Fighting for his political life, Democrat Scott Reske has fired off the first rhetorical salvo against Republican Kyle Hupfer in the battle to represent southern Madison County in House District 37 of the Indiana legislature.
Though the election is still 14 months away, Reske finds himself going negative with an attack big on conjecture and short on substance — a preemptive strike against a relative newcomer who is still unpacking his bags.
At the heart of Reske’s latest political gambit is his claim that Hupfer is “carpetbagging,” where an outsider seeks political power by moving into another district. Unfortunately for his critics, Hupfer is in fact a native of Pendleton and Madison County where he spent his formative years. Friends, family and the community welcomed him with open arms and enthusiasm when they learned of his filing to run for the HD 37 seat.
“Pendleton is going to be our home regardless of this legislative race,” Hupfer said. “I have various aunts and uncles throughout Anderson. My grandmother was a teacher here. It’s great for me to be back in Pendleton.”
Reske alleges that the GOP moved Hupfer back to Madison County just to run for the house seat. Reske said, “They’re coming after this seat, there’s no doubt about it.”
If Hupfer were really carpetbagging, then Reske is guilty of entrenching himself in the district to pursue selfish ambitions as a career politician. Since 2001, Reske has held the offce, and many think it’s time for the sycophant to move on. His early campaign strategy of going negative is a sure sign of incumbent’s anxiety.
In a two-pronged attack, Reske is also trying to link Hupfer to a tax issue regarding the Capital Improvement Board (CIB) of Indianapolis. The CIB is the cash-strapped, poorly mismanaged operator of Lucas Oil Stadium and Conseco Fieldhouse. The theory is that Hupfer has connections to influential business leaders who uncharacteristically support higher taxes for counties bordering Marion County. But Hupfer says Reske’s claims don’t hold water.
“This is the first that I’ve ever heard of that theory,” Hupfer said. “I would be completely against any tax of citizens of Madison County to pay for the Lucas Oil Stadium.”
Incidentally, Reske voted in favor of a 2005 bill that authorized new taxes on food and beverages in surrounding counties.
About Kyle Hupfer
Kyle Hupfer 
is a graduate of Manchester College and the Indiana University School of Law. He was admitted to the Indiana bar in 1998 and practiced law at Ice Miller until joining state government in 2005 as the Director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. In late 2006, he accepted a position as Vice President and General Counsel with Indianapolis-based ProLiance Energy, a natural gas marketer serving 18 states in the midwest and southeast. In 2007, he was appointed by Gov. Mitch Daniels as chairman of the Indiana State Fair Commission.
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Dear fellow Republicans this is Christopher Bowman and I am looking forwards to the republican having many big wins this fall. I am 29 and was born in the right wing. My grandfather the late Kenneth Bowman is why. I have pictures of him with Nixion, Ford, and the ball for Reagan ball. Grandpa was a director for OSHA. I am looking forward to working with you all in the years to come and getting Anderson back to where we all know it can be once again. If you have an idea on what I can do to help you all or even running for an office my self please contact Darline Likens and I will be all ears. God bless you all and god bless America. Much love christopher j Bowman
Dear fellow Republicans this is Christopher Bowman and I am looking forward to the republicans having many big wins this fall. I am 29 and was born into the right wing. My grandfather, the late Kenneth Bowman is why. I have pictures of him with Nixion, Ford, and Reagan for the inagural ball. Grandpa was a director for OSHA. I am looking forward to working with you all in the years to come and getting Anderson back to where we all know it can be once again. If you have an idea on what I can do to help you all or even running for an office myself please contact Darline Likens and I will be all ears. God bless you all and God bless America. Much love,Christopher
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