Indiana House of Representatives District 77 candidate Alex Burton aims to progress housing and education
Alex Burton, Evansville City Councilman 4th Ward
On June 25th, at the Vanderburgh County Democratic Headquarters in Evansville, Our Times Newspaper had an in-depth interview, with 4th Ward City Councilman Alex Burton (D) who is running for Indiana House of Representatives District 77. Burton announced the decision to run in January 2024 in the wake of Ryan Hatfield’s bid for the position of circuit judge, leaving the district in need of a new representative.
In the interview, Burton shared key issues affecting District 77, with a clear, action-oriented agenda aimed at driving significant improvements in education, housing, and utility regulation. Burton also touched on the broader political landscape, advocating for a Democratic governor and balanced representation in the state legislature-with the objective of breaking the supermajority. This will ensure that diverse voices and perspectives are represented in policymaking processes and increases the likelihood of change at the state level. Check out some of the highlights from our interview.
Rasheedah A: This is your second term on City Council, why are you running for State Rep and what do you hope to accomplish?
Burton: There are a lot of problems that need to be solved. It’s been an absolute pleasure serving on city council and I’ve been able to get a lot of things moving forward as it relates to housing, mental health, and allocating funds. There are so many things that directly impact our community that are happening at the state house, that we have a shot at addressing. With Representative Hatfield leaving the Statehouse to pursue a judgeship; it felt like the right thing to do. I’m looking forward to focusing on issues that are going to move Southwest Indiana specifically Evansville, and the urban core forward.
Rasheedah A: Since you mentioned City Council, what was your biggest accomplishment?
Burton: I always say, everyone deserves safe, quality, affordable housing. So that has been something I have talked a lot about and pushed for, now it’s at the forefront, and there is a lot more movement. With the prior administration, current administration, everyone’s focused on housing. And the other thing was food access, we as a community have some issues as it relates to health, and just overall food accessibility. My mission is to build that coalition and fight for not only Evansville, but the other areas. We also need to hold people accountable. This is an election year and our opportunity to really make a difference. The Democratic ticket all the way from the president to the State House races, brings the best solutions.
Rasheedah A: What are your top priorities and why should we vote for you?
Burton: I must earn your vote. The top three issues for me are energy and utility cost, education, and housing, those are the three things that I feel are most impacting residents in District 77 and beyond, and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that resources and policies are implemented that that put our community in a better position.
Rasheedah A: The city and county councils were very vocal about trying to prevent some of the rate increases. What progress has been made?
Burton: City Council secured legal representation and there is an ongoing conversation, and I cannot share details. My hope is that CenterPoint takes the concerns of our community seriously, and there’ll be a positive outcome that residents can appreciate. Moving forward and looking at it from a state policy lens, one of the first bills I will file will address utility rates. Cities who have paid the highest rates in this in the state for more than five consecutive years, should have a rate increase moratorium. I think that’s a fair proposal. The other thing is the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Right now, the governor appoints all five of those people, which I think problematic. The likelihood of someone who’s being on that commission that is in touch with everyday person is slim to none, so you often see those board members voting in favor of entities like CenterPoint. Again, that’s not fair, and something I hope to change.
Rasheedah A: Across the state, there is a lot of change in education-from the expansion of school choice to book bans, what policies do you support and are there initiatives you intend to implement?
Burton: I’m a firm believer that every student should be able to read by third grade. If they’re not able to read by third grade, it should be mandatory that they are able to read by the time they leave Elementary School. With all the data that is available and accessible to all the school districts in the state, there should be an intentional rollout of programming to assist students who are struggling with reading that should be funded by the local school district. The teachers can’t do it alone. And that’s where the community can and should step in to support. By eighth grade every student should not only read and comprehend, but they should also know the fundamentals of math, so that they’re able to go into high school and thrive. If everyone gets what they need K through 8th grade, high school should be an entirely different experience. And pairing that with the new graduation pathways? It puts more pressure in my opinion on K through eight to get it right when it comes to reading and math. Focus on that. I think there should be funding for school districts to expand the services like the Indiana Career and Tech Center- specifically at the alternative high schools where students are less likely to attend a college or university. We must prepare our kids for success. As for school choice and voucher programs, if they’re going to receive state funding, they should be held accountable. Which then one could argue that what makes them any different than a public school if they’re going to be held accountable the same way. But we cannot allow our students to be a part of a project where no one knows the outcome, we must have standards across the board that align and really make a difference in the lives of our students.
Rasheedah A: What are your ideas for improving housing?
Burton: It should be criminal for mold to be allowed to exist in rental units without legal consequences. Currently, issues like broken windows in homes aren’t illegal, but these are straightforward problems we should be able to address. Revitalization is key, particularly in the fourth ward, where many properties are owned by individuals who are not developing them. At some point, enough is enough. If you own a property that is just sitting there, being maintained weekly or monthly but not being utilized effectively, then it’s time to reconsider its use. If the owners are not going to build on these properties, they should transfer them to developers, preferably nonprofits, to provide housing for those in need.
Rasheedah A: What about wages? The federal minimum wage is $7.25, that is a major factor when we talk about housing.
Burton: The minimum wage of $7.25 is unsustainable; you can’t make a living on that. We need to find ways to encourage employers to pay more. While there are plenty of jobs available, we also need to ensure there’s a path for people to get trained for higher-paying positions. Right now, in Evansville, there’s no place to get training for mechanical or technical jobs unless you go through a union or trade system. For those without any skills, there are no options, which is a significant problem. With the new diploma pathways, we need to have more conversations about dual-purpose facilities. For example, during the day, we could use these facilities to teach students practical skills like using a tape measure or painting. Then at night, these same facilities could offer adult training programs. We must get creative; assuming people will simply take entry-level jobs and work their way up on their own isn’t the right approach.
If you’d like to learn more about Alex Burton, you can follow his campaign updates and explore his policy positions on his official campaign website or social media channels.
Author
