Republican Incumbent Wendy McNamara and Democratic challenger Logan Patberg are active on the campaign trail, attending a meet the candidates forum in Posey County on Sunday August 30th.
Patberg opined on Data Center tax subsidies. “Data center sales tax extensions should be repealed, because 50 years of a corporate handout is way too long,” he said
McNamara discussed her anti-child predator legislation. “Our responsibility is to protect the most vulnerable among us, and I will continue to make that a priority.”
Indiana’s 76th House District covers all of Posey County and parts of Vanderburgh county, including Evansville’s west side.
There are about 65,000 constituents. It includes the cities of Poseyville, New Harmony and Mt. Vernon.
There hasn’t been a Democrat since 2008, and Patberg would of course like to change that. He’s running to give a voice to those he said, are without.
“I want to be able to take people like my students and my family and my friends and speak power to their truth, and that and that could be things as simple as helping them afford groceries and energy costs.”
McNamara has been in office for 16 years, calling herself a “strong steady voice” for the community.
“The service part is really what I do enjoy," she said. "The issues and concerns that are brought to me, the focus on real issues that affect real people, and being able to have positive outcomes for those folks in the end.”
If re-elected, her first policy priorities would be to continue work focusing on public safety — including bolstering the juvenile justice system, and focus on causes for bad outcomes for youth.
“Making sure that when a child or juvenile is brought in, to have the conversation at first intake — are they being asked the questions to determine whether this kid needs to go into the juvenile justice system or some sort of deterrent or direction somewhere else?”
She’ll focus on education and reducing government costs.
Patberg said workers are the first thing on his mind, and affordability.
“How are they able to afford energy for our families who have children, how are they able to afford childcare? And I don't think those questions have been answered in the way I'd like them to be answered the past few sessions.”
His first policies would focus on utilities — slowing how quickly rates can increase, and explore how competition can be injected into the market.
He would propose eliminating the seven-percent sales tax. McNamara said that she has addressed affordability.
“This legislative session, we passed House Bill 1002. (It) will give further relief to lower income people,” she said. “It will set defined limits for how they will be able to receive money. It will also make the regulatory agency responsible for advertising and saying what's on their bills.”
She acknowledges the challenges with keeping the grid reliable, and rates affordable.
Like all local Indiana Republicans up for re-election, she voted in December to redistrict the state to favor Republicans. She said she would again.
“I made the decision looking at, ‘what does the federal government potentially give to our communities that might be at risk potentially if I chose to go against on this vote.’ Posey County receives about $25 to $30 million in federal grants and aid per year. Vanderburgh County receives about $250 to $300 million. I wasn't willing to make that risk of not supporting that.”
She also said working with Democrats is part of the job to get legislation accomplished, while following Republican principles.
“Republican philosophy is limited government, limited regulatory environment, making sure you're fiscally conservative, and spending your money in wise locations.”
Patberg calls himself a “small-d” Democrat.
“How do we give the most amount of people the seat at the table — at the state house in Indianapolis. How do we give a voice to educators? How do we give a voice to union leaders and members? Like, how do we give a voice to regular folks? And so that's kind of what I thought to myself,” he said. “I want to do what's best for the most amount of people, and I believe my party will give us all the agency to do that.”
This election McNamara and Patberg will appear on ballots in Posey County and parts of Vanderburgh County.
Interview transcript: Candidate Logan Patberg
Interview transcript is AI generated with light editing
Timothy Jagielo
Free to tell us a little bit about yourself.
Logan Patberg
Well, first and foremost, I'm a lifelong Hoosier, a parent, a father, and an educator, and in that order. … I want to do what's best for the state of Indiana, and by running for this position, I want to be able to, go along that list of, 'If it's good for Indiana, is it also good for my family? Are these decisions and policies good for my neighbors? Are these decisions and policies good for my students?' And so, and sometimes I feel like that hasn't been the case. So that is, that's why I'm here.
TJ
Well, the next question was just going to be, 'why are you running?'
LP
Oh, yeah, to give a voice to people don't have that voice, for sure. I want to be able to take people like my students and my family and my friends and speak power to their truth, and that and that could be things as simple as helping them afford groceries and energy costs.
TJ
You talked about your background a little bit. What about your background makes you a good candidate for the seat?
