Campaign 2008 PR
October 25, 2008
Mary Ann has received the official endorsement from the Indianapolis Star editorial board:
Read the full endorsement here. October 18, 2008
Indianapolis Star political columnist Matt Tully caught up with Mary Ann on the campaign trail:
Read Matt's entire column here.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Mary Ann Sullivan endorsed by diverse groups
Sullivan has earned support from business, labor, education
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Paid for and authorized by Mary Ann Sullivan for Indiana House
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 25, 2008
Contact: Keric Fitzgerald, 317-223-4774
Mary Ann Sullivan announces legislative agenda “The Mary Ann Plan” offers solutions, priorities for next session
INDIANAPOLIS – Mary Ann Sullivan, the Democratic candidate for Indiana House District 97, today announced her legislative agenda at a Statehouse news conference.
“The Mary Ann Plan” lays out Sullivan’s vision for the district; she crafted it after spending a year getting feedback from constituents and community leaders. The plan focuses on five major areas: our ailing economy, our education system, our health care crisis, the property tax situation and the pressing need for government reform.
“Unlike my opponent, I’ve spent the last year running for this public office, and my plan reflects the stories I’ve heard on the campaign trail,” Sullivan said. “Hoosiers are looking for new ideas and new ways to solve our problems. They’re also looking for leaders who can work together to actually get things done.”
Highlights from “The Mary Ann Plan” include working with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and business leaders to grow “green” jobs by building on the state’s existing workforce strengths; getting money back from companies who break their job growth commitments; fully funding full-day kindergarten; improve health care records to increase efficiency; and develop a fair and equitable property assessment system to prevent future property tax crises.
“We’ve got to get back to basics,” Sullivan said. “I understand that we’re going into a tough budget year that’s going to require us to set and stick to our priorities. These are my priorities.”
“I didn’t have much growing up, but my parents taught me that promises mean something. I can’t promise that everything in this plan will become law next year, but I can promise that if I’m elected November, I will fight passionately for these initiatives, and I will never walk out on my constituents,” Sullivan concluded.
A copy of “The Mary Ann Plan” is attached to this release.
Mary Ann Sullivan is an Indianapolis native who has spent the last 20 years as an advocate for public education. She has worked in and for the Indianapolis Public Schools and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and a Masters Degree in Public Affairs, focusing on policy analysis. Mary Ann and her husband, Brian, live in Downtown Indianapolis. They have three grown children and one grandchild.
On the Web: www.maryannforhouse.com
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Paid for and authorized by Mary Ann Sullivan for Indiana House
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 18, 2008 Contact: Keric Fitzgerald, 317-223-4774 House District 97 candidate Mary Ann Sullivan on the spike in gasoline prices
INDIANAPOLIS – House District 97 candidate Mary Ann Sullivan today released the following statement on the spike in gasoline prices and the need to reduce our dependence on oil: "This next legislative session is going to be crucial for hard-working Hoosiers who have been hit in the pocketbook time and again by unexpected costs like the most recent spike in gasoline prices. "While we can't control the weather, we certainly can control the direction our state takes when it comes to alternative energy and making sure we're doing everything we can to reduce our dependence on oil. "As a state representative, I will make alternative energy a priority and work across party lines to put incentives in place that will further promote this booming industry and create more 'green-collar' jobs of the future. "I also will fight for a viable system of mass transit both within Indianapolis and across our state." Mary Ann Sullivan is an Indianapolis native who has spent the last 20 years as an advocate for public education. She has worked in and for the Indianapolis Public Schools and holds a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy and a Masters Degree in Public Affairs, focusing on policy analysis. Mary Ann and her husband, Brian, live in Downtown Indianapolis. They have three grown children and one grandchild. On the Web: www.maryannforhouse.com -30-
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August 14, 2008 Contact: Keric Fitzgerald, 317-223-4774 Sullivan announces plan to fight mortgage foreclosures
