A triumphant Tiny Adams, the incumbent Democrat, defeated Republican Tom Bennington in a landslide victory Tuesday to maintain his 34th District seat in the State House of Representatives.
Adams' overwhelming return of almost 3,000 votes more than Bennington's 5,362 was the result of a race that had Adams well ahead of his opponent for the duration of the evening.
Adams said Tuesday's win came after the Republican Party failed to distort the people votes.
In his acceptance speech, Adams explained how Republicans in the state accused the representative of voting for every tax increase that came through the House.
"We know that's not true because I fight for the little people," Adams cried out among cheers from the remaining crowd at the Democratic headquarters. "(Republicans) lied, stole and cheated to get their votes, and they're not going to kick our ass anymore in the state."
Adams said his grassroots campaign focused on the people in his district and said Bennington was little more than a puppet for the Republican Party.
"I'm not out to help the big lobbyist," Adams said. "Almost 70 percent of the people in my district are low-income families, and we just didn't give the little people enough in the last session. I want to see that change."
Bennington acknowledged that his chances of winning the House seat were slim because his name recognition was not great due to his 12-year absence from the county.
"I knew I was a long shot," Bennington said. "I'm disappointed but not discouraged. I'll be back, and we hope to get them next time."
After his defeat Tuesday, he announced he would run for Delaware County Commissioner in 2004. Bennington, a former maintenance supervisor for the Muncie Sanitary District and superintendent of Anderson's sewage utility, has no legislative experience.
Both Bennington and Adams called for priorities in state spending, even among universities. Adams said universities' boards of trustees need to focus away from funding capital projects.
If they don't, he said, he would be willing to take measures to "get their attention."
Adams has supported Ball State's previous capital requests, including the Music Instructional Building, but a line needs to be drawn during these economic times, he said.
Adams said he did not vote for the most recent tax increase because it would have cut provisions for health care, child care and state prescription drugs for the "little people."
"The bottom line is, I do not support a general tax increase, but I do support sin taxes on cigarettes, alcohol, bingo and riverboat gambling," Adams said.
Adams said supporting such sin taxes would help develop the state's economy, which is one of the biggest issues facing Hoosiers today.
Adams said he would continue serving on the Ways and Means committee, which drafts the state's budget, in the upcoming term.
When the House convenes in January, Adams said he would seek the approval of legislators to support the funding of a casino near French Lick.
"That casino would create more than 2,000 jobs for people in state," Adams said. "If that's not economic development, then I'm not sure what is."
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