A longtime state lawmaker from the far east side faces two challengers in the upcoming May primary election.
Rep. John Bartlett, a Democrat, has represented House District 95 since 2007.
Keith Graves, who represents parts of the eastside on City-County Council; and Tyrell Giles, who serves on Lawrence Common Council, are also on the ballot.
No Republicans have filed to run in District 95, making it likely that the chosen Democrat will run uncontested in November.
Mirror Indy asked the three candidates about their approach to public service, their opinions on controversial topics like data centers and charter schools, and how they would make themselves accessible to their constituents.
Bartlett: ‘Great time to maintain what we have’
Bartlett has served in his seat for nearly 20 years. He said now is not the time for a change in House District 95.
“I just think that now’s a great time to maintain what we have,” Bartlett said. “We have a cohesive group. And I am supported by the IBLC (Indiana Black Legislative Caucus), supported by the firefighters, just so many groups.”
And he said there is still work he hopes to accomplish at the Statehouse.
“In the legislature, some things, you have to go at it and go at it and go at it before you can get it done,” Bartlett said. “There’s a couple things I think I’m so close, that I just need to stay there and get it done.”
Some of his top priorities include women’s health care, utility costs and road funding. He also plans to reintroduce a bill that would require officers who discharge their firearm, causing injury or death to a person, to be tested for substances. He first authored this bill in 2025 and again in this year’s legislative session.
“I think that it’s a protection for all,” Bartlett said. “If you’re driving down the street and they think there’s a possibility of impairment, they can test you as a citizen. So if they work for us, why can’t we test them?”
Bartlett told Mirror Indy he is “totally opposed” to data centers. He is concerned about potential environmental impacts and increased energy usage.
“There are too many unanswered questions about data centers for me to buy in at this point,” Bartlett said. “I am completely unequivocally opposed to data centers.”
Bartlett said he is accessible to his constituents and hosts one to two town halls a year. He also schedules what he calls kitchen table conversations with constituents.
“I’ll come to your house on a Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon or in the evening, and I bring publications from the state,” Bartlett said. “I take 5 to 10 minutes and tell you what I do, but then I listen to my constituents.”
Graves: ‘You have to be in the community’
Keith Graves, 59, says he considers himself more of a community advocate than a politician.
He was elected to City-County Council in 2019. He represents District 9, which includes Arlington Woods, Brendonridge, Devington, and parts of Lawrence and the far east side.
He’s seen the consequences of the city failing to invest in the far east side: food deserts, crumbling roads, decaying parks and neglected housing complexes.
As a councilor, Graves facilitated meetings between Cook Medical and community members when the medical device manufacturing company announced plans to build a facility in Graves’ district. Those conversations led to the company partnering with two local entrepreneurs to launch a grocery store, Indy Fresh Market, which has since come under new management.
Graves is also credited with contributing to the creation of the Marion County Pre-Trial Release Program, which provides alternatives to incarceration for people who are facing criminal charges for the first time or who have committed low-level offenses.
His priorities as a state senator would include bringing financial relief to the poor, securing rights for tenants and addressing mental health and substance abuse.
“We’ve got to fight those root causes if we really want Indiana to be the best,” Graves said.
When asked why he believes House District 95 needs new leadership, Graves said that public officials have a responsibility to be present for their constituents.
“I’m in the community pretty heavily, so I know who’s not, and I think that’s a missing piece,” Graves said.
When asked for his thoughts on the emergence of companies that want to build data centers here, Graves said he sees the value they can bring to communities in the form of jobs and tax revenue, but he is concerned about environmental pollution, water usage and rising energy prices.
“I need more information at this point,” Graves said. “I need a neutral, full-fledged report, and I think our state should invest in that report.”
Asked whether he supports property tax funding for charter schools, Graves said he believes in school choice. He backed the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance, a state-mandated task force that was created to recommend changes for how Indianapolis Public Schools and charter schools could share resources.
Graves attended Broad Ripple High School and graduated from Indiana University. In addition to his role on council, he is a U.S. Army veteran and a financial advisor with his own firm. He is a father of two children.
Graves attracted controversy last year after Laurin Embry, a social worker and Democratic campaign volunteer, told IndyStar he physically and sexually assaulted her during and after their two-year relationship. Another woman, who was not named, was granted a civil protective order after she accused Graves of domestic violence, the newspaper reported. The claim was later dismissed.
No criminal charges were filed in either case.
Graves stepped down as chair of the council’s education committee in the days following the report, though he maintains the allegations are false.
“Unfortunately, the person I was involved with from 2020 to 2022 has chosen to portray our time together inaccurately rather than honestly representing our relationship,” Graves said in a statement at the time.
Giles: ‘focused on the issues that matter the most’
Tyrell Giles was elected to serve on the Lawrence Common Council in 2015. He served as council president in 2023.
Giles has lived in Lawrence since 2010, is a father of three and owns a private security company, Quest Event Management.
Giles said he commends Bartlett for the work he has done on the east side, but believes it is time for a change in who represents the district.
“Some of those issues that really are big issues to the state, they are heightened in HD 95,” Giles said. “I believe that the House representative of that district should be leading the charge for those issues to ensure that we’re really focused on the issues that matter the most.”
When asked if he supports using taxes to fund charter schools, Giles said he does support school choice.
“But I also know that we need to make sure that public education is well funded, for regular, everyday neighborhood kids,” Giles said. “Making sure that their schools are funded as well.
He also said he would vote to limit and regulate data centers.
“I’m concerned about the rapid growth of the data center charge and how that’s going to affect the common working man,” Giles said. “I want to be very cautious and sensitive to the workers of HD 95 on top of all the environmental issues and all the other issues that everybody else has.”
Giles said he is comfortable working across party lines. While Democrats have a majority on the Lawrence Common Council and the mayor is a Democrat, Giles said some of his proudest achievements happened under a Republican mayor.
He mentioned rebuilding Lawrence’s water treatment plants, development of the Fort Benjamin Harrison neighborhood and building new police and fire stations.
“I will work across the aisle to get results done,” Giles said. “But I will also want my people to know that I will never weaken and I will always stand strong for our Democratic values.”
How to vote in the Indiana primary
Marion County residents with a valid government-issued photo ID can vote early at the City-County Building from April 7 through May 5, and at one of nine early voting centers from April 25 through May 5.
On election day, which is May 5, residents can vote at one of the county’s 182 vote centers from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. Those still in line when the polls close at 6 p.m. should stay in line to cast their ballots.
The deadline to register to vote is April 6. Visit the state’s Voter Portal to check your registration status.
Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.
Mirror Indy reporter Darian Benson covers east Indianapolis. Contact her at 317-397-7262 or darian.benson@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on X @HelloImDarian or on Bluesky @darianbenson.bsky.social.
Peter Blanchard covers local government. Reach him at 317-605-4836 or peter.blanchard@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on X @peterlblanchard.
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