., D

• House District 26: Chris Campbell*, D; Jim Schenke, R

• House District 27: Sheila Klinker*, D; Oscar Alvarez, R

• House District 38: Heath VanNatter*, R; Carl Seese, D

• House District 41: Mark Genda*, R; Dan Sikes, D

Statewide

• Governor:  Mike Braun, R; Jennifer McCormick, D; Donald Rainwater, Libertarian

• Attorney General: Todd Rokita, R; Destiny Wells, D

Federal

• President: Kamala Harris, D; Donald Trump, R; Chase Oliver, Libertarian; Robert F. Kennedy Jr., We the People

• U.S. House, District 4: Jim Baird*, R; Ashley Groff, Libertarian; Derrick Holder, D;

• U.S. Senate: Jim Banks, R; Valerie McCray, D; Andrew Horning, Libertarian

Townships

• Shadeland Township Board: Michael Kuipers, Pamela Luenz, Robert Morrison Jr. and Josh Shives, R.

• Shadeland Clerk-Treasurer: Charlene Brown, R

School boards

Lafayette School Corp., at-large (choose 3): Ebony Barrett*, Josiah Eller, Margaret Hass, James Hass, Ronald “Rocky” Hession, Gary Mueller and Julie Peretin*.

Tippecanoe School Corp.

• District 4: Jake Burton*

• District 5: Julia Cummings*

• District 6: Connie Harper

• District 7: Brad Anderson*

West Lafayette Community School Corp., at-large (choose 4): Amy Austin*, Maria Koliantz, George Lyle, David Purpura, Beau Scott and Yue Yin*.

Public questions

• Shall the Constitution of the State of Indiana be amended to remove the state superintendent of public instruction from the list of officeholders who shall discharge the powers and duties of the governor if the office of the governor and lieutenant governor are both vacant?

• Shall Indiana Supreme Court Justice Mark S. Massa be retained in office?

• Shall Indiana Supreme Court Justice Derek Read Molter be retained in office?

• Shall Indiana Supreme Court Justice Loretta Rush be retained in office?

• Shall Indiana Appeals Court Judge Rudolph Reginald Pyle III be retained in office?

Thank you for supporting Based in Lafayette, an independent, local reporting project. Free and full-ride subscription options are ready for you here.

Tips, story ideas? I’m at davebangert1@gmail.com.