Election 2026: Candidate for State Representative D-69 Tyler Henkle

As the 2026 general election approaches, The Washington County Times is publishing written interviews with candidates in contested races affecting Washington County.

The Times reached out to all candidates for whom we were able to obtain contact information and invited them to participate. If you are a candidate in a contested race and have not received an invitation, please contact us so we can make sure you have an opportunity to participate.

Candidates were provided with questions tailored to their campaign, personal history, and the office they are seeking. We encouraged candidates to answer the questions in their own words and to refrain from using ChatGPT or other artificial intelligence tools when preparing their responses.

All candidate responses have been published as submitted, without editing or alteration. The Washington County Times does not endorse political candidates, and any opinions or statements expressed within the following interview are the candidate's own.

---

Why are you running for State Representative, and what do you believe District 69 needs from its representative that it is not currently getting?

I am running for State Representative because I believe we the people have more to offer to one another and to ourselves than we are currently receiving or experiencing. The two-party system of politics and representation as usual has been slowly eroding any sense of unity and shared community purpose and by running as an Independent, I hope to give voters a viable option to elect someone who sees us as Hoosiers and Americans as opposed to Republicans and Democrats, Liberals and Conservatives, us and them. District 69 needs someone who recognizes that there are no quick fixes, the problems we are experiencing are systemic at their core and the processes for fixing these problems will take a lot of work and a willingness to get extremely uncomfortable and to challenge our own way of doing and thinking about these problems if we want to see our circumstances improve. Here in District 69 and beyond, we don’t get the truth from our representatives, which is both parties are after the same thing, power. Also, we the people are the ones to blame. We’ve let ourselves be distracted and tricked into focusing on side shows and culture battles while the same parties, donors, corporations and organizations win in the end. From ongoing denials of Term Limits and Citizen led Constitutional Amendment Processes, to a corrupt Representative and Government pay structure, we must begin getting honest about how deep corruption and mismanagement runs. We then have to begin holding ourselves accountable first in regard to allowing things to have gotten to this point and then we have to have people in positions of service such as myself in the House District 69 seat to begin pushing for changes that will literally bring more power back into the hands of everyday Hoosiers.

What do you believe is the biggest issue facing the residents of House District 69 today, and what should the state do about it?

These two questions are fundamentally different in my opinion, so I’ll answer first coming from the perspective of what issue is the biggest facing voters in District 69 that the “state” can and should legitimately do something about. The biggest issue facing residents in District 69 is the extent to which our elected representatives and leadership are out of touch. Starting at the top, at a time when Hoosiers are paying seemingly ever increasing property taxes, savings are being drained to meet monthly bill obligations, medical debt is skyrocketing and insurance premiums are rising for average Hoosiers, Governor Braun decided it would be a great idea to build a Helipad at his personal residence and have the taxpayers foot the bill, not to mention the other upgrades and frivolous spending that our Governor has been “leading” with. Closer to home and more relevant for this race, I know what it is to work multiple jobs, be in the gig economy, hustle to make ends meet. I am working every day alongside others in these same financial and economic positions and I know what it is to be an average Hoosier. We must have representatives who are in touch with and are experiencing the average quality of life that most Hoosiers in District 69 are today. The state could implement Ranked Choice Voting which would reduce barriers to entry into elections and encourage broader participation and representation options across the board that would bring more Hoosiers into positions of service in government. To double back, the “state” can’t fix this, but I believe it is worth noting, the overall biggest issue we face is the condition of our collective heart. We as a people must figure out how we will begin to heal at that level and come together to fix these messes we are in, the “state” can’t fix that, that’s up to us.

Do you believe Indiana is moving in the right direction on taxes, and are there changes you would support?

