Democrats vie for southside state Senate seat

<p>Two Democrats want a chance to represent parts of Johnson County and the southside of Indianapolis on the Indiana Senate, and tackle issues ranging from public transportation to protecting endangered adults to teacher pay and retention.</p><p>Ashley Eason and Jason Fletcher are vying for a shot at the Senate District 36 seat. Whoever wins the primary in June will face off against Republican incumbent Jack Sandlin in the fall general election.</p><p>State Senators author and vote on bills that come before the General Assembly, as well as approve the state’s bi-annual budget. District 36 represents parts of Perry and Center Townships in Indianapolis, and a portion of White River Township in Johnson County.</p><p>This is Eason’s first time running for public office. Originally from Plano, Texas, she moved to Indianapolis three years ago for work, after living in Washington, D.C.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]<p>She is vice president of programs and services at The International Center in Indianapolis, a nonprofit that helps promote Indiana’s global engagement. The nonprofit deals with everything from supporting Eli Lilly’s international relocation efforts to working with the International Economic Development Council when they welcome foreign investors to Indiana.</p><p>Eason was looking for ways to become a leader in her community too, which is why she is running for state Senate. She also wants to bring more diversity to the Senate, she said.</p><p>&quot;We need not just politicians in our state and local offices. We need compassionate, pragmatic, thoughtful individuals from many backgrounds.&quot; Eason said. &quot;Right now, there (are) very few backgrounds represented in our state legislature.&quot;</p><p>If elected, Eason would want to primarily focus on bringing good paying jobs and better healthcare to Hoosiers, specifically mothers and children, she said.</p><p>&quot;A lot of people are in tough spaces where they have to work multiple jobs just to take care of their kids and pay rent,&quot; Eason said. &quot;The people of this district are really in a tight spot right now, so access to high quality healthcare is going to be even more important now than it was just a couple months ago.&quot;</p><p>Another issue Eason would focus on is reliable public transportation in Indianapolis. Having lived in Washington, D.C. for a couple years, she experienced good public transportation throughout the city with buses and underground trains, and wants to bring more public transportation to those who don’t have reliable ways to get to and from places downtown, she said. </p><p>&quot;When I lived in Washington, D.C., I did not own a car … that is not realistic, in that sense, for Indianapolis.&quot; Eason said. &quot;Public transportation isn’t necessarily for folks like me, but people who don’t have reliable transportation.&quot; </p><p>Eason recently started a &quot;36 Ways to Stay&quot; campaign. She posted 36 ways people can occupy their time while staying at home due to the coronavirus crisis. </p><p>Fletcher is a lifelong Indianapolis resident from Perry Township who works as a criminal investigator for the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office with the Adult Protective Services unit.</p><p>Through his work in adult protection, Fletcher realized there is no emergency placement for endangered adults in Indiana, so he’s running for state Senate to change that, he said. He previously served on the Perry Township Advisory Board in 2012. </p><p>The top priority, if elected, would be to implement emergency placement for abused and endangered adults who, typically, can’t make their own decisions because they are considered incapacitated, whether it’s due to autism or dementia, Fletcher said. The state can take months to move endangered adults to new homes, even if they’ve been hospitalized, he said. </p><p>&quot;I have to go to bed at night knowing that person is being neglected, and the state of Indiana has failed them,&quot; Fletcher said.</p><p>Other issues he would focus on include equal rights for all and raising teacher pay, he said. </p><p>&quot;I think teachers deserve this,&quot; Fletcher said. &quot;I would make sure teachers are credited with income they deserve and classroom supplies they need, and make sure future teachers aren’t looking to other careers.&quot;</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="The Eason File" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>Name: Ashley Eason</p><p>Age: 37</p><p>Residence: Indianapolis</p><p>Family: Husband, Andy</p><p>Occupation: Nonprofit executive at The International Center</p><p>Education: Texas Tech University; Graduate school at American University </p><p>Political experience: None</p>[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title="The Fletcher File" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>Name: Jason Fletcher</p><p>Age: 45</p><p>Residence: Indianapolis</p><p>Family: Girlfriend; three daughters; two grandchildren</p><p>Occupation: Criminal investigator at the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office</p><p>Education: Mooresville High School</p><p>Political experience: Elected to Perry Township Advisory Board in 2012</p>[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title="About the job" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>Indiana Senate District 36</p><p>Represents: Parts of Perry and Center Townships in Indianapolis and White River Township in Johnson County</p><p>Duties: State Senators author and vote on bills that come before the General Assembly, as well as approve the state’s bi-annual budget.</p><p>Term: 4 years</p><p>Pay: <span id="&quot;ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_lookup1_ResultsGrid_GridListView_ctrl0_lbl_compensation&quot;">$73,606</span> (2019)</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]