Stepping aside

Jay County will have new representation in state government beginning in 2019.

District 33 Rep. Greg Beumer (R-Modoc) announced Monday that he will not seek re-election in 2018.

“I would say for almost all members of the Indiana General Assembly, you reach a point where you know it’s time for you to move on. And I’ve reached that point,” said Beumer, 63, a Portland native. “To me, it allows another person to serve in the Indiana General Assembly and let them see what they can accomplish.”

Beumer has served in the legislature for four years, having been sworn in during Organization Day on Nov. 19, 2013. He initially took the District 33 seat when he was chosen by a Republican caucus over two other candidates to fill out a term following the resignation of Bill Davis, who gave up the position to become executive director of the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. He won his own term in office in 2014, earning 60 percent of the votes against Democrat Shon Byrum, now mayor of Winchester, and Libertarian Zeb Sutton. He was uncontested in both the primary and general election in 2016.

Beumer said rather than any specific piece of legislation, he hopes he is remembered for representing the views of his constituency. More than once he broke with Republicans, including voting against on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 2015.

“I’ve kind of gotten known for taking positions that were sometimes contradictory to my party,” he said. “Some people liked that when I voted that way and some didn’t.

“I have always taken the position that an elected official to the Indiana General Assembly doesn’t vote the way they feel on issues but they should vote the way they interpret how they think the district overall feels …”

Beumer has authored seven bills that have become state law, including one this year that banned the sale of synthetic urine. It was part of his effort to combat the state’s drug problem — synthetic urine can be used to defraud drug and alcohol screenings — and made the distribution, marketing, sale or transportation of the substance a Class B misdemeanor for first-time offenders and a Class A misdemeanor for repeat offenders.

He was also one of a long list of co-authors of a 2017 bill allowing the use of cannabidiol, a substance derived from marijuana, for the treatment of conditions such as epilepsy.

Previous pieces of his legislation that became law covered sewer rates, tax exemption for the sale of gold, help for the unemployed, permitting for mobile homes and safe driving near trash trucks.

The key to getting things done at the statehouse, Beumer said, is working together with other legislators.

“It’s definitely a team sport,” he said. “No one goes in and accomplishes much if you’re a loner. … You have to be able to work with others to accomplish your goals and help them accomplish theirs.”

Beumer’s full-time job is as executive director of Randolph County Development Corporation. He is in his third stint in that role.

When he steps away from the legislature, his plans include spending more time with his wife Kathy, who is retired, and his children and grandchildren.

Republicans have owned the District 33 seat since 2004, when Davis defeated six-term incumbent Democrat Ron Liggett.

Filing for the 2018 primary begins in January. No candidates have yet announced plans to run for state representative in District 33.

Sen. Travis Holdman (R-Markle), who represents Jay County, has already announced plans to seek re-election and will face a primary challenge from Adams County Council vice president Eric Orr.