Chair, Democratic Campaign, Indiana State House of Representatives, 2002-present

Chair, House Democratic Campaign Committee, Indiana State House of Representatives, 2003-present

Former House Majority Leader, Indiana State House of Representatives

Former Assistant Majority Whip, Indiana State House of Representatives

Majority Floor Leader

Candidate, Indiana House of Representatives, District 74, 2010

Representative, Indiana State House of Representatives, 1996-2010

Delegate, National Democratic Convention, 1984, 1988, 1996

Former Member, State Solid Waste Facility Site Approval Authority

Task Force Election Reform, 2001

Indiana Air Pollution Control Board, 1992-1996

South African Election Observer, 1994

Hazardous Waste Board, Indiana, 1990-1992

Former Member, State Utility Regulatory Nominating Commission, 1988-1991

Experience, Coal Miner

Member, State Air Pollution Board, State IDEM, 1990-2005

Political Field Director, United Mine Workers Association, 1981-2005

Corporal, United States Army Infantry, Vietnam, 1968-1969

Member, Local 1189, United Mine Workers of America, 1970-present

Member, Alcoa CAB Community Board

Board Member, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations Indiana, present

Member, American Legion, present

Member, Elks, present

Member, Farm Bureau, present

Member, Methodist Church

Member, Moose, present

Board Member, Red Cross, present

Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars, present

Awards:

O'Banon Sunshire Award - 2007 - Open Government Award from Hoosier Press Association.

Names of Grandchildren:

Taylor, age 13, Kailyn 10, Cole 8, Joey 6, Sloane 3, Blair 2

Priority Issues:

Public K-12 Education; a level playing field for working families and jobs and economic development for all areas of our state!

Reason for Seeking Public Office:

As a Third Generation coal miner, I have spent my adult live advocating for mine safety and support for coal miners. I have taken that passion for helping people to the state capitol. I want to insure that working class people get the same fair treatment as others in our society. I want to insure that we maintain a worldclass K-12 education system that is second to none, for both our teachers and our kids! And I want to make government shine with openness and transparency from the local level to the state level. And I intend to continue my quest for jobs in our rural communities and insure that our tax dollars go for Hoosier jobs.