Denise Paul Hatch

Candidate Q&A

What makes you qualified or uniquely fit for this position?

I am uniquely qualified for this race. I am the only candidate that held elected office before going to Congress. I am the only candidate who lead a law enforcement agency and increased public safety by 400%. I am the only candidate who worked on Capitol Hill. I am the only candidate who has 5 children and had to balance a large family’s budget. I am the only candidate who owned a small business. I am the only candidate who was a landlord. I am the only candidate that taught in a public school system. I am the only candidate that is a senior and has wisdom of age. I am the only candidate who took a case to the Indiana Supreme Court. I am the only candidate that cooked and fed the homeless even sleeping overnight outside with them in freezing weather. I am the only candidate who has a husband that is a disabled Vietnam veteran. I am the only candidate who is an immigrant and citizen by choice.

What do you believe are the top three most pressing issues in your district and how will you address them?

The AES Corporation raising rates that left senior citizens, people on a fixed income and working families in the dark. First, I would not take money from large corporations because I never want to be indebted. I will represent only the people of my district. AES Corporation should be investigated and a strategic sale will not stop an investigation. I would not have the people of the 7th line up to beg for money that’s owed to them from a wealth electric company. I would demand an across the board credit for all users in my district. The building of a Data Center in a densely populated neighborhood. I would have attended all the meetings held to approve the Data Center. I would have been an advocate that the community and people would know before all the deals were made. As a mother of 5 children, this one is very upsetting. Pregnant women must apply for Medicaid benefits. In a state that outlaws safe and legal abortions, pregnant women are being denied Medicaid. I would fight to make sure the State of Indiana protects all pregnant women by giving all women health care.

What is your stance on how the federal government is handling immigration enforcement?

Here again, I am uniquely qualified to speak on this issue. I was an immigrant child and can empathize with the immigrant family. The federal government is unnecessarily traumatizing families and not coming together to solve the real problem. We all know the tactics used to hunt down immigrants and send them to a country not of their origin. This inhumane enforcement must stop.

Many residents are concerned about the cost of food, housing and health care. How would you work to address these concerns?

First, I would actually hold town hall meetings and listen to what people are experiencing. Too many families just don’t feel heard. Then I will go back to Washington D.C. and fight for a higher minimum wage, health care for all, rent control and raising the income level to qualify for SNAP benefits.

If you win, how can Marion County constituents expect their lives to improve?

When I win, Marion County constituents lives will improve because I will be in the community listening and doing my best to make changes. This is not a magic pill but I promise to fight to improve their lives. My office will have an open door policy and I will return all calls and emails. I will never ask for your political affiliation, just how I may help.