Letter: All voters in District 63 should hear stance on Corridor

Allen Hartman’s September 17 letter, “Tell Us Where You Stand on the Mid-States Corridor,” raises a question that deserves an answer from every candidate seeking to represent us: Where do you stand on the Mid-States Corridor as it is currently proposed?

That question is especially important in House District 63 because this is not simply a Dubois County issue. District 63 includes all of Martin County and portions of Daviess, Dubois and Pike counties. Every one of those communities deserves to have its interests considered.

Much of the public discussion surrounding Amy Kippenbrock’s position has focused on Dubois County. But the voters she seeks to represent extend well beyond Dubois County. What about Martin County? What about Daviess County? What about Pike County?

Martin County residents have made their concerns known. The county’s 2025 comprehensive-plan survey found that 76% of 114 respondents opposed the Mid-States Corridor, 10% supported it and 11% were neutral. The plan also reported substantial concerns about potential losses of local businesses and residential property and about environmental impacts.

There is also a long record of Martin County officials raising concerns about the project. In April, Loogootee Mayor Brian Ader reiterated his longstanding opposition and said local officials had been seeking improvements to existing infrastructure instead of a new highway.

That does not mean everyone in every county agrees. In fact, State Senator Daryl Schmitt has acknowledged precisely that point. Schmitt said he represents six counties and that while there is strong opposition in Dubois County, there is also strong support for the project in other counties. He said he has attended numerous meetings, talked with residents and was working to modify portions of the proposal.

That is why this needs to be viewed as a regional issue.

The December 2025 PPP survey cited by Hartman found that 81% of surveyed Dubois County voters opposed the Corridor and 14% supported it. The same survey reported that 87% wanted local elected officials to clearly state their position. That poll was of Dubois County voters, not the entire House District 63, so it should not be represented as a district-wide poll. But it does demonstrate the strength of public opinion in one major part of the district.

The fundamental questions remain: What transportation problem are we trying to solve? What will the project actually cost? What will each county gain or lose? And why should a new-terrain highway be built instead of addressing existing roads, bridges and transportation needs?

These are legitimate questions for every candidate and elected official.

I am not asking candidates to agree with me. I am asking them to tell voters what they believe, what information they have relied upon and whether they support the Mid-States Corridor as currently proposed, oppose it, or favor a substantially different project.

Before we vote, the people of all of House District 63—not just Dubois County—deserve to know where their candidates stand.

Allen Hartman asked the question. Now let’s hear the answers.

Jim Arvin
Rutherford Township
Martin County

Editor’s note: This is not Jim Arvin, the former president of Jasper Desk.