by Ronald Hawkins
MARTINSVILLE
Shelli Yoder decided to become a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the 9th District U.S. House of Representatives seat because a voice is needed for the middle class, she said.
A former Miss Indiana, Yoder was the last to join the field for the party nomination. Also seeking the Democratic nod are Jonathan D. George, John G. Miller, John W. Tilford and Robert Winningham. The incumbent representative is Republican Todd Young of Bloomington.
Yoder grew up in Northern Indiana before attending college and eventually becoming Miss Indiana in 1992. She is currently associate director of professional development at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.
“Middle class families in southern Indiana deserve a voice in Washington on issues that keep people awake at night,” Yoder said. “How to pay bills. How to pay their children’s way to college. What if you get sick. …
“What’s disturbing is the noise in Washington that distracts attention from what worries people.”
Job creation is a part of what is needed to help families deal with those worries, she said. As part of her job at Kelley, Yoder has done that.
Southern Indiana is in a strategic position for new jobs, particularly health care related industries. Yoder said. It has a network of universities.
Building education connections is important, Yoder said. Higher education should be tied to the creation of jobs so those with advanced education are less likely to leave the state. Yoder’s skill set is in those areas, she said.
During the 3-plus years of President Obama’s administration, the nation has moved forward on the road to recovery from the great recession, Yoder said.
“I think we are better off,” Yoder said. “We are headed in the right direction.
“We are in a better position. While the recovery is slow, we’ll pull through.”
The health care reforms enacted by Congress, which varied from what President Obama proposed, are steps in the right direction.
“I believe health care is a right, not a privilege,” Yoder said. “The Affordable Care Act begins to address a health system that is more like a sick care system.”
The good steps include enabling people who’ve lost their jobs to maintain their health insurance, not turning people away who have pre-existing conditions and by enabling children to be covered by their parents’ health insurance until they are 26-years-old,
For those who have just completed military service, Yoder said they should receive all the care they need for their mental and physical well-being. And they should have programs when they return to civilian life such as Kelley’s MBA program for veterans with college bachelor’s degrees.
On other issues, Yoder said:
— She was against the war in Iraq and was not convinced there were weapons of mass destruction, which were never found. She was encouraged by the departure from Iraq is hoping for the same thing in Afghanistan. She hopes forms other than military involvement can be used to resolve concerns with Iran’s nuclear program.
“We can’t police every conflict,” she said.
— Teachers need to be at the forefront in conversations about education.
“They are the people on the front lines,” she said. “Teachers want to make a difference in lives of kids.”
— Indiana has a strong agriculture tradition and support is needed for local farmers. Hoosier are becoming increasingly concerned about where their food comes and want fresh, locally produced food.
— Innovative approaches need to be taken to address rising costs of gasoline. Clean energy, bio-fuels and other alternatives need to be considered.
— Social Security is one of the great American programs and needs to be protected. It might have to be tweaked.
— Tax reform is needed that results in a fair tax code. Steps need to be taken to lift the burden off middle class Americans.
About Shelli Yoder
Age: 43
Address: Bloomington.
Occupation: Associate director of professional development at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. Formerly director of Hannah’s House, a shelter for at-risk youth, and executive director of a statewide coalition for eating disorders.
Public offices held or sought: First candidacy
Education: Bachelor’s degree Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, masters degree in counseling and human services, from Indiana University-South Bend and masters degree in divinity from Vanderbilt University.
Family: Married, three children.
Memberships: First United Church of Christ, Bloomington
Yoder seeks to be middle class voice
