Indiana is changing quickly. Communities like Fishers and the surrounding areas in State Senate District 31 are growing at a rapid pace, and with that growth comes a complicated question: how do we expand opportunity without losing the character, affordability, and stability that families depend on? In this episode, I sit down with Lasima Packett to explore that tension and what leadership should look like in a moment of transition.
Lasima brings more than two decades of service in the Indiana Army National Guard along with deep community involvement. I wanted to understand how that background shapes her approach to governance and what service truly means in a political context.
Our conversation moves through the major issues facing Hamilton County and beyond. We discuss sustainable economic growth, rising housing costs, and property tax concerns, particularly for seniors and long-time homeowners. Education also takes center stage, as we examine teacher burnout, public school funding, and what meaningful support for educators should look like at the Statehouse.
We talk about transportation infrastructure and traffic congestion, healthcare access and mental health services, and the responsibility of state government to protect water quality and natural resources amid rapid development. Small business growth, local decision-making, and the balance between state authority and community control all become part of a broader discussion about accountability and representation.
This episode is about more than campaign talking points. It is about listening, long-term planning, and whether Indiana’s growth can remain grounded in community values.
