This page outlines the key initiatives Theresa is prepared to champion on behalf of the people of District 51. Each initiative reflects the concerns she hears most from families, farmers, and small business owners across LaGrange and Steuben Counties—protecting property rights, strengthening transparency in government, safeguarding individual freedoms, preserving the natural beauty of the region, and ensuring responsible planning for the future. These priorities are shaped by the values of the community and grounded in Theresa’s professional experience in engineering, strategic leadership, and community engagement, offering a clear path toward steady, accountable, locally focused representation.
1. Property Tax Protection & Reform
- Create a predictable, transparent property‑tax system that prevents sudden spikes and protects homeowners, farmers, and small businesses from being priced out of their land.
- Require earlier public notice and input before any local tax or utility increase.
- Strengthen property‑rights protections against government decisions that shift financial burdens onto residents without accountability.
2. Transparency & Early Public Involvement in Government Decisions
- Mandate early disclosure of major proposals affecting utilities, land use, economic development, and long‑term planning.
- Require public hearings before commitments are made, not after deals are already in motion.
- Increase accountability for boards and commissions to ensure decisions reflect community priorities, not outside interests.
3. Protecting the Natural Beauty & Rural Character of District 51
- Strengthen protections for lakes, groundwater, and farmland to preserve the natural assets that define LaGrange and Steuben Counties.
- Promote responsible development standards that safeguard water quality and rural landscapes.
- Support conservation partnerships that maintain trails, parks, and natural habitats without expanding government control.
4. Strengthening Infrastructure & Planning for the Future
- Expand rural broadband access to support families, schools, and small businesses.
- Improve long‑term infrastructure planning using your engineering background to ensure cost‑effective, community‑driven solutions.
- Prepare for emerging technologies (including AI) so rural communities are not left behind in workforce and economic opportunities.
5. Supporting Families, Children & Community Safety
- Increase transparency in education and expand school‑choice options for parents.
- Strengthen protections for children from online exploitation, social‑media harms, and predatory behavior.
- Support local law enforcement with training and resources while ensuring accountability and respect for civil liberties.
6. Medical Liberty & Bodily Autonomy
- Prohibit medical mandates that force individuals into treatment, testing, or vaccination against their will.
- Require opt‑in consent for health‑data registries and strengthen privacy protections.
- Improve adverse‑event reporting systems to ensure transparency and informed decision‑making.
7. Defending Constitutional Rights & Individual Freedom
- Protect Second Amendment rights by preserving Constitutional Carry and strengthening due‑process safeguards.
- Reduce unnecessary regulations that limit work opportunities, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
- Expand occupational‑licensing reform to remove barriers that prevent Hoosiers from earning a living.
8. Supporting Life & Strengthening Resources for Mothers and Families
- Expand support for adoption, pregnancy‑resource centers, and programs that help mothers choose life.
- Increase accountability for illegal abortion practices and strengthen protections for infants born alive.
- Redirect taxpayer funding away from abortion providers and toward life‑affirming alternatives.
9. Responsible Economic Development & Fiscal Stewardship
- Oppose corporate welfare and deals that shift costs onto taxpayers.
- Promote small‑business growth through lower taxes, fewer mandates, and streamlined regulations.
- Require transparent cost‑benefit analysis for any major economic‑development proposal.
10. Strengthening Local Voice & Community‑Centered Leadership
- Create community advisory panels to ensure residents have a direct voice in state‑level decisions affecting District 51.
- Improve communication channels between state agencies and rural communities.
- Ensure state policy respects local values, rural identity, and the unique needs of LaGrange and Steuben Counties.
11. Utility Transparency, Fair Rates, and Consumer Protection
- Increase transparency in how monopoly utilities set rates and make major decisions.
- Protect families and small businesses from hidden fees, sudden cost increases, and unfair billing practices.
- Strengthen public oversight so utility decisions reflect community needs, not corporate interests.
- Ensure Hoosiers have clear information about how other states are improving affordability and accountability.
- Learn more: Understanding Utility Reform: What Other States Are Doing and What It Means for Indiana