A trio of Indiana lieutenant governor nominees promised to champion farmers and rural residents — albeit through different means — during a Tuesday agriculture-themed debate.

Republican pastor Micah Beckwith, Democrat and former rural development officer Terry Goodin and Libertarian real estate broker Tonya Hudson took on water policy, property tax relief and more before a crowded room of Hoosiers.

Danville-based agricultural advocacy group Agriinstitute hosted the debate, which took place at the Indiana State Fair. Inside INdiana Business host Gerry Dick moderated.

Water policy took center stage.

The Indiana Economic Development Corp.’s (IEDC) plan to pump 100 million gallons of water daily from Tippecanoe County to a massive planned industrial park in Boone County has sparked sustained backlash.

Asked how they’d balance agricultural water needs with economic development, the candidates took different tacks.

Beckwith called the turmoil a “transparency issue” stemming from the IEDC, which he dubbed a “shadow government.”

He said the Republican ticket would involve locals in the water debate, but indicated an interest in the project.

“But I think we’ve got the resources,” Beckwith said. “It’s more just: how are we going to get those resources into the right place?”

Goodin said that although oil has motivated many past wars, he believes the next wars will be fought over water.

He called for development of a detailed water policy.

“Indiana needs to get together. We need to put together a policy of all those folks who are impacted by the use of water, and make sure that we put the right process together moving forward,” Goodin said.

Indiana has few restrictions on large water withdrawals. Several water policy proposals motivated by the IEDC’s plan died in the most recent legislative session, even those with GOP authors.

Hudson, meanwhile, emphasized “balance” but said she’d “work with” lawmakers on clean water and air.

“Water shouldn’t have to be a commodity, because it’s a necessary thing we all (need) in our lives,” she said.

Easing the property tax burden

Candidates also fielded questions on property taxes, with a journalist on the panel asking questions noting that farming simply require more land than others professions.

Indiana uses recent sales to assess most property types, but farmland is different.

The Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) instead determines a “base rate,” a rolling average with six years of capitalized net cash rent and net operating income. DLGF drops the highest value of the six and averages the remaining five years.

“Farmers have seen an increase from last year to this year: (a) 26.2% increase in property taxes. That’s insane,” Beckwith said. “That’s absolutely out of control. And farmers need the relief.”

He and running mate Mike Braun, he said, would deliver.

The duo released a proposal last month that would increase the state’s homeowner deduction and cap property tax bill increases to just 3%.

“Ultimately, though, it’s the Legislature’s job to fix it,” Beckwith added. “What Mike Braun has done with casting vision — he’s given the legislature cover, finally, to fix this issue.”

Hudson went further.

Her ticket’s plan would abolish the property tax altogether.

“You should not be paying property taxes on a home that you already own,” Hudson said.

Farmers ask for property tax ‘intervention’ as communities, schools talk challenges

“We have this mafia-style tactic where, through a Sheriff’s sale or whatever, if you can’t pay your property taxes, you get kicked out of the home that you own. We should not be doing that.”

Running mate Donald Rainwater’s plan would replace the property tax with a 7% sales tax on home purchases. Hoosiers could pay it upfront or over seven years.

Goodin, however, accused his opponents of cutting funding for police and other emergency services.

“It’s very simple. If you want to have good quality services you have to pay for them,” he said.

He and running mate Jennifer McCormick have yet to release a property tax plan. But he asserted that his party’s approach would push the state to “grow” rather than “cut” its way out of the “property tax crisis.” And he said state government should replace lost property tax revenue if needed.

“We’ve got to repair the property tax system,” Goodin said. “We’ve got to put … all those taxes together, we come out (and) we figure out what is the most important priorities that we have in the state of Indiana.”

The role sought

Indiana’s lieutenant governor is first in line to lead the state if a sitting governor can’t fulfill the top spot’s duties. The lieutenant governor also presides over the Senate, and casts tie-breaking votes.

Indiana Code also gives the officeholder 26 additional roles, according to the National Lieutenant Governor’s Association. That includes overseeing the State Department of Agriculture, the Office of Community & Rural Affairs and more.

The lieutenant governor separately chairs the Indiana Mental Health Roundtable, the Intellectual and Development Disabilities Task Force, and the Civics Education Commission.