Heuer wins state house seat

November 3, 2010

Post & Mail photo/Becky Hand State Rep. Kathy Heuer and husband Judge James Heuer pose at GOP headquarters Tuesday night.

A Columbia City woman grabbed the Indiana House of Representatives spot vacated by former District 83 Representative Matt Bell.
Former Columbia City Common Council member Kathy Heuer routed her Democrat opponent and fellow county resident Wray McCalester with 77 percent of the vote (2,147-626) and will represent the county and the rest of the district beginning in January.
“I am honored to have the support of the voters of District 83 and will be privileged to serve everyone in the district, regardless of their political affiliation,” said Heuer.
“Now that the ‘politicking’ is over and the hoopla is dying, it is time to roll up our sleeves and get the Indiana economy back on track.”
McCalester had complimentary words for his victorious opponent.
“I’d like to congratulate Kathy on her victory,” he said. “It was very decisive and she ran a good campaign.”
McCalester acknowledged the Democrats’ woes in the 2010 election.
“I don’t think if we’d have done everything right (the McCalester campaign) and had the money, it’d have made any difference,” he said. “Given the current economic climate, it’s a very difficult time to be a Democrat.”
McCalester, a Tri-Lakes resident and pastor in Wolf Lake, says he has concerns in connection with a GOP shift in power at the state capitol.
“I’m afraid with the Republicans in control, they’re just going to sell off the state,” he said, referring to past decisions like Gov. Mitch Daniels’ leasing of the Indiana Toll Road.
The state of the economy is top priority on Heuer’s agenda.
“That is what I heard from the voters and that is what I intend to work on,” she said.