Meet the Candidates: Klinker vs. Hass District 27 race

Incumbent Sheila Klinker who represents the 27th district at the Indiana State House is running for her 20th term, but she has a challenger for her seat, James Hass.

27th district at the indiana state house is running for her 20th term..

But she has a challenger for her seat..

James hass.

I talked with both candidates to learn what issues are most important to them and what they plan to advocate for if elected.

Sheila klinker and james hass have both been part of the greater lafayette community for years..

And both would like to see education be a priority during the next legislative session.

"we have shortage of teachers and we have s shortage of subs.

If we were able to pay a little bit more and give them some incentives to start or maybe help them through their college education.

"- klinker "i would like to see education funding stably grow over the years and that we not have episodes of great optimism where we raise it quickly and then tragedy where we have to cut it."-hass klinker feels covid-19 needs to be a priority for legislators in the upcoming session.

"i think we have to deal with covid-19 the pandemic and the job losses that have been created the health care situation..

I think that's number one in alto of peoples minds."-klinker.

While hass agrees health care needs be a focus he thinks other issues need to be in the forefront as well.

"improving health care and educational are the big priorities.

Improving criminal justice and making sure that the laws are not more stringent then social practice."- hass and when it comes to social issues both candidates say the topic of medical marijuana needs to be discussed.

"i think it's a situation where people are going to other states surrounding indiana and they are getting anyway.

And we are missing the dollars and cents that are going to other states."- klinker.

"medical marijuana is something we need to look at not saying we are going to but most polls show there is a lot of public approval."-hass klinker says..

She will continue to fight for the people of the greater lafayette community.

"if you can't achieve this year you go back and you try it again and running every two years is a challenge i agree with that.

But i love people i love this community they know that i care about them."-klinker while hass says he will be able to get more done..

Because of the super majority republicans hold both in the house and the senate.

"you have to be able to talk to the people that are making the decsions the people who have the power the people who have the influence and right now that isn't the democratic party."- hass the 27th district represents lafayette and a portion of west lafayette.

Klinker has represented the district since 1982.

The benton community school board