The District 58 seat in the Indiana House of Representatives will be filled by someone new for the first time in 32 years.
But just as it has been for more than three decades, a Republican will be the one in that seat.
Michelle Davis defeated Democrat Cindy Reinert in Tuesday’s general election, taking 68% of the votes throughout the district, which rests entirely in Johnson County. Reinert received 32% of the votes. Davis will take a seat in the chair that had been held by Rep. Woody Burton, R-Whiteland, since 1988.
“I’m very excited to move forward. We’ve put a lot of time into this. I mean, it’s been 11 months. I’m super excited to move forward. Very grateful, very humble. Rep. Burton has done an amazing job. I’m confident I can move forward with what he’s done,” Davis said Tuesday night.
As the winner in District 58, Davis will represent parts of Greenwood, Whiteland and New Whiteland in Johnson County.
Davis had been endorsed by Burton, and became the Republican choice after coming out of a field of five candidates during June’s primary election. A lifelong Johnson County resident, Davis has been the director of adult education at Central Nine Career Center in Greenwood for seven years. She served previously as dean of high school students at the vocational school.
Her experience in the position, as well as being a part of the workforce for the past three decades, is what prepared her well for her role in the state legislature, she said previously.
Davis is anticipating the opportunity to bring her unique perspective to the Statehouse.
“I don’t know that there’s been another female representative from this county before. I think it’s a great honor. I’m excited to be a role model for younger women,” Davis said.
Reinert was running for the District 58 seat for the second time, having lost to Burton in 2018 when she obtained 37% of the vote. Her focus as a candidate was keeping her constituents in mind with every decision she made, as opposed to being beholden to special interests and businesses, she said previously.
But voters in District 58 instead chose to stick with a Republican.
Burton announced he would not be running for reelection in late 2019, citing his readiness for retirement. He pointed to legislation to support students with dyslexia, establish bullying prevention programs in schools and increase accountability in the child welfare system as some of his greatest accomplishments during his 32 years at the Statehouse.
He said he endorsed Davis before the primary in June, after meeting and speaking with all five candidates.
“I’m a people person, and I’ve always believed it’s important to talk to everybody,” Burton said on Tuesday night. “When I interviewed her, we talked about three hours, and I’m convinced that she’s the kind of person that will respond, she will call people back. She’s a go-getter.
“I’m really excited about having her as our representative.”
Davis will serve a two-year term, during which time she will be responsible for authoring and voting on bills that come before the General Assembly, and approving the state’s bi-annual budget.
