Two open Indiana House district seats in the northern suburbs will feature contested Republican primary elections next month.
Republicans Bill Gutrich of Westfield and Hunter Smith, a Zionsville resident and former Indianapolis Colts punter, are running for the open seat in Indiana House District 24, which includes Westfield, the west side of Carmel and the east side of Zionsville, along with Sheridan and other small towns in Boone and Hamilton counties.
The winner in the Republican primary faces uncontested Democrat Josh Lowry in the November general election. State Rep. Donna Schaibley, R-Carmel, has represented House District 24 since 2014. She announced last fall that she would retire.
In Indiana House District 29, which includes the city of Noblesville, Republicans Laura Alerding and Alaina Shonkwiler, both Noblesville residents, will compete in the primary. The winner faces uncontested Democrat Christopher Hartig in November.
State Rep. Chuck Goodrich, R-Noblesville, has represented House District 29 since 2018. Goodrich announced last year that he would run for Congress to represent Indiana’s 5th Congressional District. He is running against U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz and seven other Republicans in the primary.
Early voting for the primary election continues until Election Day on May 7. The general election is Nov. 5.
District 24
Gutrich is a businessman and Chicago native who has worked for Coca-Cola, Conagra, Greenfield-based Elanco Animal Health, Samsung and Unilever. He and his wife are franchise owners of three Pets Supplies Plus stores in Brownsburg, Columbus and Muncie.
“I think I have a uniquely broad base of experience in my corporate business life,” he told IBJ.
Gutrich said the most important issues to him are public safety, education, fiscal responsibility and smart development.
“The 24th District is the fastest-growing district in Indiana, and we have a lot going on here, particularly in Westfield,” he said. “We have massive housing growth, but not enough corporate growth, so we have a property tax issue where property taxes are very high because we haven’t built that 3% [corporate] tax base with the job creation that comes along with that.”
A state constitutional amendment that voters approved in 2010 caps property tax bills at 1% of assessed value for owner-occupied homes. Property taxes on commercial development, however, are generally capped at 3% of assessed value, making that land more valuable to local governments trying to provide services for residents.
Gutrich added that he supports Sheridan’s desire to merge with Adams Township to protect itself and its future growth from annexation by Westfield.
He believes it is important that he lives in Hamilton County, which covers a large majority of House District 24. He has received endorsements from former Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard, Westfield Mayor Scott Willis, State Sen. Scott Baldwin, R-Noblesville, and the three Hamilton County commissioners.
Smith, who punted in the NFL from 1999 to 2010, owns WonderTree Farm in Zionsville, where he lives with his wife, Jennifer, and four children. He also is a musician and author.
He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1999 and played for the Colts from 1999-2008.
Smith, who did not respond to an interview request from IBJ, told the Indiana Capital Chronicle in December that his top priorities are environmental issues, including conservation, farming and food. He said environmental issues are a “missed opportunity” for conservatives.
According to Smith’s campaign website, he is also focused on parental rights in education, public safety, anti-abortion issues, the Second Amendment, and growth and development.
Smith has received endorsements from Indiana Right to Life PAC and Americans for Prosperity, a conservative policy organization founded by brothers Charles and David Koch.
District 29
Alerding most…
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