[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2010/0...e2205536820.txt

Dermody announces bid for re-election

Published: Friday, February 5, 2010 4:17 AM CST
LA PORTE — State Rep. Tom Dermody has announced he will seek re-election to the District 20 seat of the Indiana House of Representatives. Dermody has served in the seat since 2006.

Dermody said in a press release that in his two terms as a legislator, he has a strong record of protecting the taxpayers of Northwest Indiana. He said he has fought hard in his push for fairness in education funding, as well as authored and passed several public safety measures in the area of prison reform. Additionally, he has made small business a priority, including voting against one of the largest business tax increases in the state’s history in 2009.

Dermody also has focused heavily on improving local communities. This year, he helped finalize a $117 million capital investment project to build a cold storage transload facility in La Porte County at the Kingsbury Industrial Park, expected to bring hundreds of jobs to the area. Dermody also secured a $1 million appropriation in the state budget for the Kankakee River Basin Commission to clean up clogged and debris-choked areas of the Kankakee River, which runs through Northwest Indiana into Illinois.

Dermody serves on the House Ways and Means and Small Business and Economic Development committees.

He said he has become a trusted voice in economic matters, including leading the fight against overspending, allowing Indiana to maintain healthy reserves to help weather the recession.

Dermody said he is focused on restoring a positive economic climate by bringing jobs to the state.

“The economic time we find ourselves in is unprecedented,” Dermody said. “Indiana might be better off than so many neighbors, but we can’t be satisfied with our position. We must continue to push to keep the budget in line and maintain strong fiscal responsibility. The key to improving our situation will be to keep taxes low and provide businesses the incentives needed to bring jobs to Indiana.”

Dermody and his wife, Jackie, live in La Porte with their two children, Katie and Ben. He owns and manages a small business in La Porte. Dermody served as a board member for the La Porte YMCA and The Salvation Army. In addition, he also served as both president and vice president of the La Porte Community School Corp.

House District 20 includes most of La Porte and Pulaski counties, the northwestern section of Starke County, the eastern section of Jasper County and Pleasant Township in Porter County.