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Newest State Lawmaker Will Serve One Day At Statehouse Before Reelection Bid

courtesy Bionca Gambill

Indiana‘s newest state representative will be campaigning in November to win a career in the House chamber that lasts longer than one day.

Former township trustee Bionca Gambill (D-Terre Haute) replaces Kreg Battles (D-Vincennes), who resigned last month. She was sworn in in time to take part in a special one-day session to fix errors in two new laws, but the House won‘t reconvene until after the November general election.

Gambill says she‘ll spend the time talking to city and county leaders, school and library officials, and sheriffs and police chiefs to get a feel for what her new constituents in the four-county district want.

Gambill says she wants to focus on education, local government, and strengthening the middle class.

Her Republican opponent is former legislator and Jasonville mayor Bruce Borders. But Gambill says she can offset Borders’ name recognition.

"My husband's family is from Sullivan County. They have a strong base there," she says. "I'm president of Sullivan-Vigo Rural Water Corporation. That was something that I actually founded."

Gambill ran for the House in 2010, losing to Bob Heaton (R-Terre Haute). After redistricting moved her into Battles‘ district, she says she thought her chance to enter the House had passed.

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