Parade magazine is included with Sunday's print edition of The Journal Gazette. Here is what is featured this week:CHURUBUSCO – Area Republicans on Monday selected a former Whitley County GOP chair and councilwoman to fill a ballot vacancy as the party aims to retake the Indiana House.
Kathy Heuer won the tightly contested caucus to replace Rep. Matt Bell, R-Avilla, on the ballot this fall.
Bell announced this month he would not seek re-election after agreeing to head the Regional Chamber of Northeast Indiana.
Heuer, the lone female candidate, was picked from a field of seven.
It took 41 precinct officials five rounds of voting, including two tie votes, to make a final selection.
She thanked the voters for their support and promised to work hard.
“I will not let you down,” she said.
In addition to her political experience, Heuer is a real estate broker who also chairs the Whitley County Economic Development Corp. board.
During her speech to the caucus, which was held at Churubusco High School, she talked about the importance of reducing government interference in small businesses, developing sites for future company growth and the need to balance school financial concerns across a diverse district.
House District 83 covers parts of Allen, Noble and Whitley counties.
She stressed her commitment to remain in touch with voters after the election.
“I promise to listen to you and to work for you, to take your voice to Indianapolis,” she said.
Heuer was nominated by Whitley County Prosecutor Matt Rentschler.
Phil Troyer, an attorney who challenged former Rep. Mark Souder this spring, finished second after both received 20 votes in the fourth round – one precinct official didn’t vote for either candidate in that round. Heuer received 24 votes in the final round.
Other candidates were M. Bruce Scott, a partner with the Helmke Beams law firm; Brandon Seifert, a defense contractor employee; William Etzler, regional manager for Aqua Indiana; Joseph Hilger, former Allen County Right to Life president; and Paul Moss, an Allen County councilman.
Each candidate was given three minutes to address the caucus, plus a two-minute nomination speech. Many of the speeches ran longer than their allotted time.
Heuer will face Democrat Wray McCalester of Columbia City on the November ballot, in what she said will be her biggest race.
Although the district often favors Republicans, she said she won’t take winning for granted and plans to begin campaigning immediately.
