Indiana lawmaker quitting weeks after winning reelection

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A northern Indiana lawmaker announced Tuesday she was resigning from her legislative seat just three weeks after winning reelection.

Republican Christy Stutzman of Middlebury, the wife of former U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman, said in a statement that she would step down effective Dec. 14 from the Indiana House seat representing much of Elkhart County.

Stutzman said she needed to devote more time to her family’s business after the family and business partners earlier this year bought the former Amish Acres tourist attraction that they renamed The Barns at Nappanee. Stutzman blamed coronavirus restrictions ordered by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb for creating “instability and difficult circumstances” for the business.

Stutzman was first elected to the legislative seat in 2018 and easily won a second term in the Nov. 3 election. A caucus of Republican precinct committee members will pick a replacement to represent the district for the next two years.

Marlin Stutzman served six years in Congress before losing a 2016 Republican primary U.S. Senate bid amid ethics concerns from an Associated Press investigation into the spending of campaign money on hotels, meals and at least one family trip.

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2 thoughts on “Indiana lawmaker quitting weeks after winning reelection

  1. I feel great compassion for every local business owner across not just Indiana, but everywhere. It’s sad and scary to think of all the dreams, jobs, life’s work and financial stability that has evaporated already.

    At the same time, I think this “blame The Man” statements is one of the most tone-deaf and selfish acts of the year. The Stutzman’s must live in a bubble — not a COVID bubble, but a bubble of ignorance. State leaders did what they had to do, and Indiana’s restrictions aren’t as draconian as other states. Gov. Holcomb just essentially gave decision-making about restrictions back to the counties, and oh by the way, on the same day Stutzman put out her pouty resignation, 100 Hoosiers died from COVID. Well cry me a river, Christy. While it’s great that the Stutzman’s purchased Amish Acres, now that I know the character of the person I would support by spending my money at the new venue, I’m not sure I’ll ever go. I would have before yesterday.

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