For several years now we have been hearing that Indiana is running on a surplus, there are “billions in the coffers” yet when I hear representatives talk about taxes they tell us we’re going to reduce taxes here and raise them over there. Call it bait and switch, call it misdirection, call it what you will. If Indiana wants to offer relief at this crucial time, I see two places to start. Eliminate state income tax entirely on those under the age of 18 years old and sole proprietors over 70 years old. These young Hoosiers are being taxed with literally no representation of their own. Younger people are disillusioned by the economy they are inheriting, starting wages are low and they should be allowed to keep every cent they earn until they turn 18 and are able to choose their representatives and participate in the governance that taxes their labor to begin with. This provides an incentive, however small, to join the workforce to begin to build skills. As for those in later life, an overwhelming number of seniors are being forced back to work many in gig economy jobs simply to pay for medicines and keep up with utility bills. These Hoosiers have earned the right to keep even a small extra portion from their paychecks. Indiana has been talking about eliminating the state income tax for a long time, start with those who are just starting out and those who are finishing the race as best as they can. These changes don’t fix what’s broken, but they are starting points. Starting points that show younger and older Hoosiers matter, their struggles are seen, acknowledged and Indiana is willing to work to take action to help those who are at both ends of the workforce continuum. 

Rural communities in District 69 face challenges attracting and retaining workers, businesses and young families. What can the state do to strengthen the economies of communities such as Salem and the other smaller communities in the district?

To some extent a riff off my response above, but broader. Indiana appears to prioritize multinational corporate health and attraction; it has been this way for some time. We must get back to prioritizing and encouraging homegrown businesses, services and trade, incentives for entrepreneurship and innovation on our own streets, backyards, farmers markets and online local commerce. We can do this by working strategically to reduce taxes on sole proprietors and small businesses. We should ensure large corporations that seem to only choose Indiana when the abatement is big enough are carrying their fair share of the public funds burden and tax base. We need to hold ourselves to a higher standard and become less dependent on jobs from those who come here to exploit us for our location, human capital and other tangible and intangible resources such as the Hoosier spirit. Our sense of community and the bonds we have throughout have always been our greatest assets, we need to incentivize these connections through government tax mechanisms and reinvigorate creating great things right here at home!

What should the state's role be in supporting public education while preserving educational choice?

Article 8, Section 1 of the State of Indiana Constitution clearly states that “it shall be the duty of the General Assembly to encourage, by all suitable means, moral, intellectual, scientific, and agricultural improvement; and to provide, by law, for a general and uniform system of Common Schools, wherein tuition shall be without charge, and equally open to all.” Additionally, Section 3 notes “The principal of the Common School fund shall remain a perpetual fund, which may be increased, but shall never be diminished; and the income thereof shall be inviolably appropriated to the support of Common Schools, and to no other purpose whatever.” The current law of the State is clear that the current means and aims through which the voucher program is operating is unconstitutional and if the people of Indiana would like to continue and expand upon it, constitutional changes must be made by the people of the state of Indiana. As a person who attended both parochial and public schools growing up, it is my belief that guardians have every right to choose where their children attend, public, private, home school, what have you. However, the purpose of tax revenue that moves into the Common School Fund is and should be used to fund the uniform system of Common Schools. As a representative of the people, I would be able to listen, determine the preference and desire of and act on behalf of the citizens of District 69 if and when the process of Constitutional change was brought to the table and would do so based on the will of the people. 

What is your position on Indiana's current abortion laws, and what changes, if any, would you support?

The current law on abortion in Indiana is one that is hard line and one that I believe reflects the majority opinion of Hoosiers at this time. I stand with the states right to choose how it legislates abortion and I believe as of now it is doing so in line with the will of most residents. Additionally, the decision of mother and child risk is one that should continue to be made between a woman and her physician, without the state being involved in said medical decisions. A legal change I would support would be the codification of the right for Indiana citizens to seek medical care of all kinds, including abortion, outside the State of Indiana. Leaving no room or standing for Indiana law to prosecute individuals who choose to do so.

