A Bedford Democrat recently announced he plans to seek the Indiana District 65 House seat.
Chris Woods, a union pipefitter, is the second candidate to file a declaration of candidacy for the seat Republican Eric Koch of Bedford has held since 2002.
Koch, a Bedford attorney, is seeking the state Senate District 44 seat presently held by Brent Steele, also a Bedford attorney, who is retiring at the end of the year.
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The other candidate for District 65 at this time is Republican Mark Mathis of Bedford, who filed his declaration with the Indiana Election Division on Friday. Mathis is a member of the Lawrence County Council.
District 65 includes Pershing and Salt Creek townships in Jackson County, all of Brown County and parts of Lawrence, Monroe and Johnson counties.
Woods said the lack of a contested District 65 race for 14 years is one of the reasons behind his decision to run.
“I feel the most important thing this campaign will do is force conversations on the issues that really matter and provide a choice to the voters in our district,” he said.
“We no longer have to accept the status quo of our state’s out-of-touch government,” he said. “I am very much looking forward to meeting with residents and listening to the concerns that affect all Hoosiers and am confident we can work together to create meaningful and appropriate solutions.”
Woods said he plans to provide a bold new vision to address the issues facing District 65. The issues of greatest concern are education, roads and drugs, he said.
“I am eager to meet with folks throughout the next several months and listen to their concerns,” Woods said. “I intend to be available. You will find me to be a down-to-earth and approachable candidate and representative.”
Woods graduated from Mitchell High School in 2004 and was accepted into the Pipefitters Apprenticeship program, where he completed his apprenticeship and received an applied science degree through Ivy Tech Community College.
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Name: Chris Woods
Hometown: Mitchell
Residence: Bedford
Occupation: Union pipefitter with Harrell-Fish Inc.
Family: Wife, Brandi Holt Woods; son, Nolan Woods
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For information about Woods and his campaign, look for him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit woodsforindiana.com. He also can be reached at the Lawrence County Democrat Party headquarters at 812-329-1139.
His campaign headquarters is at 1016 16th St. in Bedford.
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