LP
Well, I am an educator and I do serve on the board of the Evansville Teachers Association. … I'm a union man. So, workers are on the forefront of my mind. In my first career, before I was an educator, I was in automotive industry, whether that was actually working on the vehicles or selling parts. And so, that customer service experience with actually getting my hands dirty, mixed with the problem solving skills you know I've attained as a teacher. You would just combine all those things to do what's best for the most amount of people.
TJ
It is a partisan position. You're running as a Democrat. How might that affect or change the way you vote or legislate if you were to get the seat?
LP
When I think about the Democratic Party, I don't think about 'big D' Democrats, but 'small D democracy.' So when I feel as if I'm making a choice for people in my district or in my community, I'm making that choice for in a democratic way. How do we give the most amount of people the seat at the table? You know, at the state house in Indianapolis. Like, how do we give a voice to educators? How do we give a voice to union leaders and members? Like, how do we give a voice to regular folks? And so that's kind of what I thought to myself. You know, as a partisan position, you know, people say that people follow their party, people do this or that. I want to do what's best for the most amount of people, and I believe my party will give us all the agency to do that.
TJ
Do you have any examples of how you might vote differently or legislate differently from the incumbent whose seat you're going after?
LP
I think the first, forefront of my mind is workers and their rights, and how can regular, normal working folks not only find good paying jobs with great benefits, but how are they able to afford energy for our families who have children, how are they able to afford childcare? And I don't think those questions have been answered in the way I'd like them to be answered the past few sessions.
And so I wanted to speak to that, and I wanted to get to talking to as many people as I can. Truth be told, even so, I've been sort of knocking for about three or four months before I even signed my name to a piece of paper, I talked to hundreds of folks at their doors and I asked them specifically, you know, what were their concerns about the state and the legislature and cost affordability, specifically energy was brought up many many times. So I don't feel like there's a couple bills right now that are finally, you know, speaking to people's concerns of, you know, can I afford my energy bill or what are the next steps in our state? But we could go even further to do best for people.
Logan Patberg follow-up question via email
Q: What would your first policy priority be?
A: My first policy priority would be utility affordability. It is easily the most pervasive issue in Southern Indiana.
People in Southwest Indiana are opening utility bills that are becoming harder and harder to fit into a family budget. So I want to start with something that provides immediate relief, and then address the system that keeps producing these increases.
First, I would propose eliminating the 7-percent sales tax on residential utility bills. That was proposed as Amendment to House Bill 1002 this year, and I think we should bring it back. If the legislature is serious about affordability, that's something we can do immediately that people would actually see on their bills.
Second, I want stronger limits on how quickly investor-owned utilities can raise rates. Indiana has already begun moving toward multi-year rate plans. I would build on that by creating a real affordability cap over a multi-year cycle, with narrowly defined exceptions for legitimate safety, reliability, or emergency expenses. Utilities should be able to maintain the grid and earn a reasonable return, but customers also deserve some predictability. A family shouldn't have to wonder every six months what new charge is going to show up on their bill.
Third, if the monopoly utility model still cannot provide affordable electricity, then I think Indiana needs to seriously consider retail energy competition. Other states allow customers to choose who supplies their electricity while the local utility continues maintaining the poles, wires, and delivery system. I would want strong consumer protections built into that, but competition should absolutely be on the table.
If we give private companies a protected market and millions of captive customers, affordability has to be part of the bargain. Hoosiers shouldn't just be expected to absorb increase after increase while corporations profit off our backs because we have nowhere else to go.
Interview transcript: Rep. Wendy McNamara
Interview transcript is AI generated with light editing
Timothy Jagielo
First of all, just tell me a little bit about yourself.
Wendy McNamara
Sure, I am a 31 year career with the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation. I've been a teacher and administrator. I had the opportunity in 2009 and 10 to create Early college high school, which I currently run, you never get that opportunity in education, and it was amazing. My students can earn an associate's degree while they're still in high school, and it's thriving.
As on my legislative side, I am the chair of courts and criminal code, and with that, I control legislation dealing with criminal law and all the structure regarding it. I sit on roads and transportation, which is really important for our area because of I 69 and completing it and making sure we get that bridge across.
And then, really, just personally, I have two dogs. Enjoy taking them on walks nearly every day, and occasional hiking. Of course, I like to attend events in my community and get out there and and meet people and have conversations.
TJ
Thank you so much for that. Why are you running again? And how many terms have you had?
