With a month to go before the midterm elections, a Delaware County candidate forum Wednesday night was missing one big thing – Republicans.  As IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports, that led state House and Senate candidates to talk about the importance of redistricting reform in Indiana.

Of the seven General Assembly races represented, only one had a full slate on stage, because Democrat incumbent Sue Errington of Muncie is running unopposed.

Amie Neiling is running as a Democrat in a district that includes the rural portions of six different counties.  She says she has trouble getting voters to speak with her on the campaign trail.

“My county already knows what way it’s going, so people won’t even talk to me, because it’s not worth their time.  And they probably won’t go out and vote, because they don’t think it’s a good use of their time anyway.”

Most candidates supported what one called a “truly independent” redistricting commission, made up many different types of Hoosier voters – including Libertarians, Independents, and the Green Party.

Libertarian Robert Jozwiack is running for the seat currently held by Senate Minority Leader Tim Lanane (D-Anderson). (Photo: Stephanie Wiechmann)

One Libertarian, though, says such reform isn’t the real problem with voter apathy.  Robert Jozwiack is running for state Senate in District 25.

“What we need to do is get rid of straight party ticket voting.  We have so many people that just tribally get elected that have no reason, no business to be in elected office.”

The Democrats on stage also agreed on increasing the minimum wage and finding more funding for public schools and public health necessities like drug addiction treatment services. Libertarian Greg Noland says that money should come from legalizing, regulating, and taxing marijuana at the state level.

Delaware County’s League of Women Voters is holding two more candidate forums on the next two Wednesdays.  The first has candidates for county council and county commission.  The second is for other county offices, like clerk and sheriff.