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Connie Lawson

R

Indiana Secretary of State (2012-present)

Committee assignments (? - Present)

Quick Facts
Personal Details

Caucuses/Former Committees

Former Member, Appointments and Claims Committee, Indiana State Senate

Former Chair, Elections Committee, Indiana State Senate

Former Chair, Joint Rules Committee, Indiana State Senate

Former Chair, Local Government Committee, Indiana State Senate

Former Member, Rules and Legislative Procedure Committee, Indiana State Senate

Former Member, Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee, Indiana State Senate

Education

  • Attended, Darden School of Legislative Leadership, University of Virginia
  • Attended, Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1998

Professional Experience

  • Attended, Darden School of Legislative Leadership, University of Virginia
  • Attended, Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1998
  • Co-Owner/Secretary/Treasurer, Lawson and Company, 1980-present
  • Clerk, Circuit Court, Hendricks County, 1989-1996
  • Clerk, Abstract and Title Guarantee Company, 1986-1988
  • Closing Agent/Office Manager, Real Estate Office, 1970-1988
  • Co-Owner/Secretary/Treasurer, Lawson Brothers Auctioneers, 1971-1980

Political Experience

  • Attended, Darden School of Legislative Leadership, University of Virginia
  • Attended, Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1998
  • Co-Owner/Secretary/Treasurer, Lawson and Company, 1980-present
  • Clerk, Circuit Court, Hendricks County, 1989-1996
  • Clerk, Abstract and Title Guarantee Company, 1986-1988
  • Closing Agent/Office Manager, Real Estate Office, 1970-1988
  • Co-Owner/Secretary/Treasurer, Lawson Brothers Auctioneers, 1971-1980
  • Appointed by Governor Mitch Daniels, Secretary of State, State of Indiana, 2012-present
  • Former Majority Floor Leader, Indiana State Senate
  • Candidate, Indiana Secretary of State, 2018
  • Senator, Indiana State Senate, 1996-2012
  • Candidate, Indiana State Senate, District 24, 2012

Former Committees/Caucuses

Former Member, Appointments and Claims Committee, Indiana State Senate

Former Chair, Elections Committee, Indiana State Senate

Former Chair, Joint Rules Committee, Indiana State Senate

Former Chair, Local Government Committee, Indiana State Senate

Former Member, Rules and Legislative Procedure Committee, Indiana State Senate

Former Member, Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee, Indiana State Senate

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • Attended, Darden School of Legislative Leadership, University of Virginia
  • Attended, Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1998
  • Co-Owner/Secretary/Treasurer, Lawson and Company, 1980-present
  • Clerk, Circuit Court, Hendricks County, 1989-1996
  • Clerk, Abstract and Title Guarantee Company, 1986-1988
  • Closing Agent/Office Manager, Real Estate Office, 1970-1988
  • Co-Owner/Secretary/Treasurer, Lawson Brothers Auctioneers, 1971-1980
  • Appointed by Governor Mitch Daniels, Secretary of State, State of Indiana, 2012-present
  • Former Majority Floor Leader, Indiana State Senate
  • Candidate, Indiana Secretary of State, 2018
  • Senator, Indiana State Senate, 1996-2012
  • Candidate, Indiana State Senate, District 24, 2012
  • Member, Commission on Abused and Neglected Children, 2003-present
  • Board Member, Hendricks College Network, 2003-present
  • Chair, Indiana Commission on Mental Health, 2003-present
  • Board Member, Saint Vincent Pediatric Rehabilitation Center, 2003-present
  • Second Vice President, Republican Women's Club, Hendricks County, 1995-present
  • Precinct Committeeperson, Republican Central Committee, Hendricks County, 1993-present
  • Member, Board of Directors, Indiana Youth Services Association, present
  • Member, Community Advisory Board, Putnamville Correctional Facilities, present
  • Toll Fellow, Council of State Governments, present
  • Co-Chair, Hendricks County United Way, present
  • Chair, Board for the Coordination of Child Care Regulations
  • Member, Community Advisory Board, Plainfield Correctional Facilities
  • Chair, Elections and Civic Affairs Committee
  • Former President, Indiana Clerk's Association
  • Former Chair, Legislative Committee, Indiana Clerk's Association
  • State Director, Mid-West Regional Director, Women in Government
  • Former President, National Association of Secretaries of State
  • Former President, Women's Legislative Caucus
  • Former Board Member, Women's Legislative Network, National Conference of State Legislatures
  • Member, Indiana Republican Platform Committee, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004
  • Executive Board Member, Women in Government, 2004
  • Participant, Association of Indiana Counties, 1995
  • Vice-Chair, Hendricks County Republican Party, 1994

