It’s that time again, with state senate elections taking place Nov. 8.

Districts 9 and 12 encompass the majority of the surrounding towns. District 9 covers parts of Milford, North Webster, Syracuse, Wakarusa, Winona Lake, Pierceton, Leesburg, Warsaw, Etna Green, Bourbon, Nappanee, Plymouth, Bremen, Elkhart, Mishawaka, South Bend, Lakeville and LaPaz with current Republican State Senator Ryan Mishler running unopposed. Mishler attained a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Southern California. He also attended Worham College of Mortuary Science. He is the president of Mishler Funeral Homes and Bremen Monument Company. He is the current state senator after being elected for the first time in 2004 and is the majority whip.

District 12 covers parts of Syracuse, Goshen, New Paris, Millersburg, Wakarusa, Bristol, Elkhart, Middlebury and Dunlap with Democrat Carl Rust running against Republican Blake Doriot. Rust attained a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Ohio State University. He is the current director of Elkhart Elementary Academy. He was also the chairman for the Elkhart County for Bernie Sanders group. Doriot attained a bachelor of science degree from Purdue University. He is the owner of B. Doriot and Associates Land Surveying. He is on his sixth term as the Elkhart County Surveyor.

1) What are your feelings about the school systems, school funding, education programs and standardized testing? What would you like to keep? What would you want to change?

Mishler: “Eight years ago, I was given a task to work on the school funding formula in the Senate. My goal was to see that the money followed the child and each student received the same base level of funding regardless of the school they attend. This year we finally achieved that goal. Each student in Indiana will have the same base level of funding then some will receive more based on complexity (poverty), special needs, honors, and other programs. Four years ago, I also worked on a rewards program for effective and highly effective teachers. We have since doubled the program and I would like to see it continue. I do not support the ISTEP+ exam and feel we do too much testing. I am very supportive of project based learning.”

Doriot: “This district is blessed with some of the best school districts in the state. I believe school choice and the voucher system are positive for the state and help to create competition and better schools. I like the agriculture and trade programs available in Elkhart County schools so students are ready to enter the workforce or go to college, such as the vet lab at Fairfield School. Something needs to be done about the cost of college. We should base teacher’s pay on their work and ability to improve the students they have and not on a percentage. I believe standardized testing should be replaced with smaller tests given multiple times a year.”

Rust: “Education starts at birth. All high school students in the state of Indiana should be required to take parenting classes. This will help make sure all of our children have a lifelong education. Parents are the first teachers. Pre K must be offered to all families. There is no bigger predictor of future success than early childhood education. We must make sure our public schools are adequately funded. We should eliminate public funding of private schools through the voucher program. Teachers must be paid and treated as professionals. They must have the training, technology and time to enable them to do the excellent job I know they can do. Many of our young people either can’t afford to go to college or they leave with a degree and thousands of dollars of student debt that severely limits their ability to participate in our economy. We must make sure college is affordable for Indiana students. We need to overhaul the testing system. We need to have a test that measures growth that we give several times a year to help guide instruction.”

2) What do you think is the most important topic up for debate and what is your stance? If you could change one thing, what would it be?

Mishler: “Since this is a budget year, this will be the most important topic for debate. The issue that draws the most attention every budget cycle is K-12 funding. I do support an increase. This year road funding will be an issue with much discussion. We have declining revenue methods for local road funding. Many local units of government are operating at appropriations equivalent to what they had in 2010, while costs are increasing. We have to restructure road funding with sustainable funding methods. One thing I would change is the school voucher program. Currently students in any school can use a voucher if their parents qualify financially. I would like to see the voucher program used for any student in a D or F school regardless of the status of the parents.”

Doriot: “I want to work with state infrastructure and Indiana Department of Transportation, railways and trucking industries to make sure funds are being used wisely. They shouldn’t build a bridge that no one wants simply because they have the funding for a bridge. I have very personal reasons for wanting prison reform. Offenders need to be treated differently with a focus on treatment or trade learning. We should not be letting imprisoned offenders go back on the streets without any treatment.”

Rust: “We need jobs. We need well-paying jobs. We need jobs of the future. We need to help small businesses in Indiana grow. Main Street Indiana is where long term stable growth will be achieved. We need to make Indiana a destination for business. We should eliminate any obstacle that would cause businesses to locate in other areas. We need highly trained, skilled workers, local and state agencies that are friendly to business and non-discrimination guarantees to show that Indiana welcomes all people. Everyone who wants to work should be able to find a good job that can provide for themselves and their families.”