Bucher shares vision for 3rd District

Grant Bucher spent a day last week visiting Berne, Winchester and Albany.

The Wells County native and Steuben County resident is hoping to emerge from a large field of Republicans to earn his party’s nomination for the Indiana 3rd District in the House of Representatives.

Bucher spoke with The Commercial Review following his visits in the southern portion of the district, advocating for controlling spending, securing the country’s borders, a spirit of unity and an atmosphere of civility.

He said he’s running on the principles of truth, accountability and unity.

“I reject tribalism,” said Bucher, adding that he feels unity is an area in which he diverges from his GOP rivals. “I’m not an us vs. them kind of guy. I will stand up for that which I believe in. I will fight for that which I believe in. I just don’t believe that every situation needs to begin with an argument, needs to begin with a fight. I think we should try to have rational discourse.”

He is one of nine current candidates for the District 3 seat along with former Rep. Marlin Stutzman, Andy Zay, Wendy Davis, Eric Whalen, Michael Felker, Jon Kenworthy, Tim Smith and Scott Wise. Current Rep. Jim Banks is giving up the seat to run for Senate.

Bucher spent Dec. 7 traveling the district, speaking at Berne Rotary Club, visiting Mrs. Wick's Restaurant & Pie Shop in Winchester and attending the Randolph County Lincoln Day Dinner. He said he chose to run because of his desire to make America a better place and to adhere to the principles laid out by the Founding Fathers. He also expressed concern about what he sees as a disconnect between what’s happening in Washington, D.C., and the values of the nation at large.

Asked about key issues, he identified border security and spending. 

Bucher said he is pro-immigration with assimilation. But he said it’s crucial that illegal immigration be brought under control.

On spending, he said the executive branch needs to be punished financially when it is “not holding up its part of the deal.” He was also critical of Congressional policies he says have contributed to inflation.

“Our Congress for years has been taxing people with inflation,” he said. “It’s discouraging.”

He noted grocery and gas prices specifically.

“I empathize, not just sympathize, with the constituents of northeast Indiana,” he said.

After graduating from Norwell, Bucher earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Purdue University in 2012 and a master’s of business administration from Indiana University in 2019. He is currently a project manager for Weigand Construction after working for Shambaugh & Son for more than a decade.

He referred to northeast Indiana as a hard-working area of the country where the residents “just genuinely want a shot at life.”

“I really just want to be a voice for those people,” said Bucher, who is making his first run for elected office. “I live among them, I work among them and I am one of them.”