New candidates emerge for state races

Voters will have more choices for candidates to represent Wayne County at the state level on their primary ballots.

On Thursday, Feb. 5, Republican Pete Zaleski announced his candidacy for Indiana House of Representatives District 56. That filing came two days after fellow Republican Adam Blanton filed to run against his former boss at the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Randy Retter, in the May primary election.

The GOP winner will face Tom Rockwell, a Democrat who also filed Feb. 3, in the fall.

Zaleski, who owns Phillips Drugs in Richmond, previously served on Wayne County Council and Richmond Community Schools’ board. He also served as chair in 2024 during his six years on Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County’s board. Zaleski’s additional community involvement has included Wayne County Board of Health and Richmond Redevelopment Commission.

Zaleski called State Rep. Brad Barrett “an absolute gem” at the statehouse for the last eight years. He said some of the former surgeon’s key priorities would be lost at the statehouse when he retires from the legislature, and Zaleski wants to make sure they remain priorities not only for Wayne and Henry counties but for all of Indiana.

The pharmacist noted his community and professional experience in health care, health departments and small business ownership, and said he has a comprehensive background that would benefit state government.

Blanton said he began his career as a nurse in medical-surgical and pediatric care and then felt called to join law enforcement nearly 15 years ago. Blanton is currently assistant chief for Richmond Police Department.

“I’ve watched local politicians make trips to Indianapolis while the people back home deal with the consequences,” Blanton said in a social media post.

Blanton claimed that some elected officials encourage people to run for office while also working against having challengers, and he called an unopposed election “power without accountability.”

“For too long, a small circle has decided who runs and who doesn’t,” Blanton said. “I’m done waiting for someone else to step forward. After prayer, reflection and conversations with my family, today I did.”

During his Jan. 9 candidacy announcement, Retter said he has seen challenges and opportunities facing rural communities while working in public service since 1988. He couldn’t run again for sheriff because of Indiana’s term limits.

“I’m running for the Indiana House because I believe in strong, steady leadership that puts Hoosiers first and reflects the values of the people who live and work here,” Retter said at the time.

Retter had several roles with Wayne County Sheriff’s Office before being elected sheriff in 2018. He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Ball State University and is an Indiana Law Enforcement Academy graduate.

Rockwell, a Richmond resident, said it’s time for a new generation of leadership that’s focused on cultivating the area’s existing strengths and resources. He wants to bring new ideas and energy to District 56 through making sure state policy reflects working families’ real needs and by helping connect people, organizations, and local institutions.

Rockwell serves as a pastor of a small rural church and as a denominational leader, noting his work regularly brings together people with very different political and theological views to find common ground and move forward together.

He said he believes District 56 can be a model for turning down the political temperature and showing what locally led community renewal can look like — grounded in respect, cooperation and shared responsibility.

Rockwell has worked as a small business owner in forestry, partnering with farmers and landowners. That experience has shaped his understanding of rural life and concerns, which currently include affordable and accessible healthcare.

“Too often, the proposed solutions for communities like ours focus on attracting outside companies or waiting for outside experts to tell us what to do,” Rockwell said. “I believe the real expertise already lives here. When we stop catering to special interests and start listening more closely to the people of our district, we can unlock new opportunities, strengthen our economy, and build healthier communities.”

Senate District 27

Indiana State Sen. Jeff Raatz is being challenged for his District 27 seat in the primary by fellow Republican Anthony Lee Jones, who filed Feb. 2.

Jones said he was inspired to run after seeing Raatz vote no on Senate Bill 85 that would protect patients’ paychecks and homes from medical debt collectors and promote charity care and payment plans. Jones would support that bill.

Jones has lived in Richmond for nearly 31 years and graduated from high school in 2014. He earned an information technology certificate and has worked in retail and in telecommunication investments.

Jones said he sees a lot of people struggling financially and believes he could make the lives of those in the lowest economic classes better through serving in the state legislature.

Democrat Ron Itnyre of Richmond also filed Feb. 2 in hopes of unseating the three-term state senator.

Raatz was first elected in 2014 to represent the district, which now includes Wayne, Henry and Union counties and portions of Franklin County. He was reelected in 2018, and again 2022 when he beat Itnyre with 71% of the vote.

In a news release, Itnyre said he couldn’t sit idly by this election season. He’s concerned about recent tax legislation that he believes has negatively impacted communities across Indiana, as well as current division in the Indiana Senate and around the country.

“I want to bring personal freedom back to Hoosiers and our towns without the heavy hand of the state government interfering in local ordinances, economies and schools,” Itnyre said.

As of press time, Raatz hadn’t issued a statement about this year’s candidacy after filing for reelection in January.

Raatz serves as chair of Indiana’s Senate Committee on Education and Career Development and as a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and Senate School Funding Subcommittee.

Both candidates have worked in education.

Raatz taught at the college level as an adjunct instructor for several years and has worked in K-12 education. He owns a business-coaching organization that offers consulting on general business practice and specializes in financial matters, IT implementation and cash flow.

In 2024, Raatz ran for U.S. House Indiana District 6, losing in the Republican primary to Jefferson Shreve after earning 8.9% of the vote.

Itnyre is a senior lecturer of biology and director of the Office of Sustainability at Indiana University East. He grew up on a 300-acre corn and beef farm, eventually earning a doctorate in plant pathology and worked 13 years as a corn breeder.

Itnyre says he plans to ensure residents’ voices are heard in the state legislature, and criticized Raatz’s legislative record.

“Currently, Senate District 27 is represented by an individual who, unfortunately, is heavily influenced by major lobby groups and think tanks,” Itnyre said. “This has led to policies that prioritize special interests over our communities.”