Indiana GOP state representative to resign, citing Holcomb’s virus orders

(WISH) — A Republican in the Indiana General Assembly on Tuesday said she would be resigning, citing Gov. Eric Holcomb’s coronavirus restrictions and their effect on her business.

Rep. Christy Stutzman, who represents Middlebury in northern Indiana, said in a statement on Facebook that she would be officially stepping down on Dec. 14.

Stutzman took office on Nov. 20, 2018. Her husband, Marlin Stutzman, was U.S. representative for Indiana’s 3rd Congressional District from 2010-16.

The Stutzmans, along with other investors, purchased tourist attraction Amish Acres in early 2020 and reopened it with a new name — The Barns of Nappanee, home of Amish Acres — and additional offerings.

In her statement, Stutzman said “the instability and difficult circumstances that the Governor’s ongoing, unilateral decisions have created for our business and family throughout this year” forced her to make the decision to step away from the General Assembly and focus on her family and employees.

Rep. Stutzman’s announcement came as Indiana on Tuesday again topped its record high for hospitalizations. Hospitals statewide were treating 3,279 coronavirus patients, the Indiana State Department of Health reported Tuesday, and that’s more than a 300% increase since late September. Also Tuesday, the state reported it’s nearing another record for the most deaths in a single month, with 103 new deaths noted Tuesday, pushing November’s total to 991 deaths, or 50 fewer deaths than Indiana’s high for all of April. An additional 5,700 Hoosiers also have tested positive, the state said Tuesday.

Watch All Indiana Politics at 9:30 a.m. Sunday for an interview with Stutzman.

Full statement from Stutzman:

As the co-owner of a newly acquired business at the beginning of 2020, this year has been extremely difficult. We have lost key partners and staff and have been devastated by the mandatory restrictions put in place by the Governor and health departments. We have limped along and our team has found very creative and innovative ways to safely provide food and entertainment for the past 7 months, with no instances of Covid spread. The team at the historic Barns at Nappanee and I have taken on many more jobs and responsibilities than we ever imagined and have made many sacrifices to keep the doors open.

Now, with the recent round of new mandatory Covid-related restrictions issued by the Governor, with no input or approval from the members of the General Assembly, our businesses and family have been set back further and I will be required to devote even more attention to helping our business survive into next year.  Due to the instability and difficult circumstances that the Governor’s ongoing, unilateral decisions have created for our business and family throughout this year, the way those restrictions and decisions have affected our business as we enter 2021 and the time commitment that serving in the legislature requires, I have been forced to make an extremely difficult decision.

It is with a heavy heart that I will be tendering my resignation from my position as State Representative in order to focus on our family and salvage our business and the jobs of those we employ.  I know that I am not alone in my deep distress at being forced to make such a decision and I am thankful for the prayers of many friends as I have struggled with this decision.

This is not something I had ever thought I would have to do, and hoped would not happen, but with the added burden of trying to keep a business afloat while still fulfilling my role as a wife and mother, I have decided that my family and my employees must come first.

I will be officially stepping down as State Representative for District 49 as of December 14th, and will be making further public statements regarding my replacement and my plans for public service in the future.  It has been a great honor to serve the incredible people of District 49 and I will always be thankful for the opportunity I was given to be a strong voice for Elkhart County. May God continue to bless and protect this wonderful community.

Christy Stutzman
State Representative
District 49