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The two candidates running for lieutenant governor got to this point in very different ways.

Tom Bechman 1, Editor, Indiana Prairie Farm

August 29, 2016

2 Min Read

An ag leader says it would be ideal to have a farmer or someone with a farm background running for lieutenant governor since that person becomes the secretary of agriculture and rural development by virtue of the office. Since that’s not likely to happen given the disparity between the number of farmers and nonfarmers in Indiana, the next best thing is to have someone who is willing to listen and learn about ag issues.

Both current candidates seem to satisfy that requirement. Neither has a farm background, but both have a track record of listening to ideas and weighing their merit.

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Here is a closer look at the backgrounds of the lieutenant governor candidates. This information is largely based on bio details provided by the candidates to the Indiana AgriInstitute in preparation for the recent debate held by that group.

Republican candidate: Suzanne Crouch

Hometown: Evansville

Family: husband, Larry Downs, and grown daughter, Courtney

Education: graduated from Purdue University

Early career: active in local politics and served in offices in Vanderburgh County

Legislative experience: state representative; vice chairwoman of the House Ways and Means Committee; helped develop a balanced budget and helped craft the largest state tax cut in Indiana's history

Current career: Indiana state auditor (elected position) — her office accounts for the state's $31 billion biennium budget

Democratic candidate: Christina Hale

Hometown: Michigan City

Family: lives in Indianapolis with husband and son

Education: graduated from Purdue University

Early career: reporter for the LaPorte Herald Argus; then studied abroad for a year as a Rotary Ambassador

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Government experience: various roles in the Indiana Department of Commerce and Indiana Professional Standards Board

Mid-career: appointed by Gov. Frank O’Bannon to oversee state’s boards and commissions; in 2004, became chief communication officer for Kiwanis International, headquartered in Indianapolis, and oversaw offices and budgets on multiple continents in multiple currencies

Legislative experience: elected to the Indiana House in 2012; serves on Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development Committee; is ranking Democrat on Insurance, and Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications committees

Current career: involved in a variety of activities outside the Legislature, including Indiana Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs and Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault

About the Author(s)

Tom Bechman 1

Editor, Indiana Prairie Farm

Tom Bechman is an important cog in the Farm Progress machinery. In addition to serving as editor of Indiana Prairie Farmer, Tom is nationally known for his coverage of Midwest agronomy, conservation, no-till farming, farm management, farm safety, high-tech farming and personal property tax relief. His byline appears monthly in many of the 18 state and regional farm magazines published by Farm Progress.

"I consider it my responsibility and opportunity as a farm magazine editor to supply useful information that will help today's farm families survive and thrive," the veteran editor says.

Tom graduated from Whiteland (Ind.) High School, earned his B.S. in animal science and agricultural education from Purdue University in 1975 and an M.S. in dairy nutrition two years later. He first joined the magazine as a field editor in 1981 after four years as a vocational agriculture teacher.

Tom enjoys interacting with farm families, university specialists and industry leaders, gathering and sifting through loads of information available in agriculture today. "Whenever I find a new idea or a new thought that could either improve someone's life or their income, I consider it a personal challenge to discover how to present it in the most useful form, " he says.

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