This conversation with Michael Potter took place during a special Portraits and Perspectives event hosted by Progressive Indiana Network in downtown Indianapolis on February 21st. The goal of the evening was simple: create space for candidates to speak thoughtfully about why they are running and what they bring to the table beyond campaign slogans.
Michael is running for Indiana House District 47, and in our discussion, I asked the question I believe every voter deserves answered clearly: Why you? Why now?
Two years ago, when the LEAP District proposal began moving forward with major implications for water use and local resources, Michael felt compelled to step in. As a licensed geologist and environmental scientist with 25 years of experience, he heard legislators discussing groundwater, environmental systems, and resource management in ways that, from his professional perspective, simply did not reflect the science. For him, this race is about stewardship, long-term planning, and ensuring that communities have a real voice in decisions that affect their water, land, and future.
We also talked about the importance of contesting every race, the role of the Indiana Rural Summit in supporting candidates across geographically disconnected communities, and how shared spaces for collaboration reduce the isolation many rural candidates feel while campaigning.
Beyond policy, I wanted viewers to get to know Michael as a person: his background in environmental science, his tendency to dive deeply into whatever he studies, his love of earth systems, and the way that hands-on fieldwork has shaped how he thinks about public service.
This episode is about expertise, engagement, and what it means to bring technical knowledge and authentic connection into Indiana’s Statehouse.