WM
Eight terms; 16 years. I've been a strong, steady voice for the community, and it's been the pleasure of my life to be able to represent this area, and to be honest, it's not about ambition and getting to that next elected level. It's about responsibility and making sure that I take care of my community. I advocate for them, and the service part is really what I do enjoy. The issues and concerns that are brought to me, the focus on real issues that affect real people, and being able to have positive outcomes for those folks in the end.
TJ
Based on your experience and your background, you may have already kind of touched on this, but why do you feel that you are a strong candidate to be reelected?
WM
I'm an educator, policy communicator. I'm able to have conversations about policy that affects our local community as well as our state. I can communicate a broad understanding of what laws that are written, how things process through the committees, and ultimately how the experience is for the people in our community, and and how that goes.
I'm a very effective legislator. People would call me one that can work across the aisle to be able to bring change to our community, and if you look at a few years ago, some buddy did a study on the most effectiveness. I'm a very high percentage of my bills that I introduce actually make it to the finish line. I'm trustworthy and am the strongest person for this position.
TJ
You mentioned legislation a couple times. Of what legislation? Of what works you've done so far? Are you are you most proud?
WM
So I've carried legislation most of my career on trying to eradicate human trafficking, dealing with children in the worst conditions, trying to target predators, dealing with law enforcement issues, trying to support our law enforcement.
But probably the one I'm most proud of is my juvenile justice reform. Began that in 2020. It was really a four-year process. It transformed the entire juvenile justice process. Made sure that we're making recommendations based on data, making sure that when a child or juvenile is brought in. To have the conversation at first intake, are they being asked the questions to determine whether this kid needs to go into the juvenile justice system or some sort of deterrent or direction somewhere else?
So it's really making sure that data matches where the money's going, making sure the outcomes that are going. That one wasn't just a one-off. It's it's a long process. Had stakeholders from across the state, and it will transform lives of the juveniles in the state of Indiana who who follow the processes. To be honest, it's still ongoing. You have to, as a local community, buy in, work together, make sure you're doing all those things to help the reform part happen. So that's what I'm most proud of is just being able to make sure that, regardless of what happens, a juvenile is going by the same set of standards no matter where you live in the state of Indiana.
TJ
Is is there anything looking back over your 16 years that you might change, or you think you could have done better?
WM
That's a tough one. You. Each each session's a little bit different with its own set of challenges. Going in, you know, my very first year, you don't know a whole lot, and that year I became the expert in juvenile law, just by virtue of being in education. There wasn't anybody else stepping up to really take on those issues, so that's really how I wound up in that realm-is taking advantage of that from day one.
I've been very fortunate to be able to have the the voice and the fortitude to get through the difficult times because not every day is easy. But ultimately, in the end, if I can get the policies through that help Hoosiers, that's the that's the worth everything that I've gone through.
TJ
So this is, of course, a partisan position. How does being a Republican affect the way you legislate?
WM
Sure, you know Republican philosophy is limited government, limited regulatory environment, making sure you're fiscally conservative, and spending your money in wise locations. But you know, truly, being in the legislature isn't about your party stance. It's about making sure that if you're passing a law, it has to be constitutionally reliable. You cannot just put something into law because you you want to, and that is not a party particular. You need to be able to collaborate across the aisle. You need to be able to have these conversations because not every piece of legislation is going to be unanimous, and sometimes you need to rely on the people across the aisle to get something across.
Being in the partisan politics is very easy to see in the media, but for the most part, you really rely on somebody on the other side to have that conversation. But with that said, you have this dual role. You've been elected by the majority of your constituency to go there and represent that philosophy or those ideals. But a lot of times, it isn't those things that come into play. It's your background knowledge. It's your life experiences that make the outcomes what they are, and so you have to have that duality. You have to understand that you're there for a reason, but also understand that not everybody's always going to agree with you, and you always have to work to try to figure out where that balance becomes.
TJ
Of course you have a challenger in Logan Patberg. I asked him, 'what would you do differently from the incumbent?' And so I sent you that response, and I was going to bring this up to you. I'll just read it to you, and then if you'd like to have a chance to rebuttal, I want to give you a second to do that. So I asked Logan, 'What would you do differently?' And he says, 'I think the first thing in my mind is workers and how regular, normal working folks not only find good-paying jobs, great benefits, but how are they able to afford energy for our families who have children? How are they able to afford childcare? And I don't think these questions-I don't think those questions have been answered in the way I'd like them to be answered the past few sessions,' so that's what he said to me. Do you have a response to what he said?
