Published: November 16, 2007 12:06 am            

GOP trying to reclaim District 46

Robert Heaton wants to become third Republican since 1994 to win seat

TERRE HAUTE — Indiana District 46 can be a swing district in the Indiana General Assembly as Republicans have captured that seat twice since 1994.

Now, Republican Robert A. Heaton is seeking a three-peat as he announced his candidacy Thursday challenging incumbent Rep. Vern Tincher, D-Riley, in the 2008 election.

“If the Indiana General Assembly is a citizen legislature, then I certainly feel qualified. I am not a professional politician,” Heaton said at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Terre Haute.

Heaton said his involvement in politics includes helping Republican Ed Pease get elected to the Indiana Senate and to the U.S. House of Representatives and helping Republican Brooks LaPlante get elected to the District 46 seat in 2002.

Tincher was first elected to the Indiana House in 1982, then lost election in 1994 to David Lohr, former Vigo County Republican chairman. Tincher took the seat back in 1996 in a close race that featured a recount.

LaPlante then took the seat in 2002, but lost to Tincher in 2004. LaPlante initially decided not to run for re-election, then entered the race after another candidate withdrew.

LaPlante made loans to his campaign from his personal funds without declaring them on campaign finance statements. LaPlante at the time said he didn’t realize he needed to report them.

The Election Commission, a state board that controls election business in Indiana, met in summer 2003 and ruled that LaPlante had to pay a $10,000 fine for 10 violations of the finance laws, but the board never certified the result. Four months later, the same board with new members split on its decision for the fine. As a result of the split decision, LaPlante has never been asked to pay anything.

Heaton is known for playing on the 1979 Indiana State University team that went to the NCAA basketball championship. Heaton was known for two “miracle-man” shots that won games against New Mexico State and Arkansas. Heaton’s campaign slogan reflects that, with “It’s time for another miracle!”

Tincher said Thursday he anticipates an opponent in every election.

“Heaton has some name recognition as a basketball player. I think the issue will be what has he done since and what is his position on the issues such as property taxes and immigration, all those types of things,” Tincher said.

“I think being aware of the issues and having represented the district, I think well, during my tenure in the legislature will help” win re-election, Tincher said.

Tincher said the 2008 election will depend on several factors, including voters support of Gov. Mitch Daniels, whom Heaton said he supports.

“A lot of it will depend on how well Gov. [Mitch] Daniels fares for re-election and depends on if Heaton supports all of Gov. Daniels’ past legislation and the issues that the governor has advocated,” Tincher said of the election.

Tincher said the governor’s property tax proposal will be studied early in the upcoming Indiana General Assembly.

“I have looked at the governor’s proposal on property tax restructuring. I have some concerns about the way he does it. I agree that we should take women and children’s welfare off the property tax roles for the counties. The state runs that program and the local property tax has to meet the obligation of the welfare program,” Tincher said.

“The state constitution says that we shall provide a free public education and perhaps it is time that the state looks at taking over that funding. There are portions of the governor’s package that I agree with, yet I am not sure that giving 21⁄2 billion dollars of relief can be funded by the methods the governor has proposed, but that is something we will have to talk about in the upcoming session,” Tincher said.

Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com.

        

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