Indiana Legislative Oral History Intitiative

Clyde Kersey served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1996 to 2018. In this interview, he discusses his time as an educator in Terre Haute, Indiana, his role in healthcare legislation and implementing Holocaust education into the state curriculum, his time on an international trip to Japan with Indiana Govenor Mitch Daniels, as well as his thoughts on the 2011 Indiana Democratic walkout...

Peggy Welch served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1998 to 2012. In this interview, she discusses her time as a conservative member of the Democratic party, her role in key healthcare legislation, and the 2011 Indiana Democratic walkout in response to the "Right to Work" legislation. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the...

Russell Stilwell served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1996 to 2010. In this interview, he discusses his life growing up in a working class family, his experiences during the Vietnam War, and having the longest commute in the Indiana General Assembly. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History...

Connie Sipes served in the Indiana Senate from 1997 to 2011. In this interview, Sipes talks about the complexities of her time serving a conservative democrat, her issue with partisan redistricting, and more. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents do not represen...

Billie Breaux served in the Indiana Senate from 1990 to 2006. In this interview, Breaux talks about her work on voting rights, making Martin Luther King Day a state holiday, and the debates regarding education which she served. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related docume...

Luke Kenley served in the Indiana Senate from 1992 to 2017. In this interview, Kenley talks about how state legislatures became more polarized, the Community Transition Program, and the 529 Plan. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents do not represent the viewpoi...

John Frenz served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1996 to 2004. In this interview, Frenz talks about the importance of running a good campaign, his work on property taxes, and listening to constituents. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents do not r...

John Bushemi served in the Indiana Senate from 1976 to 1990. In this interview, Bushemi talks about the complexities of getting a bill passed, his work on the Equal Rights Amendment, and what lessons he learned from his service in the Indiana General Assembly. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Init...

Cleo Washington served in the Indiana Senate from 1996 to 2000. In this interview, Washington talks about his work on the CLEO program, the debates regarding the death penalty when he served, and why he thinks Indiana has become more polarized. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) a...

Brent Steele served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1994 to 2002 and in the Indiana Senate from 2004 to 2016. In this interview, Steele talks about his legislation to help breast cancer survivors, his work trying to combat meth, and the importance of not staying too long in the Indiana General Assembly. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in th...

Cleo Duncan served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1994 to 2010. In this interview, Duncan talks about bipartisanship, balancing family and legislative service, and more. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents do not represent the viewpoints of, or s...

Brian Bosma served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1986 to 2020. In this interview, Bosma talks about his family's political history, the complexities of state budgeting, his work on education legislation, and much more. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related...

Mike Murphy served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1994 to 2010. In this interview, Murphy talks about the complexities of getting legislation passed, how political civility has changed, and the importance of political ethics. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and re...

J. Murray Clark served in the Indiana Senate from 1994 to 2005. In this interview, Clark talks about his campaign strategy, how to be a successful legislator, and more. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents do not represent the viewpoints of, or speak for the In...

Bob Jackman served in the Indiana Senate from 1996 to 2008. In this interview, Jackman talks about the importance of civility in politics, the problem with one issue politicians, and his work on light rail legislation. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents do no...

Sue Scholer served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1992 to 2004. In this interview, Scholer talks about Right to Work, how being a in the general assembly impacts families, the influence of lobbying, and more. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents d...

Teresa Lubbers served in the Indiana Senate from 1992 to 2009. In this interview, Lubbers talks about her work on charter school legislation, overcoming the odds to get elected, and the importance of having women in the Indiana General Assembly. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI)...

Bill Friend served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1992 to 2018. In this interview, Friend talks about the redistricting process, his agriculture legislation, and what his service in the IGA meant to him. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents do not...

John Ruckelshaus III served in the Indiana General Assembly from 1990 to 1992 and from 2016 to 2020. In this interview, Ruckelshaus talks about what it is like coming from a prestigious political family, his work on education legislation, and his thoughts on the redistricting process. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legi...

Richard McClain served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1994 to 2012. In this interview, McClain talks about seeking middle ground, the influence of party leadership, and the daylight savings time debate. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents do not...

Robert DuComb served in the Indiana General Assembly from 1972 to 1982. In this interview, DuComb talks about his work on anti-smoking legislation, the Equal Rights Amendment, and how politics has changed. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents do not represent t...

Dale Grubb served in the Indiana General Assembly from 1988 to 2012. In this interview, Grubb talks about the debate regarding daylight savings time, the influence of gerrymandering, the Right-to-work legislation, and more. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents...

Woody Burton served in the Indiana General Assembly from 1988 to 2020. In this interview, Burton discusses his legislation regarding foster care, dyslexia, license plates, and much more. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents do not represent the viewpoints of, o...

James Monk served in the Indiana General Assembly from 1983 to 1989. In this interview, Monk discusses the 50-50 session in 1988, the political debates regarding the Hoosier Dome, and his focus on bipartisanship. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents do not repr...

Dave Cheatham served in the Indiana General Assembly from 1984 to 1992 and from 2006-2012. In this interview, Cheatham discusses the influence of party leadership, the complexities of getting a bill passed, and how IGA has changed. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related do...