Other Info

— Awards:

  • Women in Government, Presidential Leader Award;
  • Lifetime Achievement Award, ARC of Indiana;
  • Women of Influence, Indianapolis Business Journal;
  • 2012 United Way of Central Indiana, Zup's Imagination Award;
  • 2012 Danville High School, Distinguished Alumnus;
  • 2011 Indiana Hands & Voices;
  • 2010, 2011 Mental Health America of Indiana, Legislator of the Year;
  • 2010 Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, Legislator of the Year;
  • 2009 Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Champion;
  • 2009 Indiana Psychology Association, Legislator of the Year;
  • 2008 National Federation of Independent Business, Guardian of Small Business;
  • 2008 America Academy of Pediatrics Indiana Chapter, Supporter of Child Immunization;
  • 2001 Ronald Reagan Legacy Award;
  • 1993 Indiana Clerks' Association Clerk of the Year;
  • 1993 Indiana State Election Board Election Administrator of the Year

  • 6

Policy Positions

Indiana State Legislative Election 2004 National Political Awareness Test

Abortion

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding abortion.

1. Abortions should always be illegal.
- No Answer

2. Abortions should always be legal.
- No Answer

3. Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
- X

4. Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
- X

5. Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
- X

6. Prohibit public funding of abortions and of organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
- X

7. Require abortion providers to make ultrasound imaging and fetal heartbeat information available to patients.
- X

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budgetary, Spending and Tax

State Budget: Indicate the funding levels (#1-6) you will support for the following general categories. Select one level per category.

1. Education (Higher)
- No Answer

2. Education (K-12)
- No Answer

3. Environment
- No Answer

4. Health care
- No Answer

5. Law enforcement
- No Answer

6. Transportation and Highway infrastructure
- No Answer

7. Welfare
- No Answer

8. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

State Taxes: Indicate the tax levels (#1-6) you will support. Select one level per tax.

1. Alcohol taxes
- Greatly Increase

2. Capital gains taxes
- No Answer

3. Cigarette taxes
- Maintain Status

4. Corporate taxes
- Maintain Status

5. Gasoline taxes
- Maintain Status

6. Inheritance taxes
- Eliminate

7. Property taxes
- Eliminate

8. Sales taxes
- Maintain Status

9. Vehicle taxes
- Maintain Status

10. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

11. Should Indiana raise the flat state income tax?
- No

12. Should Indiana institute a graduated state income tax structure?
- No

13. Should Internet sales be taxed?
- Yes

14. Should accounts such as the "rainy day" fund be used to balance the state budget?
- No

15. How would you propose to reform Indiana's property tax system? Please use forty (40) words or less.
- The Property Tax Study Commission created in 2004 needs time to work. I would support a County Review Board which would require each governmental unit to report proposed tax levys & capitol projects to prevent tax payers in one taxing unit to finance exp: fire station, new jail, new school all in the same year

16. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Campaign Finance and Governmental Reform

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.

1. Do you support the current limit of two consecutive four-year terms for Indiana governors?
- Yes

2. Do you support limiting the number of terms for Indiana state senators and representatives?
- No

Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative and gubernatorial candidates?

1. Individual
- No

2. PAC
- Yes

3. Corporate
- Yes

4. Political Parties
- Undecided

5. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes

6. Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
- No

7. Do you support adopting statewide standards for counting, verifying and ensuring accuracy of votes?
- Yes

8. Do you support prohibiting the reporting of media exit polling results until all polling locations in Indiana are closed?
- Yes

9. Should Indiana recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
- No

10. Should Indiana restrict marriage to a union only between a man and a woman?
- Yes

11. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding crime.

1. Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
- No Answer

2. Support the death penalty in Indiana.
- No Answer

3. Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
- X

4. End parole for repeat violent offenders.
- X

5. Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
- X

6. Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
- No Answer

7. Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
- No Answer

8. Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
- No Answer

9. Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
- No Answer

10. Increase funding for state and local emergency agencies to prevent and to respond to terrorist attacks.
- No Answer

11. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.

1. Support national standards and testing of public school students.
- X

2. Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any public school.
- X

3. Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any private or religious school.
- No Answer

4. Increase state funds for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).
- No Answer

5. Increase state funds for hiring additional teachers.
- No Answer

6. Support teacher testing and reward with merit pay.
- No Answer

7. Endorse voluntary prayer in public schools.
- X

8. Require public schools to administer high school exit exams.
- X

9. Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
- No Answer

10. Increase funding for Head Start programs.
- No Answer

11. Provide state funding for voluntary full-day kindergarten across the state.
- No Answer

12. Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.
- X

13. Support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods.
- No Answer

14. Support abstinence-only sexual education programs.
- X

15. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Employment and Affirmative Action

Employment: Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding employment.

1. Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers and teach skills needed in today's job market.
- X

2. Reduce state government regulations on the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
- X

3. Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
- X

4. Give preference to Indiana companies in bidding for state contracts.
- X

5. Require companies doing contract work for state government to employ only U.S. citizens and individuals authorized to work in the U.S.
- X

6. Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for children in low-income working families.
- X

7. Increase state funds to provide child care for children in low-income working families.
- X

8. Include sexual orientation in Indiana's anti-discrimination laws.
- No Answer

9. Increase the state minimum wage.
- No Answer

10. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Affirmative Action: Should race, ethnicity or gender be taken into account in state agencies' decisions on:

1. Public employment
- No

2. State college and university admissions
- No

3. State contracting
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Environment and Energy

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.

1. Promote increased use of alternative fuel technology.
- X

2. Support increased production of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, and oil).
- X

3. Use state funds to clean up former industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated, unused, or abandoned.
- X

4. Support funding for open space preservation.
- X

5. Enact environmental regulations even if they are stricter than federal law.
- No Answer

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding guns.

1. Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- No Answer

2. Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- No Answer

3. Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- No Answer

4. Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
- X

5. Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks on guns.
- No Answer

6. Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
- No Answer

7. Require a license for gun possession.
- X

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health.

1. Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.
- No Answer

2. Transfer more existing Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
- X

3. Limit the amount of punitive damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
- No Answer

4. Support patients' right to sue their HMOs.
- X

5. Support patients' right to appeal to an administrative board of specialists when services are denied.
- X

6. Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
- X

7. Legalize physician assisted suicide in Indiana.
- No Answer

8. Allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.
- No Answer

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Welfare and Poverty

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding welfare.

1. Support increased work requirements for able-bodied welfare recipients.
- X

2. Increase funding for employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
- X

3. Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
- X

4. Limit benefits given to recipients if they have additional children while on welfare.
- X

5. Redirect welfare funding to faith-based and community-based private organizations.
- X

6. Use federal TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) funds to extend health and child care subsidies to the working poor.
- X

7. Support marriage promotion programs for welfare recipients.
- X

8. Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
- No Answer

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

Please explain in a total of 75 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- No Answer

Articles

June 2017 request for voter rolls

Jan. 1, 1900

On June 29, 2017, the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, which had been created by President Donald Trump on May 11, requested information on registered voters from all 50 states dating back to 2006. The states were given until July 14 to respond. On June 30, Secretary Lawson announced that the state would provide only publicly available information to the commission. “ Indiana law doesn’t permit the Secretary of State to provide the personal information requested by Secretary Kobach. Under Indiana public records laws, certain voter info is available to the public, the media, and any other person who requested the information for non-commercial purposes. The information publicly available is name, address, and congressional district assignment. ” —Secretary Connie Lawson