Yoder adds experience to House Candidacy

Press Release

When Shelli Yoder ran for the 9th District U.S. House of Representatives seat four years ago, her name was known in Indiana, but not as a political figure.

The former Miss Indiana won the Democratic Party primary then, but lost in the general election to U.S. Rep. Todd Young, a Republican who is running for the U.S. Senate seat this year. Along with Bob Kern, James R. McClure Jr., and Bill Thomas, Yoder is one of four people seeking the Democratic nomination in the spring primary. Five Republicans are seeking their party's nomination.

Yoder's bid for the congressional seat in 2012 was her first attempt to win a public office. In 2013, however, she became a member of the Monroe County Council.

"I'm proud of my record there," she said. "I'm in my fourth year. We've increased services for veterans, extended services for youth, built a 911 center, while maintaining a balanced budget. This is my job and and will be very similar to my job as a member of Congress."

Yoder's additional experience might have made her more polished, she said, "but not so polished that I've lost touch with the reason why I did run.

"I was a political nobody. I had never run for political office before, although I would say I have a lifetime of public service."

This time before the primary she has been endorsed by Lee Hamilton, who was the 9th District representative for 34 years and the former vice chairman of the 9/11 Commission. He is the honorary chairman of her election committee. Four years ago, that endorsement didn't come until after the primary.

"I'm not only honored to have him as my honorary campaign chair," Yoder said, "but his counsel and his mentorship of me since that time has made me a better person overall, not just a better public servant. …

"He's saying, "I know Shelli to be someone who's thoughtful, someone who builds coalitions and is a collaborator. I know Shelli to be someone who,' in his words, "will fight like heck for the people of the 9th District.'"

Yoder also has been endorsed by the Indiana Democratic Party, which in its announcement cited her successful fundraising. Yoder said she has a budget for her campaign and expects that to win, it might take a seven figure number of dollars.

"It's sad that it's come to this place, that it's the money," she said. "The amount of money that has to be raised to win a political campaign is outrageous."

Yoder also has received the endorsements of former Indiana governor and U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, several teachers' and other unions as well the endorsement of all the Democratic chairmen in the district's 13 counties.

David Reddick, the Morgan County chairman, said, "We came out and endorsed Shelli because we think she's the best candidate running. She ran a really strong campaign the first time, she's demonstrated now that she has some political experience and that she is that much better a candidate than she was four years ago."

Other things have changed, too, over the past four years, Yoder said.

"It comes down to voter turnout," she said. "When people feel the system has failed them, that what it does matters, how are you going to get people out and vote? …

"We want an active democratic process. They're paying attention. …Skills sets are not keeping up, their jobs are going overseas, companies can skirt around and do not pay taxes."

As a faculty member at Indiana University, Yoder helped develop and is teaching in the Kelley School of Business' Compass classes. They are required courses for freshmen.

The courses address the issue of what is being done to prepare the next generation in Indiana for the 21st century economy, Yoder said. She frequently hears from business owners and recruiters, that while job applicants have degrees, they don't always have the skills needed in the workplace, including how to manage their careers and work relationships.

"We need to teach them to manage their skill set," Yoder said.

The most important issues in the election involve money, the Democratic candidate said.

"Having access to good paying jobs and being able to have a job where you can pay your bills, protect your family and settle down and have a good retirement, how we have failed in addressing that" are part of those issues, Yoder said. "That is at the heart of the conversation that I'm having throughout the ninth.

"Maybe we're better off than in 2012, but people don't feel very secure and don't know how long it's going to last. …We need to create an environment for growth, good paying jobs."

On other topics, Yoder said:

* Investments need to be made in the infrastructure, people and education.

* The "deep divide" between the haves and have nots, the 1 percent who are the most wealthy and the other 99 percent of Americans, needs to be addressed.

* Good paying jobs generally require a college education. Post secondary education must become more of a possibility for every person.

* The emergence of ISIS and other terrorist organizations is "very scary as a mom." The United States has become involved in situations that seem to have no exit. "So with great trepidation, I'd bring much thoughtfulness to looking at any sort of intervention," she said. Diplomacy should be foremost, but in dealing with a real threat such as ISIS, diplomacy might not be an option.

"Theologically, they believe they are doing good, and this is why there is such a disconnect," she said. "It is a very different mindset. … As someone with a theological degree (from Vanderbilt University), the complexity of this issue is much more profound than an economic battle."

* Her relatives are Republicans, but an aunt asked her, "You are going to protect my Social Security, aren't you?" The candidate said, "We need to fight to protect Social Security. …These are investments in our country."

* She can "reach across the aisle." As an executive on a non-profit, on a county council and as a teacher in the classroom, she listens to ideas and doesn't ask "What party are you?" she said.

If she is elected, but the House has a Republican majority and the president is Republican, she will work to develop relationships with the majority party. It will take time, but she has done it in the past.

* All people deserve access to "the same liberties, opportunities, benefits, whatever. …It comes down to equal rights. However someone identifies their sexuality deserves the same rights under the law."

* She wouldn't give President Obama a 100 percent grade, but adds "it's frustrating when you can't have a conversation about what's going well." The Affordable Care Act isn't flawless and some areas need to be fixed, "but the fact we have children being able to stay on their parents' insurance until they are 26, that you aren't going to lose your insurance because you've had some catastrophic health concerns and have maxed out on your lifetime access to health insurance that is a good thing that we've done away with that, that you will no longer be cut from access to health care because of pre-existing conditions. There are some major steps forward."

It's difficult when the other side says it won't work with you. Yoder said, "I don't know of any relationship that succeeds with that mindset from day one."

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