Candidate Q&A: Indiana House District 27, Sheila Klinker vs. Oscar Alvarez
Sheila Klinker, a Lafayette Democrat first elected to the Indiana House in 1982, faces Republican Oscar Alvarez for the Indiana House seat in District 27.
This is part of a series of Q&As with candidates in contested races in the Nov. 5 general election in Tippecanoe County.
Sheila Klinker, a Lafayette Democrat first elected to the Indiana House in 1982, faces Republican Oscar Alvarez for the Indiana House seat in District 27.
The district includes the eastern part of Tippecanoe County, including Lafayette.
Here, the candidates were offered an opportunity to answer questions about their approach to the two-year position. (Note: Alvarez had not responded before publication. His responses will be added when they arrive.)
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?
Sheila Klinker: The Greater Lafayette area is an exceptional place to live, work and raise a family. I have enjoyed serving our community and working in a bipartisan manner with other local leaders to help our constituents accomplish their goals.
Oscar Alvarez: Did not respond by publication date.
Name two of your top priorities for the position. And how will you handle them?
Sheila Klinker: My two top priorities for this upcoming legislative session would be additional funding for education at all levels including teacher salaries and fully-funded Pre-K and additional mental health funding.
Oscar Alvarez: Did not respond by publication date.
What, if any, changes do you support to Indiana’s law that includes a near-total ban on abortion?
Sheila Klinker: My constituents have voiced their concerns about this issue and 75% have disagreed with the bill that passed in the previous session.
Oscar Alvarez: Did not respond by publication date.
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?
Sheila Klinker: I am not in agreement with the Indiana Economic Development Corp. LEAP project at this time. I, along with my constituents, disagree with the LEAP project and are not in favor of building pipelines to transport local water to Boone County. I am in favor of the new SK hynix's AI memory chip manufacturing facility at the Purdue Research Park.
Oscar Alvarez: Did not respond by publication date.
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?
Sheila Klinker: We need to look very carefully at the increased property tax assessments and examine ways to replace revenues that are appropriated for necessary services.
Oscar Alvarez: Did not respond by publication date.
Do you support changes proposed in Indiana’s high school diplomas? Why or why not?
Sheila Klinker: At this time, we are studying the proposals and are on our third revision to find solutions that are acceptable to universities as well as businesses. We will continue to take input from teachers, parents and educational administrators.
Oscar Alvarez: Did not respond by publication date.
Heading into the 2025 budget-making session, what, if anything, would you propose to do with Indiana’s current budget surplus?
Sheila Klinker: If there is a surplus in the future, we need to fund educational initiatives including statewide pre-kindergarten, additional mental health funding and affordable housing.
Oscar Alvarez: Did not respond by publication date.
Name two specific things that separate you from your opponent and why those matter.
Sheila Klinker: I feel experience counts when working with state budgets. As a former vice-chair of the Ways and Means Budget Committee, I gained great insights on what is needed in several areas in our state. I also have a great working relationship with legislators from both sides of the aisle. It takes a great deal of knowledge of government, cooperation and collaboration to accomplish goals and pass laws that benefit the state of Indiana and its people.
Oscar Alvarez: Did not respond by publication date.
CANDIDATE BIOS
Sheila Klinker
Party: Democratic
Age: 85
Occupation: Retired school teacher and State Representative, District 27
Education background: BS Elementary Education, MS Elementary Education, EDS Curriculum and Instruction
Past elected positions, if any: State Representative for over 40 years
Community boards or other community leadership and service: Hanna Community Center, Art Foundation of Greater Lafayette, Lafayette Citizens Band, Homestead Resources, Right Steps Child Development, Wolf Park, Harrison Kiwanis Club, Saint Mary Cathedral Choir
Immediate family: Victor Klinker, Kerri Klinker Colvin, Kevin Klinker and Kelly Klinker Jacobs
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?
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Thank you David. However, I do not need to read about her, because I, at 79 years old, have known Sheila since I was 14 years old. She is an icon! She is honest! She is the symbol of what a public servant is supposed to be! And Sheila is literally EVERYWHERE and attends EVERYTHING. ALL who KNOW her can count on her to take care of our future. To say we adore her is an understatement!