Two seek nomination

Editor’s note: This is part of our series of stories previewing the May 8 primary election. Early voting begins April 10. All election-related stories will be posted at thecr.com and will remain active until election day.

A pair of young candidates are vying for the Republican nomination to succeed Greg Beumer in the Indiana House representing District 33.

Current Jay County GOP chair Jenae Blasdel, 31, and John (J.D.) Prescott, 26, rural Union City, will square off in the May primary. The winner of that contest will face current Winchester Mayor Shon Byrum, who is the unopposed Democratic candidate in the primary.

Prescott is a 2010 graduate of Winchester Community High School and works on the Prescott Family Farm, which involves more than 3,000 acres. He serves as president of the Randolph County Young Farmers organization and attends Poplar Run United Baptist Church. Prescott’s involvement in politics began when he worked on the gubernatorial campaign of Mike Pence.

Blasdel, who lives in northern Jay County, is a 2005 graduate of Jay County High School and earned her bachelor of science degree in agricultural economics from Purdue University. While in college she interned at the Indiana Statehouse. A second internship was cut short by brain cancer; her treatment for that ended in May of 2011. In 2017, she completed the Indiana Leadership Forum.

“I’m probably more of a conservative/libertarian,” Blasdel said of her political philosophy. “I like small government. I like local control. … I’m a lot like Greg (Beumer), maybe a little more conservative. I’m right in the middle of him and (former state representative) Bill Davis.”

“I’m definitely on the more conservative end of the spectrum, both fiscally and on social issues,” said Prescott. “I’m a pro-life Christian. … I’m not afraid to stand up for the district. … Sometimes you have the go-along-to-get-along candidates.”

A member of the National Rifle Association, Prescott described himself as “really conservative through and through.” Comparing his views to those of Beumer, he added, “I believe I’m definitely stronger on the social issues, especially pro-life. … But overall we’re very similar.”

Both candidates identified workforce development as a key issue facing the next legislature.

“Not every high school graduate should go to college,” said Prescott. “We need to promote more hands-on training.

Said Blasdel, “Workforce development is really being pushed. Are we keeping the right jobs for our citizens in District 33? What does that mean for our schools? … How do we deal with a shrinking population?”

Both also agreed that the opioid crisis presents a critical challenge for lawmakers.

“The drug crisis is heartbreaking,” said Blasdel.

She particularly expects that to be an issue in the general election because of Byrum’s support for Winchester House, a new treatment facility in Randolph County.

For Prescott, there’s a connection between workforce development and the drug issue. When young people feel they have no future, he said, “they can end up on drugs.” That’s less likely, he said, if they’re working and have prospects for the future.

Prescott said perennial issues of funding for roads and schools will also face the next session of the Indiana General Assembly.

“Road funding is always going to be an issue,” he said. “I’m still in the process of shaping all my opinions when it comes to schools. … Are we wasting money on testing? … We’re really not gaining anything, but we’re spending more and more.”

Blasdel said she’ll focus on “what’s best for District 33.”

“It’s like anything in life,” she said. “It’s a balance. Knowing what your constituents want, but as a representative you should have more information, and you make the best decisions from there.”

Blasdel said some other tough issues lie ahead. “I think the ‘right to die’ is not going to go away,” she said. “(Medical) marijuana is not going to go away.”

Prescott said he wants “to best represent what is in the best interests of the district. … If your district’s heavily Republican, that right there’s a mandate where the district wants you to go.”

“I may be young,” said Blasdel. “But I do have experience. I have a degree from Purdue in ag economics. I understand what being a representative is. This is my home, my family area, I’m going to do the best I can for them.”

“I come from a business background,” said Prescott. “Being a farmer in a rural district, I understand the needs of our district. … I’ll be a representative that is always going to be able to come back to (voters) and look them in the eye and tell them why I voted the way I did.”