Jon Elrod

Infobox Officeholder
name = Jon Elrod


caption =
order = Member of the Indiana House of Representatives from Indiana's 97th House District
term_start = November 20, 2006
term_end =
deputy =
predecessor = Ed Mahern
successor = Incumbent
birth_date = May 3, 1977
birth_place = Indianapolis, Indiana
death_date =
death_place =
constituency =
party = Republican
spouse =
profession = Attorney
religion = Methodist


footnotes =

Jonathan "Jon" Robert Elrod (born May 3, 1977) is an American attorney and politician. He is a member of the Indiana House of Representatives for Indiana House District 97 having been elected in 2006. The 97th District encompasses the immediate downtown area of Indianapolis and stretches South to include portions of Beech Grove and Perry Township of Marion County, Indiana.

He was the Republican Party candidate in the Indiana's 7th congressional district special election held on March 11, 2008 to fill a vacant seat, losing to Democrat André Carson. [ [http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080311/LOCAL18/803110367 Indystar.com: Carson wins seat in 7th District race] ]

Early years

Jon Elrod grew up on the Southside area of Indianapolis. He graduated from Franklin Central High School in 1995. In 1999, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree (magna cum laude) from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio where he majored in History, minored in Performance Studies (Theater). He was president of the Rugby Football Club. [http://www.in.gov/h97/meet.html Indiana House of Representatives Republican Caucus: State Representative Jon Elrod ] ]

Elrod received a J.D. degree cum laude in 2002 from Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington. He was on the editorial staff of the Indiana Law Journal. While in law school, Elrod studied at the University of London, School of Advanced Legal Studies.

Elrod is an associate at Elrod and Mascher, P.C., a law firm in Indianapolis. [ [http://www.eandmlaw.com/jsp2410927.jsp Jonathan R. Elrod ] ]

Entrance into politics

Elrod successfully ran for the Center Township Board in 2004. The election of a Republican party member for the board was considered to be at "long odds" by the Indianapolis Star (newspaper). [http://www.nrcc.org/news/view_article.asp?id=1120 NRCC ] ]

He ran on a platform to streamline local government due to the large disparity between actual funding for poor relief and the overhead operating costs of the Center Township Trustee's Office. At the time, the Indianapolis Star reported in a February 1, 2004 article citing an Indiana Chamber of Commerce Report that the Center Township Trustee spent $2.35 for every $1.00 of poor relief provided. [Township system is criticized in study - Marion County office spent $2.35 to deliver each dollar of aid to the poor, results show.Indianapolis Star, The (IN)February 1, 2004Author: KEVIN CORCORAN AND JOHN FRITZE ]

Elrod ran a strong grassroots campaign for an office that he admits very few people knew existed. He won a close race in the predominantly Democratic district by 35 votes. [ [http://www2.indygov.org/elections/Gen2004/SummaryReport.html Election Results - Summary Report ] ] The next session, several lawmakers introduced bills to eliminate township government in the state altogether. The failure of such bills led Elrod to declare his candidacy for the Indiana State House of Representatives in District 97.

tate Representative for District 97 (Indiana)

In an election in 2006, Elrod defeated Ed Mahern by 8 votes. [Elrod certified winner by 8 votes over Rep. MahernIndianapolis Star, The (IN)December 16, 2006Author: CORDELL EDDINGS] Elrod knocked on nearly 6000 doors and gained a reputation for his personal correspondence with voters in what many called an underdog victory. [A look back at the best and worst of 2006 politicsIndianapolis Star, The (IN)December 31, 2006Author: Matthew Tully]

Elrod currently sits on the two House of Representative committees, the Local Government Committee and the Courts and Criminal Code committee. [ [http://www.state.in.us/legislative/house_republicans/newsroom/hd97_070108.html Indiana House of Representatives Republican Caucus: PRESS RELEASE ] ]

Campaign for U.S. Congress

Elrod declared his candidacy for United States House of Representative for the 7th Congressional District of Indiana on November 15, 2007 which, at the time, was held by Julia Carson. Carson died on December 15th causing a by-election to be scheduled for March 11, 2008 instead of during the regular election in November. Elrod won the Republican primary and is being challenged by Carson's grandson, city councilman André Carson who is running as a member of the Democratic Party [ [http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080114/LOCAL19/801140410/-1/LOCAL17 GOP scrapper Elrod to challenge Carson | IndyStar.com ] ] and Sean Shepard, who is running as a member of the Libertarian Party. [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22886330/ Special Election Guide - News - MSNBC.com ] ]

The short amount of time before the election has resulted in an emphasis in fundraising before campaigning can start.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22644080/] The seat was last held by a Republican party member in 1972.

At the press conference, Elrod shared his anger at what he felt was a continued lack of urgency from the Indiana State House of Representatives in addressing the growing public outcry over pressing issues like a recent property tax increase in the state. He stated that, "the Indiana General Assembly was once maligned as the ‘worse deliberative body in the country,’ is at a historic threshold. For the first time in a generation, perhaps two generations, the legislature is poised to pass sweeping bipartisan reforms of local government, spending, and property taxes."

He went on to add, "I recognize the potential of this legislature, and I am excited about the tasks before us this session. When the gavel falls for the last time this winter, I will have experienced great achievement or great disappointment. Indiana will have marched toward fairness and efficiency, or stumbled down the same path of political expediency and special interests." Elrod said that as someone who never desired to seek higher office the thought of Congress seemed absurd. Especially as a Republican from Center Township. However, he relayed that now more than ever, a need for change motivated him to step forward and announce his candidacy for U.S. Congress.

He cited partisanship, influence-peddling, and wedge issues as the reason for sagging Congressional approval ratings. Elrod then shared, "it is abundantly clear which legislature deserves the title of ‘worst deliberate body in the country.’" [November 15, 2007 Announcement speech]

Elrod told media sources he plans on running a campaign to reform Congress while still focusing on local neighborhoods.

Elrod has been endorsed by Senator Richard Lugar [Citation | title =Lugar Urges voters to Support Jon Elrod | publication-place = Indianapolis, Indiana | publisher =Advance Indiana | url =http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2008/03/lugar-urges-voters-to-support-jon-elrod.html] Citation | publication-date =2008-02-12 | title =U.S. senators offer backing in House race | publication-place = Indianapolis, Indiana | publisher =The Indianapolis Star | url =http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080212/LOCAL19/802120397/-1/LOCAL17] and The Indianapolis Star Citation | publication-date =2008-03-07 | title =Elrod's edge in experience makes him the best choice | publication-place = Indianapolis, Indiana | publisher =The Indianapolis Star | url =http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080307/OPINION08/803070312] .

External links

* [http://www.jonelrod.com Jon Elrod's campaign site]
* [http://www.state.in.us/legislative/house_republicans/homepages/r97/ Jon Elrod's House site]
*Photograph of Elrod [http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_republicans/homepages/r97/images/elrod,%20jon.jpg]

References