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ELECTION '08: Indiana House District 46
October 4, 2008
By Howard Greninger
The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — Democrats have had a stronghold in the Indiana House District 46 for more than two decades, but Republicans have won the seat twice since 1994.

The Nov. 4 election is a match-up of experience versus a call for change.

Incumbent Rep. Vern Tincher, D-Riley, touts his experience, serving 22 of the past 26 years as the district representative. He lost in 1994 to David Lohr, a former Vigo County GOP chairman, and in 2002 to Brooks LaPlante, a Vigo County businessman.

Republican challenger Robert Heaton, 52, said people want a change, a measure Heaton says is needed in the House district long held by Tincher, 72.

Tincher, retired, served 22 years in the Indiana State Police and worked as a bricklayer, later becoming a union representative. He said Indiana must address funding for worker unemployment compensation. He also advocates for a state illegal immigration law.

Tincher, part of a House study committee, said the State of Indiana should adopt an illegal immigration law, one patterned after an Arizona law that has been upheld by a federal appellant court.

“That bill requires employers to verify, through federal Homeland Security, that all new employees are U.S. citizens. As long as that employer does that check, and it later turns out they have hired an illegal worker, there is no penalty. If they failed to check workers through Homeland Security for citizenship, then they can be penalized by losing any type of license or permit required in their business,â€