Voters in Indiana House District 41 will choose between two candidates this November to represent them in the Indiana House of Representatives. The district includes portions of Clinton, Tippecanoe, Montgomery and Boone counties. It includes the cities of Lebanon, Frankfort, Dayton and Thorntown.
There are 100 members of the Indiana House of Representatives. Their job is to work alongside the governor and the Indiana State Senate to create laws and set the state budget. Their seats go up for election every two years, and in Indiana there is no limit on the number of terms a representative can serve.
WFYI opened an ongoing voter survey in May, and the most common voting issues were data center policy, affordability, and feeling disempowered.
WFYI contacted each campaign and sent a survey based on voter questions — it asked candidates for their top priorities and their positions on civic health, data centers and affordability. For candidates who did not respond, information was gathered from websites and social media for a "Top priorities" note. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.
Mark Genda
Candidate did not fill out WFYI's survey.
Incumbent
Party: Republican
Website: facebook.com/markgendafor41
Age: Not verified
Occupation: Indiana State Representative, District 41
Residence: Frankfort
Top donors (via Transparency USA):
- Indiana Funeral Directors Association
- Indiana Realtors PAC
- Mark J Genda (self)
- Beer Industry PAC
- Duke Energy Corporation PAC
Top priorities: According to the Indiana General Assembly website, Genda has authored and co-authored legislation regarding funerary logistics and organ donations. In the Indiana House of Representatives, he serves on the Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development; and Employment, Labor and Pensions committees, and serves as Vice Chair of the Natural Resources Committee.
Jackson Hayes
Personal information provided by candidate.
Party: Democrat
Website: sites.google.com/view/indianadistrict41jacksonhayes
Age: 31
Occupation: (Nothing provided)
Residence: Frankfort
Top donors (via Transparency USA):
- (No records)
Hayes accepted WFYI's invitation to take a survey. WFYI fact checked statements about publicly available data.
If elected, what are your top policy priorities?
Rising Costs of Utilities - Utilities companies are not people.
Data Centers - Data Centers are not people.
Environment - People deserve clean air, land, and water
Immigration - Immigrants are people too.
Healthcare - The sick and afflicted are people too.
Education - Children are people too.
Safety - People should feel safe
Transgender Rights - Trans people are people too.
Abortion - Women are people too.
Many voters told us they don't think today's politicians listen to their constituents. Why do you think that is, and how would you address the concern?
I fully agree with this sentiment.
I believe that our current system does not encourage voter interaction from incumbent politicians. They are likely to be reelected, so there is no need to be available to voters.
While this concern needs to be addressed by structural change to our election process. I will personally work to always be available to concerned citizens.
What is your position on data center development in Indiana?
These are cropping up like weeds throughout our state and are a drain on local power and water resources. Data centers are moving to our communities because they are being incentivized with low taxes, low utilities rates, and relatively cheap construction costs. This incentive means that our tax dollars are paying the data center's costs. Alongside that issue, data centers often pollute the water they use to operate.* My solution to these issues is to have these companies pay their fair share in taxes and utilities rates, and enforce inspections on their waste to ensure that it is handled in a way that does not damage our communities.
*Editor's note: Cornell University mapped the environmental impact of data centers by state. Here is more reporting on how the national environmental footprint of AI has been "notoriously difficult to measure."
Many voters told us they struggle to afford food, housing and healthcare. If elected, how would you help them address those needs?
This are the bedrock issues of society and our current failures to address them are indicative systemic problems in the current system.
In the short term, food stamps availability needs to be dramatically increased to assist struggling people and families with food costs. Price controls on rent and mortgage assistance for people unable to pay.
As to healthcare, I would like to see Medicaid expanded by increasing maximum allowed salary for Medicaid applicants, and remove needless roadblocks and paperwork for people applying for Medicaid.