What is your position on Indiana's recent changes to election and voting laws? Are there additional changes you would support to make voting more accessible, secure or transparent?

The recent changes regarding immigration and voting have grabbed headlines over the past few years. However, as I had to gather roughly 600 signatures to qualify to run in this election I learned more about election and voting laws in the past 6 months than I had previously known. One thing that surprised me was how many people I spoke with who signed the petition for me to run only to find out that after having not voted in a recent election they were wiped off the voter rolls. I would support more effort being put into notifying citizens when they are wiped off the rolls. With the state now cross-referencing voter registrations with BMV records, simply utilizing this same cross reference to not only eliminate voters but also reminding voters when registration or license renewal reminders are sent out could go a long way towards access and participation in the election process. These processes, if desired by those in charge, could in turn be utilized to increase voter turn out as opposed to suppress as I believe is the current intention and use.

Jim Lucas has represented District 69 for more than a decade. What is your opinion of his record, and what specifically would you do differently as representative?

14 years to be specific. His record speaks for itself. His big win has been creating a path for private citizens who choose to be teachers to receive firearms training at taxpayers’ expense. He has supported virtually everything his party has asked of him, including the budget that allocated millions of dollars to the IEDC and the JCIDC to begin and create the Brookings Study that he then paraded himself as the defender from even though he voted in favor of funding it to begin with. Tack on his support of the party wide rubber stamped non-bailable offenses ballot measure we will be voting on this November that will allow judges to suspend bail for practically any offense they deem appropriate to do so and he shows that his record is essentially the same as every other representative with an R by their name. What I would do differently is act solely in the best interests of the Hoosiers of District 69. Not the left, not the right, a meeting in Washington wouldn’t change what legislation (redistricting) I support or don’t support. I would act on behalf of the will of the people, not the party, donor, or who could help me politically. As your representative, I will continue the habits I have begun of reaching out, seeking input from all Hoosiers and practicing a curiosity of different viewpoints to continue to challenge my own understanding to guide my actions on your behalf.

Conversely, what do you believe is a notable or admirable accomplishment?

14 whole years in the same position in state government.… Notable. While I believe Term Limits should cap out at 12 years for both Indiana House and Senate, his stranglehold on our districts seat is definitely notable.

Lucas has won reelection by substantial margins during his tenure. Why do you believe voters who have repeatedly supported him should consider making a change this year?

Choice, not just this year but every day we have a choice. To wake up, continue to do the same things and elect the same people who are going to continue along the same path benefiting the same entities or making a different choice. I can’t begin nor do I want to share my entire life story here, but if there is one thing I know through the work I do and the story I’ve lived, it is simply different choices are necessary for bringing different outcomes. I am talking to all voters, not just those who have voted for Jim in the past, but those who don’t see a better way forward with the other party’s option either, we can choose a different path, a better path. We can create a better District and a better state. We can start a change that leads to a better nation and world. It can start with us making a different choice in this race.

If elected, what is the single issue you intend to make your highest priority during your first legislative session?

If elected, neither party will want anything to do with me, there won’t be much support for any legislative priorities I focus on, I’ll be an outsider. The issue I’ll make my highest priority is building that movement of inviting others to run as Independents everywhere and always. Over time, we’ll bring more like-minded and healthy hearted representatives to the state house, and we’ll implement term limits, citizen led ballot initiatives and we’ll return the job of representative back to being a civil servant of the people. We’ll bring more Hoosiers into the process and send more power back into the hands of individuals. We’ll create laws that enable Hoosiers to not only plant roots but sustain gardens of prosperity and hope for a better future not simply a return to a more comfortable (for some) past. We won’t let the surveillance state of flock and data centers and for-profit prisons become our future, but we will return those to the dystopian fiction novels they came from. We’ll keep Indiana green so our kids and their kids can enjoy clean air, clean water, and real food. We’ll steer the system towards one that acts on behalf of and for we the people, as it should be. #HenkleForHoosiers