Lending crisis has hit House District 97 hard Mary Ann Sullivan, the Democratic candidate in Indiana House District 97, today announced her plan to stem the tide of mortgage foreclosures that has forced thousands of Hoosier families from their homes and driven property values down. For the past decade, Indiana has ranked above the national average in mortgage foreclosures. A recent study by the Center for Responsible Lending projected that more than 48,000 Indiana homes will be foreclosed this year. "Hard-working families are struggling to keep up with their mortgage payments as they also cope with the rising costs of fuel and food," Sullivan said. "We have to take action to ease the pain of a crisis that's putting people out on the streets, devastating our neighborhoods and endangering children." Sullivan's solution includes three proposals aimed at preventing lenders from preying on uninformed consumers and making assistance more readily available to those homeowners who find themselves in the foreclosure process: 1. Ban pre-payment penalties Borrowers should not be penalized for repaying a loan before it comes due, especially when it comes to sub-prime lending. We should make it easier for people to refinance or pay down their debts when they are able. 2. Require lenders to include taxes and insurance up front and to review every borrower's ability to repay a loan Requiring lenders to review whether borrowers will be able to repay their loans and making sure taxes and insurance are included in mortgage payments will prevent Hoosiers from getting into loans they cannot afford. At least 10 states currently require lenders to assess a borrower's ability to repay the loan. 3. Consolidate current state programs designed to prevent mortgage foreclosure The state's mortgage foreclosure prevention programs should be combined with efforts to combat mortgage fraud and predatory lending to create a one-stop resource for struggling families and those who are targeted by illegal and unfair practices. Sullivan said her grassroots campaign has brought her into contact with many families whose lives have been adversely affected by the foreclosure crisis. "As I walk through the neighborhoods of House District 97 every night, I see streets lined with boarded-up homes, once well-maintained yards full of trash and weeds, and the burned-out remains of vacant properties. These abandoned houses attract gangs, criminals and illegal dumping. We must do more to stabilize and rebuild neighborhoods that continue to be devastated by this epidemic," Sullivan said. "I believe my proposal will help prevent future losses and provide immediate assistance to those who need help now." Mary Ann Sullivan is an Indianapolis native who has spent the last 20 years as an advocate for public education. She has worked in and for the Indianapolis Public Schools and holds a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy and a Masters Degree in Public Affairs, focusing on policy analysis. Mary Ann and her husband, Brian, live in Downtown Indianapolis. They have three grown children and one grandchild. On the Web: www.maryannforhouse.com -30-
Paid for and authorized by Mary Ann Sullivan for Indiana House
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 7, 2008 Contact: Keric Fitzgerald, 317-223-4774 Sullivan pushes alternative energy proposals
House candidate believes Indiana must set a national example INDIANAPOLIS – Mary Ann Sullivan, the Democratic candidate in House District 97, today announced her support for measures that would help brand Indiana as a nationwide leader in alternative energy as elected officials continue to look for ways to reduce our reliance on foreign oil. "The rising cost of gasoline over the past year has highlighted a much larger problem. We must strive to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and set an example for other states to follow by developing policies that put us at the front of the pack," Sullivan said. Sullivan believes we should set an example by shifting reliance to renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, hydrogen and other biofuels. She also believes that state government is failing to lead the effort to diversify our energy sources. That's why she is proposing that all new state and university construction be done in accordance with "green" building standards, which currently are not required. This move would save tax dollars by reducing utility costs. Sullivan also wants to ensure that all new state vehicles are flex-fuel vehicles that run on the ethanol blend, E-85. Indiana trails otherMidwestern states with fewer than one in five vehicles in the state's fleet able to burn E-85. Moreover, many state agencies currently are unable to track the use of ethanol-powered vehicles. Sullivan supports the development of a tracking system that would require better accountability. Finally, Sullivan strongly supports the development of mass transit alternatives that would give motorists options other than driving their personal vehicles. These alternatives range from improving the local bus system to making sure Amtrak is fully funded to looking at long-term public transportation needs such as light rail. "This is an urgent and compelling need that requires serious bipartisan cooperation," Sullivan said. "We have to move beyond rhetoric to action that takes into full account our current reality." Mary Ann Sullivan is an Indianapolis native who has spent the last 20 years as an advocate for public education. She has worked in and for the Indianapolis Public Schools and holds a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy and a Masters Degree in Public Affairs, focusing on policy analysis. Mary Ann and her husband, Brian, live in Downtown Indianapolis. They have three grown children and one grandchild. On the Web: www.maryannforhouse.com -30-
Paid for and authorized by Mary Ann Sullivan for Indiana House
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 18, 2008 Contact: Keric Fitzgerald, 317-223-4774 (Sullivan), or Amber Bacavis, 317-504-0204 (Barnes) Barnes, Sullivan call for increased Amtrak funding
