Rensberger Faces Ruppel In State Representative Race
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Larry Rensberger is running for office for one of the usual reasons, dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs.
His ire is such that he's switched political parties, from Republican to Democrat, and running against seven term State Representative Bill Ruppel for the District 22 seat.
It was Ruppel's swing vote for Daylight Savings Time, which passed the House, 51 to 47, and the license branch closing in Syracuse that brought the 67-year-old out of semi-retirement and onto the political trail.
"I had no plan to do this," Rensberger said of his candidacy. "My plan was to get behind someone else, find someone to run against Bill Ruppel."
The challenge had to come from the Democrat Party, so Rensberger registered as a Democrat and became a District 22 candidate. He received more votes (303 to 136) than Allan Dunnagan of Wabash in the May primary.
Rensberger was glad to have a Republican-controlled House after 16 years of a Democrat majority. He thinks that's part of the process, a give and take. He backed Mitch Daniels in his bid for the governor's office.
Then things started to change.
"Ruppel said on several occasions he wouldn't vote for daylight savings time.
"On the first round of votes he voted against it. And then, when he cast the swing vote, where was he? Did he go to Daniels and say, 'Hey, I did you a huge favor. Don't close the North Manchester and Syracuse license branches? No."
The 1957 North Webster High School graduate, thinks selling the toll road for 75 years is short-term thinking.
"It seems as if any scheme Gov. Daniels comes up with, the current House just rubber stamps it."
He believes bureaucracy should back away from ISTEP and let teachers, parents and the community manage it.
He's for all-day kindergarten as an option, not as a mandate.
"I'm on the middle ground with a lot of things. I'm a moderate on money issues, if not on all issues.
He would like to see a cap or limit on gasoline sales tax and property tax reform or elimination.
He is opposed to the current trend of privatizing state department services.
"On the local and state level there's not a wit's difference in people's thinking. If you're not a registered Republican you have no say in the local government. The Democrats simply don't have the candidates. It's a misfigure when you say everyone in this county is a Republican.
"I'd like to see a good, strong Democrat Party. as well as competition within the party."
The former Marine is a member of the Indiana Guard Reserve. He regularly travels to Camp Atterbury as an IGR member.
He and his wife, Janelle, were married in 1964 and they have three children and five grandchildren.
The couple own Conyer Agri Service and own the patent on "Balanced Horse Power," a horse feed supplement. Janelle runs Bittersweet Cottage, a bed and breakfast at CR 500E.
Rensberger can be contacted at 574-834-1842 or by e-mail at: larryrensberger@ yahoo.com [[In-content Ad]]
Larry Rensberger is running for office for one of the usual reasons, dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs.
His ire is such that he's switched political parties, from Republican to Democrat, and running against seven term State Representative Bill Ruppel for the District 22 seat.
It was Ruppel's swing vote for Daylight Savings Time, which passed the House, 51 to 47, and the license branch closing in Syracuse that brought the 67-year-old out of semi-retirement and onto the political trail.
"I had no plan to do this," Rensberger said of his candidacy. "My plan was to get behind someone else, find someone to run against Bill Ruppel."
The challenge had to come from the Democrat Party, so Rensberger registered as a Democrat and became a District 22 candidate. He received more votes (303 to 136) than Allan Dunnagan of Wabash in the May primary.
Rensberger was glad to have a Republican-controlled House after 16 years of a Democrat majority. He thinks that's part of the process, a give and take. He backed Mitch Daniels in his bid for the governor's office.
Then things started to change.
"Ruppel said on several occasions he wouldn't vote for daylight savings time.
"On the first round of votes he voted against it. And then, when he cast the swing vote, where was he? Did he go to Daniels and say, 'Hey, I did you a huge favor. Don't close the North Manchester and Syracuse license branches? No."
The 1957 North Webster High School graduate, thinks selling the toll road for 75 years is short-term thinking.
"It seems as if any scheme Gov. Daniels comes up with, the current House just rubber stamps it."
He believes bureaucracy should back away from ISTEP and let teachers, parents and the community manage it.
He's for all-day kindergarten as an option, not as a mandate.
"I'm on the middle ground with a lot of things. I'm a moderate on money issues, if not on all issues.
He would like to see a cap or limit on gasoline sales tax and property tax reform or elimination.
He is opposed to the current trend of privatizing state department services.
"On the local and state level there's not a wit's difference in people's thinking. If you're not a registered Republican you have no say in the local government. The Democrats simply don't have the candidates. It's a misfigure when you say everyone in this county is a Republican.
"I'd like to see a good, strong Democrat Party. as well as competition within the party."
The former Marine is a member of the Indiana Guard Reserve. He regularly travels to Camp Atterbury as an IGR member.
He and his wife, Janelle, were married in 1964 and they have three children and five grandchildren.
The couple own Conyer Agri Service and own the patent on "Balanced Horse Power," a horse feed supplement. Janelle runs Bittersweet Cottage, a bed and breakfast at CR 500E.
Rensberger can be contacted at 574-834-1842 or by e-mail at: larryrensberger@ yahoo.com [[In-content Ad]]