Indiana House of Representatives District 43 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in Indiana, 2022

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This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Indiana House of Representatives District 43 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

• Click here to see candidates and election results.
• Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for Indiana House of Representatives District 43

Incumbent Tonya Pfaff defeated Andrew McNeil in the general election for Indiana House of Representatives District 43 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tonya Pfaff (D)	58.4	8,893
		Andrew McNeil (R)	41.6	6,336

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 15,229
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

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Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Andrew McNeil (R)

Andrew is passionate about preserving and protecting our God given liberties and freedoms. These liberties are under attack every day by the left mob and increasing government intrusions.

Andrew will work hard to encourage economic development and will collaborate with local leaders to make sure our business friendly environment is protected. Terre Haute has a lot to offer and he will work to make sure Terre Haute is seen as an ideal place to do business.

Our public education system is under attack by those who do not have the best interests of our children in mind. Andrew will fight hard for parental rights and transparency in our public schools. While special interests seek to place blame, Andrew is only interested in solutions to this most critical and important issue. We have to do better.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Andrew McNeil (R)

Andrew is passionate about economic policy and believes the government can best serve the private sector by reducing taxes, regulations and by getting out of the way. Andrew is also passionate about defending life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness by all Hoosiers including those yet to be born. As a father to seven kids Andrew is passionate about our children's education and shares the concern and disappointment voiced by thousands of Hoosier parents with the quality and focus of the public school system. We have to put an end to the constant attempts of the left to turn our schools into liberal indoctrination camps with the seeming desire to separate children from the beliefs and values of their parents. Andrew has the greatest respect for teachers and knows they are up against innumerable pressures. He believes we have to give our teachers the backing (discipline in the classroom) and support needed for the system to work. We can do both.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Andrew McNeil (R)

Andrew is a born again believer and follower of Christ. He is passionate about his relationship with the Lord and it is what drives him, motivates and guides him.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Andrew McNeil (R)

Humility and love for one's fellow man is essential. A leader should have a good knowledge of history, ideologies and a good working knowledge of the Bible. Leaders should look to find solutions and a way forward, and not be concerned with getting the recognition or credit.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Andrew McNeil (R)

I work well with others. I have strong guiding principles. I love Terre Haute and want the best for her. I am surrounded by a strong wife, and wise friends and leaders whose council I listen too. I am not one to run from a fight and am a very steady person.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Andrew McNeil (R)

To help craft laws beneficial to those in my district. To have a receptive ear to those I serve and to be transparent about votes and the "why" of votes.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Andrew McNeil (R)

I am running because of my kids and grandkids. I am concerned about the country they will inherit from my generation. I want to leave a legacy of freedom and liberty. I want to leave a legacy of devotion to God and love for my fellow man, an example I hope they follow.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Andrew McNeil (R)

Andrew attended Liberty Christian Academy in kindergarten. He remembers praying every day for the release of the hostages held by the radical Muslims that had taken over Iran at the time. Thankfully those prayers were answered when Ronald Reagan was elected President.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Andrew McNeil (R)

Andrew started working for his dad in the family office products store in the early 1990's. He was a copier technician and held the position until leaving in 1997.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Andrew McNeil (R)

One of my favorite books is Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Blacklisted by history written by M. Stanton Evans is also a good one. The most formative one besides the Bible is the 21 laws of leadership by John Maxwell.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Andrew McNeil (R)

Everyone has struggles. If you are struggling then you are growing. There have been relationship or Church experiences that soured over the years that at the time were a real struggle. It was navigating these difficult times that have really helped to forge and form who I am today.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Andrew McNeil (R)

Our founders were political genius's. The natural tendency to want to acquire power and to maintain it is the natural force that causes the needed tension between the differing branches of government. It is critical that the legislature retains and protects it's power granted under the state constitution. That being said it is most beneficial when a constitutional conservative governor leads well and is backed by a constitutionally conservative legislative branch. Absent that, when conflict or tension ensues it slows down the spread of governmental overreach and out of control spending which is a good thing.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Andrew McNeil (R)

Indiana is going to have to change the current trajectory of the "wokeism" both in our public schools and colleges or the traditional American way of life will be destroyed forever. The Judeo - Christian values that America and American freedom were founded on are going to have to be reaffirmed and reestablished in our public square for our society to survive. It is that critical.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Andrew McNeil (R)

No I don't, in fact I have noticed those who have been in the longest seem to be the most comfortable with the status quo. We need everyday citizens to serve, since they have the best outlook on policy's that effect the middle class. One of the biggest problems today is that we are governed by experts. Experts make very poor legislators and leaders since they are naturally blind to the wide range of issues a leader must consider.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Andrew McNeil (R)

Absolutely it is. We all need each other and no one person(including myself!) has all the answers or the complete picture of an issue. Team work makes the dream work as John Maxwell is fond of saying and I concur. It will be one of my highest priorities to build lasting and meaningful relationships with my colleagues.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Andrew McNeil (R)

The constitutional one. Leave it up to the legislatures and educate the public about the process. The media has been terribly dishonest about this and has helped to fuel the fire of distrust when it is a necessary and required process.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Andrew McNeil (R)

I was going door to door last fall when I ran into a former Marine who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was inspiring to speak to him and when I learned he had recently lost his son in an accident was even more poignant. The men and women of our armed services as well as our police and firefighters are the best of our country. It would be an honor to represent them.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

Andrew McNeil (R)

Emergency powers are the playground of dictators and beg to be abused. I do not like emergency powers as a rule however in the rare cases they might be merited I would advocate for legislative oversite and strict limits.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Andrew McNeil (R)

Compromise is only appropriate when conservatism is advanced by doing so. When core principles are compromised in order to "get something done" we all lose.

See also

More about these elections:

• Indiana House of Representatives elections, 2022

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