Competition for the Indiana House District 69 seat continues to grow as Republican Brian Savilla of Seymour recently announced his candidacy through a social media post.
Savilla is expected to face incumbent Republican Rep. Jim Lucas of Seymour in the 2024 general election. Trish Whitcomb of Seymour is the only candidate for the 2024 Democrat primary election.
The filing period doesn’t open until Jan. 10, 2024, and will close at noon Feb. 9. The primary is May 7, 2024.
District 69 includes the central and eastern half of Jackson County and parts of Bartholomew, Jennings, Scott and Washington counties.
Savilla is a former Republican member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, representing District 14 from 2010 to 2012. In the 2010 election, he was elected to one of the two positions in District 14 on the ballot and defeated opponent Catherine Larck in the general election.
He served one term before running for secretary of state in West Virginia in 2012, but he was defeated.
Savilla and his wife, Courtney, traveled all over the United States before settling in Seymour in 2021 after she accepted a position at Schneck Medical Center.
He is a U.S. history and government teacher at Brownstown Central High School and a football coach at Brownstown Central Middle School.
Savilla told The Tribune in a recent interview announcing his candidacy that he originally wasn’t planning on running for office, but in light of recent events involving Lucas, he said it was time for him to step up.
“This area deserves better, and I look forward to restoring dignity and respect for the rule of law to the people’s seat,” he said.
Savilla said his top priorities if he is elected will be to keep government as limited as possible.
“We need to make sure our legislature is only doing what is necessary to protect our liberties and serve basic functions instead of becoming our provider,” he said.
Savilla’s belief in traditional values is what he says sets him apart from his competitors.
“We deserve a good voice,” he said. “My willingness to stand against the destructive social and economic agendas that are trying to undermine our republic while also being a voice of reason and respect that also wants educated debate instead of a lightning rod of controversy.”
As Savilla’s campaign kicks off, he said his motivation is to bring back stability and inspire his students that even the average person can make a difference.
“We have a leadership that is out of touch with what we stand for as people,” he said. “I want to bring back stability and the rule of law to our district’s House seat as well as motivate my students and everyone else to take a more active role in our government.”