In this episode of Hold ’em Accountable, I sit down with Ethan Sweetland-May, a candidate for Indiana State Senate District 47, to examine the real political, economic, and social challenges shaping communities across southern Indiana. Together, we explore the lived reality of Harrison, Washington, and Floyd Counties, where deep local history meets modern struggles like rural broadband access, declining hospitals, infrastructure gaps, affordable housing shortages, and uneven economic growth.
My goal in conversations like this is to move beyond campaign slogans and dig into how Indiana state government, public policy, and political leadership directly affect working families, small towns, and rural communities. Ethan shares firsthand insight from more than a decade working in the district, offering a ground-level view of widening disparities between growing suburban areas and neglected rural regions. We discuss rural economic development, tax base decline, agricultural change, and the long-term sustainability of Hoosier communities.
Infrastructure and housing emerge as urgent priorities. We talk about outdated traffic planning, the need for walkable communities, safer road design, and investment in local business ecosystems rather than endless road expansion. On housing, Ethan outlines the scale of Indiana’s affordable housing crisis, the impact of corporate home ownership and hedge fund investment, and potential legislative solutions to protect families and expand accessible housing development.
At the heart of this interview is a deeper question that drives my work in political media, civic education, and democracy conversations: why society functions the way it does—and how citizens can organize to change it. Ethan emphasizes community empowerment, grassroots organizing, transparent government, and accountable representation, arguing that meaningful change in Indiana politics begins with informed and engaged neighbors.
If you follow Indiana elections, state senate races, public policy debates, rural America, political history, or civic engagement, this discussion offers context, clarity, and a path forward. My mission is simple: create long-form political conversations that help Hoosiers—and anyone paying attention to democracy—better understand the systems shaping our future and the solutions within reach.
Thank you for reading, watching, and being part of a growing community committed to informed voters, transparent leadership, and real accountability in government.
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