We need your help.
Reporters and editors are digging into our local and state primary election coverage, and we want your help in questioning the candidates for office.
Sure, we’ve got issues we want to drill down on – to find out specifically where a candidate stands, what he or she would or would not do and how they make decisions.
But we don’t have the corner on good ideas and good questions, and we want to know what local, state and national issues you want to hear from the candidates about.
Our approach every election is to cover the issues, rather than campaign events. We want to bring you meaningful information that helps you make an informed decision when you vote, and we want you to have a role in forming that coverage.
So start thinking. Jot down issues or questions you have and send them to us, and we’ll work to get answers.
To get you started, here’s a glimpse at some of the races on the ballot this May:
- Johnson County Sheriff. Doug Cox has been sheriff for eight years and can’t seek re-election due to term limits, and three Republicans want to replace him. The candidates are current sheriff’s deputies Duane Burgess and Kirby Cochran and Indiana State Police investigator Stoney Vann. Some of the key issues will be expanding the jail and responding to increased mental and physical health and drug addiction issues of inmates.
- U.S. Congress. Three Republicans want the GOP’s nomination for the U.S. Senate. The candidates are Mike Braun, Luke Messer and Todd Rokita. In the House, three Democrats and two Republicans are battling for their party’s nomination to the District 9 seat. The Democrat candidates are Dan Canon, Rob Chatlos and Liz Watson. The Republican candidates are James Dean Alspach and Trey Hollingsworth. We’ll ask about immigration reform, national gun control measures and spending that big federal budget. What else do you want to know about?
- State Rep. District 47. Republicans Scott Horvath and John T. Young want the nod for the district that represents Franklin, Union, Needham and Blue River townships and parts of White River and Hensley townships.
Other Republican races on the ballot this spring include: county auditor, county commissioner district 2, county council districts 1 and 2, Johnson County Circuit Court judge and White River Township trustee.
Here’s what else we are working on in the Daily Journal newsroom today:
Addicted & Dying.
Our series on the opioid epidemic in our community continues with the story of a man who died at age 25 after a vicious cycle of relapse. His mother shared how it started. Her son was diagnosed with anxiety when he was about 12 years old and given medication, but he would take too much of it. “He just wanted to feel normal. He would do anything not to feel.”
Here’s a look at our recent coverage over the past few days:
Sentenced.
A man whose parents were murdered in a drug deal several years ago was arrested earlier this year after police found a social media post advertising marijuana for sale. He has been sentenced.
By gosh, by golly, nobody beats Roncalli.
Cole Toner made Roncalli proud with his Harvard football career, and now his time in the NFL. Read about Cole’s off-season experience.
Sen. Todd Young saw the story and shared it on Twitter —
NEW: @DailyJournalNet reports on our Hoosier intern Cole, “Young people like Cole are the future leaders of our nation, and I hope more people will follow in Cole’s footsteps and become involved in the political process.” https://t.co/JNksf0THSS pic.twitter.com/n0LLNaUbsU
— Senator Todd Young (@SenToddYoung) March 6, 2018
Family tradition. 
Robert Emberton started his Whiteland family’s reputation for success in the shot put and discus in the mid-1990s, and it’s now carried on by his three children – Ryder, Reagan and Saylor. Ryder Emberton, now a freshman at Iowa Central Community College, is a former state shot put champion, while Reagan made the podium at last year’s girls meet a sophomore.
Click here to send us your tips, comments and story ideas.
Michele Holtkamp
Editor
