State House races down to the wire; Daniels' aspirations hang in the balance
BYLINE: Niki Kelly, The Journal Gazette
Democrats clung to hope late Tuesday that they would wrest back control of the Indiana House after a two-year absence, but dozens of races around the state were too close to call.
"Some of the early returns look like some of our candidates are going to have a tough night," Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma said. "We knew this was going to be an uphill battle."
Incumbent Republicans in two northeast Indiana districts along the Indiana Toll Road had declared victory, though, as well as a Democrat in a district representing the south side of Fort Wayne.
Bosma said his caucus put together a great campaign, with better finances than ever before, more people in the field, better candidates and a better message.
"But we knew it was going to be tough," he said.
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Pat Bauer, D-South Bend, was happily monitoring several tight races along the Indiana Toll Road and in other pockets upset over daylight-saving time or the general GOP program.
"I don't have the numbers, and I don't have any certitude, and I will tell you (the Republicans) were able to put in millions and millions of money in very ugly TV at the end," he said. "But I really don't think it's going to work this time."
The party that wins at least 51 seats controls the agenda of the chamber and could either stymie or support Gov. Mitch Daniels' platform.
The House chamber has been historically volatile, having switched five times in the past 10 elections including two that resulted in ties.
Democrats went into Tuesday's election full of steam and bluster confident of their ability to sway the necessary three seats and gain control on a platform of bringing checks and balances back to a state government controlled solely by the GOP.
Daniels a Republican has two years left in his term, and the Senate is solidly Republican.
But GOP House members were equally confident that the difficult decisions they made in the past two years including moving to daylight-saving time and leasing the Indiana Toll Road for 75 years have moved Indiana forward economically.
They also used typical wedge issues such as prayer and gay marriage, promising to fight a ban on sectarian prayer in the House chambers and move forward a constitutional marriage defining marriage as between one man and one woman.
Although 100 seats were at stake, the battle came down to a dozen or fewer competitive districts around the state the most anyone remembers in recent history. And the parties poured in millions.
"This party your party has left everything on the floor for its candidates," said Murray Clark, chairman of the Indiana Republican Party.
Daniels said the elephant in the room during the campaign has been the political gerrymandering of the districts, saying it is not at all unlikely for Republicans to get a majority of the votes but not a majority of the seats.
Democrats drew the current seats after the last census in 2000.
But the governor promised to push ahead for progress even if Republicans lose, noting he has major proposals ready to unveil on strengthening the economy and affordable health care for Hoosiers.
"I have several more up my sleeve. I've been waiting out of respect for the candidates and no matter what happens tonight or even tomorrow we've got big business to do in this state, and I'll work with whoever's there," he said.
Bauer laughed at the idea that gerrymandering would decide the election.
"What's he complaining about?" Bauer asked. "Here's a man that did everything the people didn't want, so they pay the price. We said, 'Listen to the people.' And the House Republicans rubber-stamped his unpopular ideas."
Here is how area contested legislative races were shaping up Tuesday night:
House Districts 51 and 52 Howe Republican Rep. Marlin Stutzman beat Democrat Dennis Rorick by 1,200 votes in House District 52, which covers parts of LaGrange, Noble and DeKalb counties, while Rep. Dick Dodge, R-Pleasant Lake, had a similar lead of 55 percent to 45 percent against Democrat Joe Rauen in House District 51, which includes Steuben County and part of DeKalb.
"I'm very relieved," Stutzman said. "I think what it tells me is people still want to see Indiana moving forward in this district."
The 30-year-old small business owner and farmer won his third term in the Indiana House. In the most recent session, he rose to chair a key committee Public Policy, which handles thorny subjects such as abortion and gambling.
Rorick, 58, of Wolcottville, is a former pharmacist and current practicing attorney who used to run the LaGrange County Democratic Party. He also previously ran for prosecutor but lost.
Dodge, 76, is a retired small-business owner who got a break when Democrats decided not to target his race. He was originally appointed to the House and is seeking his second term.
"It's always a lot better to win than it is to lose," he said. "I knew we were going to have a tough time of it, but it looks like we've gotten through."
He faced Rauen, 52, of Angola a toll booth operator on the Indiana Toll Road who has never run for office before and focused his campaign only on the Major Moves lease.
Stutzman said "that's the way it is" if Republicans lose the House, noting "we knew it was a possibility" and "we have to work toward 2008."
House District 80 Phil GiaQuinta, 42, had wrapped up a victory with 66 percent of the vote and 37 of 44 precincts reporting in the south-side Fort Wayne district.
He carries on his father's legacy in the Indiana House with the win. Republican opponent Kevin Howell had 30 percent of the vote, and Libertarian Robert Enders received 4 percent.
GiaQuinta service manager for City Utilities has been around politics all of his life, including serving on the Wayne Township Advisory Board.
Howell, 51, failed for the third time in a row to win the seat. He is a teacher's aide in Whitley County and a former Marine.
Enders, 27, is a security office who ran for public office for the first time.
Senate District 15 Incumbent Sen. Tom Wyss, R-Fort Wayne, had opened up a comfortable lead against Republican opponent Mike Bynum in early returns.
With 76 of 99 precincts reporting late Tuesday, Wyss led 55 percent to 45 percent.
Wyss, 64, has served in the Indiana Senate since 1985 and before that spent eight years on the Allen County Council.
His somewhat abrasive personality has rubbed some fellow lawmakers the wrong way in the legislature, but he continues advocate various public safety and transportation issues.
Bynum, 53, is a journeyman machine repairman at Dana Corp. who ran for public office for the first time.
House District 22 North Manchester Republican Rep. Bill Ruppel was on his way Tuesday night to earning his eighth term in the Indiana House.
With 26 of the 46 precincts reporting late Tuesday, Ruppel was leading Democratic challenger Larry E. Rensberger 57 percent to 43 percent in the race for House District 22, which covers Wabash County and part of Kosciusko County.
Ruppel, 59, is a retired teacher who still works on the family farm. In his most recent House term he chaired the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, and before that served six years on the Wabash County Council.
Rensberger, 67, is a retired small business owner who switched from the Republican Party to Democrat in 2005 and was especially angry that Ruppel voted in favor of daylight-saving time and the leasing of the Indiana Toll Road.
House District 50 Rep. Dan Leonard, R-Huntington, had wrapped up his race, beating his Libertarian opponent 85 percent to 15 percent with all precincts counted.
Leonard, 57, was first elected to the Indiana House in 2002 and is seeking a third term. He represents Huntington County and part of Whitley County.
The furniture store owner has distinguished himself in the legislature by advancing bills to help businesses and the economy.
Felix Aguilar, 35, is a commercial airline pilot seeking elected office for the first time.
House District 84 Fort Wayne Republican Rep. Randy Borror was coasting to victory late Tuesday night in House District 84.
With 39 of 56 precincts reporting in Allen County, Borror was leading his Democratic opponent, Mark Wehrle, 63 percent to 37 percent.
Borror, 49, was appointed to the House in 2001 and was elected twice since then. His stature has risen dramatically since Republicans took the majority, including chairing the House Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business Committee.
He also helped shepherd the daylight-saving time bill through the system in 2005 and was the author of the controversial Toll Road lease plan in 2006.
Wehrle, 48, owns a purified water vending company and tried to beat Borror a banker in the 2005 Republican primary.