Former teacher Kim Fidler announces campaign for state representative

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Kimberly Fidler officially filed paperwork Thursday as a candidate for District 44 state representative.

A lifelong resident of Owen and Putnam counties, Fidler resides in Greencastle.

She has filed for the state representative spot on the Democrat ballot in the May 3 Indiana primary. It is the legislative seat currently held by Rep. Jim Baird (R-Greencastle).

Kim Fidler

Fidler has established three priorities in representing the district:

-- Preserving public education for students and teachers.

-- Preserving the civil rights of all citizens in District 44.

-- Representing the best interests of citizens, not a political party.

"The voting record of our current state legislator does not adequately represent the best interests of the constituents in District 44," Fidler said.

"I have worked in 35 school corporations over the past 26 years. I would vote only for a state budget that would adequately fund our district's schools, rather than cuts that benefit schools in Indianapolis."

Fidler believes that the civil rights of citizens in District 44 are not being protected.

"I have worked with many different groups to gather insight regarding RFRA, the repeal of the Common Construction Wage, and attacks on teachers in traditional public schools," she said. "These are not the priorities of the people in our district and I will see that their voices are heard.

"I'm tired of the current legislators' need to 'fix' messes in Indiana that they have created," Fidler said. "A good legislator listens to constituents, votes the wishes of constituents, and does not need to fix laws that they have passed."

Fidler was a Spanish teacher at South Putnam High School for 16 years. She has been a UniServ director for the Indiana State Teachers Association for the past 10 years.

She has two children, Chelsea Fidler, 22, and Denny Fidler, 19.

District 44 includes all of Putnam County, as well as portions of Clay, Parke, Owen and Morgan counties.