WM
Sure. Energy is a tough conversation to have, because it's always been a problem for the last, well, I would say for the entirety of my legislative career, but you have the IURC, which sets the rates when the utility goes and and asks for the rate, the the basic is 'you shall,' right? And so this has been a long standing question, but it's not easy to answer in one little quick quick blurb.
You've got 150,000 people. With millions of dollars in decisions that have been made by the energy company. If you look over the years, you go back to when it was Vectren, now that it's CenterPoint, the upgrades that they've made to meet EPA standards, the solar systems that they've put out there; these all cost money, and so that cost is spread amongst very few.
This legislative session, we passed House Bill 1002. (Which) will give further relief to lower income people. It will set defined limits for how they will be able to receive money. It will also make the regulatory agency responsible for advertising and saying what's on their bills. So 10 102 is a big step forward in making sure that we continue to have reliable energy, but yes, yet make it affordable to the average person.
TJ
I wanted to ask folks who had voted for the redistricting effort. Now that the dust is settled, now that it's some time has passed, do you have any further thoughts on your vote? Because I believe you voted for redistricting.
WM
Yeah, I I've never shied away from difficult votes. This one was no different. I think that when you have an issue like this, that in my opinion, is pretty divisive, you're not going to have anyone and or everyone that's going to be satisfied with the outcome. So that left me to figure out how does this affect my community, and I looked at the positives and the negatives of the outcome of this.
And with that in mind, I made the decision looking at what does the federal government potentially give to our communities that might be at risk potentially if I chose to go against on this vote. Posey County receives about $25 to $30 million in federal grants and aid per year. Vanderburgh County receives about $250 to $300 million. I wasn't willing to make that risk of not supporting that. I mean, the federal government pays for public safety, pays for economic growth, I 69's bridge. So ultimately, in the end, my decision was to make sure that it was in the benefit of my local community and being responsible to make sure that going forward, if there were any risks involved, my community was going to be taken care of.
TJ
So you would still vote the same way today.
WM
I would.
TJ
It sounds like it's more of like 'I'm afraid of what would happen if I don't vote for it because of what the federal government will do to our area.'
WM
It was a an unknown, right? You you hear rumors, you are concerned, you don't know what's going to happen, so you're left to take the responsibility. You know, you you know that people are not going to be happy with the decision that you've made. But I would do it again, you know, with the knowledge that I had at the time. If I had that same knowledge, doing it again, I would make that same decision.
TJ
Is that what the constituents also were telling you?
WM
It was a mixed. You know, you have so many people calling in from out of state, out of district, having robocalls, for example, people calling, not knowing what exactly they're calling about. So it's really difficult to say that my district said A or B when there's so much fuzzy interference. I guess from outside actors in the community that really weren't my constituents.
Wendy McNamara follow-up questions via email
1. If re-elected, what would your first policy priorities be?
I will continue focusing on public safety, particularly strengthening our juvenile justice system and making sure we are addressing the issues that lead young people into the criminal justice system in the first place. I also will also continue working on mental health and behavioral health resources, corrections and community corrections, and policies that support law enforcement and first responders.
Education will remain a priority as well. Having spent three decades in education and nearly two serving in the legislature, I want to make sure we continue expanding opportunities for students, strengthening career and technical education, and making it easier for students to transition from high school into post-secondary education or the workforce.
I also will continue looking for practical ways to reduce government costs and make sure taxpayer dollars are being used effectively. There is always more we can do to improve government without simply creating another program or increasing spending.
2. (Because the first interview was in the Spring) I wanted to ask if you'd still vote for redistricting today.
Redistricting is never an easy process, and I understand that any change in district boundaries is going to affect communities and elected officials. But my responsibility is to look at the overall benefits and potential consequences to my district as a result of my vote. Ultimately, the decision to support the redistricting map is in the best interest for the people I represent. I believe the decision was the right one, and I would make the same decision today.
I would also note that Indiana was not alone in the redistricting debate. Several Republican- and Democrat-led states approved new congressional maps this year, outside of the normal redistricting cycle, and those states are all expected to see net gains in potential seats for their respective parties in November’s election.
3. Any new legislation to share since we've talked this spring?
Yes. I am working on legislation dealing with public safety, juvenile justice, corrections and community corrections, as well as issues affecting children and families. Specifically, I’ll also be working to streamline the various alert systems currently used throughout the state, including Amber Alerts, Blue Alerts and other similar systems. In addition, I’ll be working on issues surrounding Competency to Stand Trial.
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