Indiana State Senate District 23 candidates discuss top voter issues

LAFAYETTE, IN — The Journal & Courier asked candidates in contested primary races to answer questions to help voters learn about them.

A complete list of Tippecanoe County candidates on the May 5 Primary Election ballot can be found online.

Indiana State Senate District 23

Incumbent State Sen. Spencer Deery faces a Republican primary challenge from Paula Copenhaver, a former Fountain County clerk and current Fountain County Republican Party chair.

Tell us about yourself.

Deery: Age: 43. Current occupation and any political experience: higher education administration, and I was elected to the state senate in 2022, the first and only office I have sought or held. City you live in: West Lafayette.

Copenhaver: Age: 53. Current occupation and any political experience: current governmental affairs director for the lieutenant governor’s office, Covington City Council member, Fountain County Republican Party chairman, and former Fountain County clerk.

What are the three biggest issues you’re hearing from constituents in this election cycle?

Deery: Affordability, Indiana’s independence, and education

Copenhaver: Property taxes, the cost of living and protecting conservative values are the top concerns I hear from Hoosiers every day. Families are being taxed out of the homes they worked hard to buy, and the state senate has failed to deliver meaningful property tax relief. At the same time, rising prices are making it harder to afford groceries, gas and everyday essentials. Hoosiers want leaders who will cut taxes, rein in government, and stand up for conservative principles. I’m running to make Indiana more affordable and put working families first.

How do you plan to address those issues if elected?

Deery: Affordability: You can’t stop inflation from a state senate seat, but we can do our part. Increasing the housing supply, reducing property taxes, following through on recent utility reforms, pursuing health-care reform, stabilizing gas taxes, and building up our child-care infrastructure all would help.

Indiana’s independence: Dark money groups in Washington, D.C., are trying to buy Indiana elections and to control our state. The Constitution gives sovereignty to Indiana in many areas, and we need leaders who will not be beholden to anyone other than their constituents — especially not to forces in D.C.

Education: Recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers will have the most impact. We do that by continuing to remove barriers to entry into the teaching profession, providing competitive compensation, and supporting those making a difference in the classroom.

Copenhaver: We have to get serious about cutting government spending. Wasteful spending and unfunded mandates are driving up costs for Hoosier families.

As state senator, I will fight to deliver real property tax relief, reduce the size and cost of government, and stop using taxpayer dollars to subsidize projects Hoosiers don’t support, like data centers, solar farms and carbon capture pipelines.