Brad Klopfenstein has been an influential leader in Indiana’s public policy and political community for the past 13 years. His areas of expertise include the alcohol industry, gambling, election law, energy, health care, immigration, media relations and crisis management.

As owner of Magna Carta Public Affairs, and more recently the head of the Tavern League of Indiana, Klopfenstein has conducted grassroots & grass top campaigns on a number of issues, and has a proven ability to work with elected officials from all political parties. This is shown in his ability to tackle both controversial and mundane issues and deliver legislative success to his clients. Some of those successes include:

• Advocated for and passed expanded Sunday & Election Day alcohol sales for bars in Indiana
• Successfully defeated smoking bans locally in Indianapolis and statewide throughout Indiana
• Organized coalition that legalized pull tab gambling in Indiana
• Built coalition of veterans who support the Keystone XL Pipeline project
• Defeated proposed increases in alcohol and food & beverage taxes

Joe Ruiz is a 27 year old father of two from Mishawaka, Indiana. As the son of a Marine turned pastor, Joe learned the value of family, community, and faith. Raised in La Porte County, Joe graduated from Michigan City High School and attended Bethel College before graduating with his BS in business management from Indiana Wesleyan. He will graduate with an MBA in December of this year. Both he and his wife have thus far dedicated their lives to assisting those less fortunate. Joe currently works with at-risk youth at the Family and Children’s Center where he puts his compassion to work for the community.”

I am the only candidate in Indiana's 5th district that will consistently vote to simplify government. This is the year for Hoosiers to stop mindlessly punching straight-party tickets and to start voting according to their principles.

I am the only candidate in the state of Indiana with my own budget proposal. I call it the Road to Reality because it will set America back on a realistic path of sustainable economic growth. My Republican opponent supports a budget that will increase our national debt for the next 28 years.

The Constitution is the foundation of the United States government. In response to the tyranny they faced in Europe, our Founding Fathers crafted the Constitution to protect their economic and personal freedoms. Unfortunately, our current politicians resent the constraints that the Constitution puts on their power, so they have begun to disregard its principles.

Our Founding Fathers firmly believed that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson even went as far as to say that the primary purpose of government is to secure such inalienable rights.

The U.S. must balance the budget immediately to foster long-term economic growth. If you select me to represent you in Washington, I will make it my top priority to cut spending by 25% during my first year in office and to balance the budget during the second year of my first term! Unlike my opponents, I have a detailed plan to reform Social Security, to reduce the long-term costs of Medicare, and to eliminate a plethora of unnecessary government programs. In addition to providing specifics, my plan will actually balance the budget within two years.

Public Education - I believe that the education of our children is best left up to parents, choosing from private, free market schooling programs which have to be competitive and show results in order to survive and be profitable. However, if we are to continue with public education, it is necessary for us to eliminate the Department of Education and leave education up to the state and local governments where the citizens of the community have a role and a say in how their children are learning.

Property Taxes/Income Taxes/Sales Taxes - The government has no right to tax something that I own. I have no problem paying my fair share of taxes, but I believe the government should establish a budget for the year, detailing where the money is going to be spent, and where the taxes are going to come from. I also believe that taxes should coincide with how the money is spent, i.e. money spent on road improvements should come from taxes directly related to road travel.

Government Spending - Government spending is ridiculously out of control. Again, the government should be forced to establish a budget each year, detailing where money is going, and how we are to be taxed to pay for each item. If people could actually see where the money is being spent and how much, they would be much more likely to hold government accountable.

Healthcare/Medicare – Government just needs to get out of the way when it comes to healthcare. Once that happens, prices will drop drastically, making it affordable for most people. Others could then be easily covered by the thousands of churches and non for profit organizations, which are better set up to help individuals in their own communities.

Welfare – Welfare is fine, provided it is done by individuals using their own money and resources. The government has no right to take wealth from one person and give to another as they see fit. And let’s be honest, we all know the government does not manage anything well. A majority of the taxes collected by the government to help our citizens is blown on special interest groups, and general government bureaucracy. If taxpayers are able to keep that money, then they can donate as much of it as they see fit, and can allocate it to the individuals or organizations they see fit.

Almost every candidate talks about the same issues, jobs, roads, education, transparency in government. But yet it never seems to change...Four years from now, the same candidates will probably be making the same statements. If you want limited government, you need to vote for limited government. These next few weeks are going to be exciting! It might actually happen.