House candidates committed to preserving jobs, improving mass transit INDIANAPOLIS – John Barnes and Mary Ann Sullivan, the respective Democratic candidates for House Districts 89 and 97, today joined U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh in calling for increased Amtrak funding at the federal level to help protect workers who live and work in their districts. Bayh and U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) recently urged key lawmakers to appropriate $1.8 billion for Amtrak to maintain its current rail operations and increase intercity rail services throughout the nation. Amtrak's Beech Grove maintenance facility currently employs more than 400 Hoosiers. "These highly skilled workers are building and maintaining a system of transportation that's both efficient and effective," Barnes said. "We need to do everything we can to protect those jobs while investing in an alternative to driving that saves energy and money." Both candidates stressed the importance of maintaining the workforce at the Beech Grove facility, which has been threatened in the past. "These are good-paying jobs that are critical to our community," they said. "We have to do everything we can to fight to keep them here." In light of soaring gas prices, Barnes and Sullivan also pledged to do their part working on legislative solutions at the Statehouse to improve and develop mass transit in Indianapolis and across the state. The candidates both said they would work across the aisle to accomplish this important goal. "From Washington to Indianapolis, we have an obligation to work together to find ways to reduce our reliance on oil," Sullivan said. "We need to focus on making mass transit more accessible and easier to use, and we need to start now." Barnes and Sullivan strongly support the development of alternative fuels and the promotion of other initiatives, such as carpooling, that would reduce Hoosiers' dependence on oil. They also believe we need to study the efficacy of developing mass transit and look for ways to improve our public transportation systems in urban and suburban areas such as the districts they are running to represent. John Barnes is the Democratic Candidate for State Representative in House District 89. District 89 is located on the east and southeast sides of Marion County and includes parts of Warren, Perry and Franklin Townships. The community of Irvington and part of the City of Beech Grove are included in the district. Barnes is a lifelong eastsider and has been a public school teacher for the Metropolitan School District of Warren Township for 25 years. He lives in southern Warren Township with his wife Leslie and their two children. Mary Ann Sullivan is an Indianapolis native who has spent the last 20 years as an advocate for public education. She has worked in and for the Indianapolis Public Schools and holds a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy and a Masters Degree in Public Affairs, focusing on policy analysis. Mary Ann and her husband, Brian, live in Downtown Indianapolis. They have three grown children and one grandchild. On the Web: www.johnbarnes.us and www.maryannforhouse.com -30-
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 18, 2008
Contact:
Sullivan responds to Elrod’s abandonment of Congressional campaign Challenger calls on Elrod to pledge full term of service at the Statehouse
INDIANAPOLIS – Mary Ann Sullivan, the Democratic candidate for House District 97, responded today to Seventh District Congressional candidate Jon Elrod’s decision to drop out of the federal race and attempt to retain his seat at the Statehouse.
“It’s becoming increasingly unclear what office Jon Elrod wants to run for,” Sullivan said. “Does he want to be in Congress? Does he want to represent House District 97? What will he run for next?”
Sullivan said constituents deserve representation they can count on, not someone who looks at each campaign as a stepping stone to the next elected office.
“I got into this race because I want to serve the residents of House District 97 who are looking for leadership on the issues that matter to them,” Sullivan said. “If elected, I pledge to serve a full term at the Statehouse, and I hope Jon Elrod will offer his constituents the same promise now that he’s returned to this campaign.”
Sullivan said she welcomes Elrod back to the race and hopes they can run a race that focuses on pressing state issues such as education, tax reform and economic development.
“I’ve spent the last six months meeting with residents and community activists, finding out what they expect from leadership at the Statehouse and listening to their concerns,” Sullivan said. “It’s been invigorating, but we have a lot of goals to accomplish at the Statehouse, and I’m committed 110 percent to those goals.”
Mary Ann is an Indianapolis native who has spent the last 20 years as an advocate for public education. She has worked in and for the Indianapolis Public Schools and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and a Masters Degree in Public Affairs, focusing on policy analysis. Mary Ann and her husband, Brian, live in Downtown Indianapolis. They have three grown children and one grandchild.
On the Web: www.maryannforhouse.com
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Paid for and authorized by Mary Ann Sullivan for Indiana House.
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