Baird unseats Michael

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

GREENCASTLE -- A new Indiana state representative will be serving District 44 come 2011.

Republican James Baird, a former Putnam County Councilman, bested incumbent Democrat Nancy Michael in Tuesday's General Election. Baird will officially take office in January.

"I'm very appreciative of all the help I've had," Baird said. "I am very much looking forward to the opportunity to serve West Central Indiana.

Baird said he didn't go into the election with any preconceived notions.

"I don't know what I expected," he said with a chuckle.

During his campaign, Baird promised that he would "get focused on job creation and seek new ways to reduce spending at all levels of government."

Baird resides in Greencastle. He is a farmer and longtime business owner, as well as a decorated Army veteran.

He had served on the County Council since 2006. Baird announced his candidacy for the representative's seat last January.

He is a graduate and has a Ph.D in animal science from the University of Kentucky. He owns an in-home healthcare business in Greencastle along with his family.

Michael, a former Greencastle mayor, was elected as state representative in 2008. She was mayor from 1996 to 2007, and prior to that had been on the Putnam County Council and was clerk of the Putnam County Circuit Court.

"This was a great race," Michael said. "I'm proud to have been on the ticket, and I look forward to seeing how things will go from here."

Michael doesn't know if she will seek public office in the future.

"All I can say is, no commitments at this point in time," she said.

House District 44 includes all of Putnam County and parts of Clay, Parke and Vigo counties. In Putnam County, 10,275 votes were cast in the race -- Baird received 54.88 percent of those votes, 41.36 percent went to Michael and 3.76 percent went to Libertarian Dennis Beatty.

There are 52 precincts in the area District 44 covers. District-wide, Baird received 55 percent of the votes, Michael 41 percent and Beatty 4 percent.

Comments
View 9 comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.
  • Nancy Michael= Class Act

    Great job in office these last few years,we look forward to your return.

    -- Posted by ProblemTransmission on Wed, Nov 3, 2010, at 5:16 AM
  • Baird is a County Commissioner,not a County Councilman.

    -- Posted by localman on Wed, Nov 3, 2010, at 6:33 AM
  • Congrats Jim -- and Nancy, after witnessing this Obama idiot for the past 2 years -- I will NEVER vote for another democrat again. Forget it.

    -- Posted by GRNT on Wed, Nov 3, 2010, at 8:08 AM
  • Ah the era of telling one peron one thing and the next person something complety different is over. Good Job Jim.

    -- Posted by hardtobelieve on Wed, Nov 3, 2010, at 8:29 AM
  • Jim and Nancy an are both great people, and Jim will do a fine job.

    -- Posted by razor man on Wed, Nov 3, 2010, at 9:01 AM
  • Nancy we will miss you in office- i hope Mr. Baird can fill your shoes- you have done great things for Putnam County.

    -- Posted by talkymom3 on Wed, Nov 3, 2010, at 11:16 AM
  • Congrats Jim!

    -- Posted by concerned3 on Wed, Nov 3, 2010, at 1:41 PM
  • Well, it looks like the teachers and firefighters are losing a friend. I wish you the best in the future Nancy. You are a great individual and will excel in whatever it is you decide to do next.

    -- Posted by Palimino on Wed, Nov 3, 2010, at 5:34 PM
  • @GRNT: It's logic like yours that keeps idiots in power. "One person messed up, so I'm going to vote against their party...they're obviously all the same." That rationale has also been used to justify racism and bigotry.

    If we did away with political parties entirely, people would have to vote for each office. Which means they'd have to actually listen to the candidates and decide which one was best. Voting straight-ticket is for the lazy and uninformed.

    -- Posted by PlatyPius on Wed, Nov 3, 2010, at 8:06 PM
Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: