Endorsement represents unified voice from Democratic Party leadership in advance of primary filings
 
 NEW ALBANY, January 10, 2024 – The Ninth District Democratic Committee has announced the endorsement of Dr. Tim Peck of New Washington, Clark County, Indiana for U.S. Congress. The Committee, comprised of the duly elected Democratic Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Congressional District, formally undertook the action at a District Committee meeting in New Albany. The Congressional District comprises all or part of 18 counties in Southeastern Indiana and is currently represented by Republican Erin Houchin.
 
“Dr. Tim Peck represents a fresh approach to solving the problems facing Southern Indiana and our nation,” stated Ninth District Democratic Party Chair Adam Dickey. “Tim reflects values we hold dear – hard work, community, creating a better future for the next generation – and is ready to listen, find common ground, and be a voice for all constituents, regardless of their political affiliation.”
 
Dr. Peck, a former Harvard Medical School physician, teacher, and entrepreneur, has built strong momentum since announcing his candidacy a month ago raising more than $100,000 and receiving early endorsements from elected officials, party organizations, political action committees and now the District Party Committee.  The endorsements will ensure tight coordination between Peck’s campaign and the Party leading into the May primary and through to the general election.  
 
“The Ninth District Democratic Party Committee is a remarkable collection of public servants, and I’m honored to be among them and receive their endorsement in this critical moment in both local and national politics,” Peck said. “I look forward to working with party leadership, party constituents, and residents of our district from across the political spectrum to find and advance common sense solutions that work for all Hoosiers in Southeastern Indiana,” he added.
 
“The endorsement underscores the importance of this race and the degree to which my approach resonates with everyday Hoosiers,” Peck said. “Far too often Hoosiers feel left behind by empty political rhetoric and broken promises from Washington, and they want a member of Congress who will listen and fight for a better path forward– I will be that representative.”
 
Heidi Sellers, Vice Chair of the Clark County Democratic Party, supported the endorsement and believes Peck’s candidacy is turning heads.
 
“Tim represents something special in politics,” she stated. “At a time when others are narrowing their message to just a few voters who share their opinions, Tim is reaching out. He’s focusing on the fact that the issues we face aren’t Democrat, Republican or Libertarian in nature – they are American issues we must face and fix together.”
 
For more information on Peck’s campaign, please visit timpeckforcongress.com
 
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Fundraiser to honor former State Senator Connie Sipes
  
NEW ALBANY, August 13, 2022 – The Ninth District Democratic Party, in conjunction with the 141st Indiana Democratic Editorial Association (I.D.E.A.) convention, has announced it will host its annual Lee H. Hamilton Dinner on Saturday, August 20, at 5:30 p.m. at the French Lick Springs Resort Hotel, 8670 West Highway 56, in French Lick, Indiana.
 
As a centerpiece of the event, former State Senator Connie Sipes will be honored as the recipient of the 2022 Lee H. Hamilton Public Service Award. Named in honor of former Ninth District Congressman Lee H. Hamilton, this award recognizes individuals who have made a significant and lasting contribution to public service and the Democratic Party.
 
“Connie Sipes as spent her life’s work helping and building up others in her community and throughout Indiana,” stated District Chair Adam Dickey. “Beginning with her commitment to children and public education as a teacher and principal, carrying forward through her fourteen years of service in the State Senate, and continuing today as a civic leader and activist, few come close to her level of dedication to the well-being of others.”
 
Sipes, who taught and served as a public-school principal in the New Albany Floyd County School Corporation, was appointed as State Senator in 1997 and won election to three full terms in the General Assembly until 2011 representing Clark and Floyd Counties. Rising to the rank of State Senate Democratic Caucus Chair, Connie was known for her ability to bring members together and bridge difficult and complex issues.  As State Senator, she was committed to the well-being of Hoosiers and particularly Indiana’s youth. She served as a member of the Indiana Commission on Autism, the Committee on Childcare, and the Commission on Mental Retardation and Development Disabilities, and fought for early childhood education programs and funding to enhance education opportunities. She also championed affordable health care working to develop state programs to reduce the number of uninsured Hoosiers and improve Medicaid programs.   
 
After leaving public office in 2011, Sipes continued to play a role in civic affairs and politics. She is a Southern Indiana Tourism Board member and previously served as a member of the Ivy Tech Sellersburg Regional Advisory Committee and as a Board member for Lifespan. She has served on several candidate campaign committees and mentored several Democratic candidates for public office, including Floyd County Judge Maria Granger, Floyd County Councilman Tony Toran, New Albany Floyd County School Board Member Vivian Elaine Murphy, and State House candidate Heidi Sellers, among others.  Sipes also serves as the Assistance Vice Chair for the Floyd County Democratic Women’s Caucus,
 
“Connie is remarkably humble about her accomplishment and reflects the spirit of our party and the Lee H. Hamilton Award,” added Dickey. “It has never been about herself or her own ego but rather what she could accomplish for others. We need more individuals in government and community service with that same attitude today.”  
 
Those interested in attending the Lee H. Hamilton Dinner can learn more by contacting party headquarters at 812-725-2018 or online at www.ninthdistrictdems.org. Tickets for the event are $60 each and must be reserved by August 19th.
 
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NEW ALBANY, February 1, 2022 - The Indiana Ninth District Democratic Party Chair Adam Dickey released the following statement regarding the announcement of J. Michael Davisson 9th District Congressional candidacy:  
 
“While it’s certainly intriguing to see a public official with less than four months of appointed experience announce his run for Congress, J. Michael Davisson’s campaign is solely based on an agenda Indiana Democrats and President Joe Biden have delivered on for Hoosier families. The American Rescue Plan and the Jobs Act is creating union jobs, expanding broadband internet, revitalizing our infrastructure, and raising property values across Indiana – and folks like Davisson view these investment as ‘socialism’. Indiana Republicans like Davisson appear to care more about their dangerous culture wars than actually creating a better future for the Hoosier state.”
 
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The Indiana GOP continues pattern of profound moral corruption
​By Adam Dickey, District Chair

​​NEW ALBANY, January 19, 2021 – The Indiana Ninth Congressional District Democratic Party Chair Adam Dickey released the following tonight’s State of the State Address by Governor Holcomb: 
 
“Tonight, Governor Holcomb played the part of wizard painting a fanciful picture of Indiana. The truth is there is little of it in the reality behind the curtain. Our state remains in the grips of a pandemic that could have been made better had the governor taken firmer action to control it. He refuses to acknowledge that Indiana is losing ‘good jobs’ while continuing to peddle old policies as if they were innovative new proposals. Perhaps most fundamentally, he has failed to keep his word to educators across our state – individuals who have gone to extraordinary measures to teach our children during the pandemic – by failing to address teacher pay in his legislative proposals. Hoosiers want a governor they can trust, not another smoke and mirror show.”
 
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By District Chair Adam Dickey

In March, Governor Eric Holcomb made a profound statement as the Coronavirus continued to descend on Indiana: "As citizens we all have a right to elect our leaders in a free and open and, of course, a safe environment." Moments later he announced with political leaders an agreement between the parties to allow “no excuse” absentee voting to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus. Over 500,000 Hoosiers of all political stripes utilized this opportunity to cast their vote by mail in the June primary election.

Now, new daily cases are four to five times higher than when Holcomb made his pronouncement. But today, Holcomb’s tune has changed. He’s refusing to expand vote by mail to every Hoosier, even as the virus spreads and nearly 3,000 Hoosiers have lost their lives.

That notion may have applied if the health crisis had abated. It hasn’t. In fact, it’s worse. Businesses are limiting customers, are on modified hours, and require employees to undergo health screenings. Government bodies are meeting by video conference and both national political party conventions will be held virtually. The Indiana Election Commission, the body charged with overseeing the state’s elections, meets via video link. Many Hoosier continue to shelter at home or limit their personal contacts out of a genuine concern for contracting the virus and the impact it can have on their health or the health of others in their families.

An in-person election means an increase in the transmission of COVID-19. I genuinely worry about the many election workers who will be required to work 12 hours on Election Day in an enclosed space while interacting with hundreds of people throughout the course of the day. 

Some have suggested that the Governor could act later if this pandemic worsens. However, this notion forgets the administrative process and time required to order absentee ballots, process them via U.S. mail, and ensure voters return them by Election Day. You don’t start training for a marathon the day before the race. The window to act in now, not October.

There is no reason why anyone should have to risk their life to exercise their constitutional right to vote. For generations, Hoosier common sense has been a defining aspect of our state character. That same common sense tells us that providing for “no excuse” absentee voting only enhances our system in this pandemic and may well save lives.

Governor Holcomb, it is time to meet the promise you proclaimed in March. Let every Hoosier have their right to elect our leaders in a free, open, and safe environment.

Ninth District Democratic Party Chair’s Statement on Vauhxx Booker Assault

​NEW ALBANY, July 6, 2020 – The Indiana Ninth Congressional District Democratic Party Chair Adam Dickey released the following statement regarding the assault of Vauhxx Booker: 
 
“Early this morning I was shocked and horrified to learned of a senseless assault against Mr. Vauhxx Booker near Lake Monroe over the weekend. Let there be no mistake – Mr. Booker was attacked for no other reason than the color of his skin. This was a hate crime.
 
“This attack shocks our collective conscience and cries out for justice. It is an example of the racism that is ever prevalent in our nation, in our own communities, and a further example of the flaws and failures in our system to appropriately address it. It illustrates the need for meaningful, comprehensive hate crimes legislation; for policy reforms that reshape our criminal justice processes and implement the IBLC reforms; and for enhanced training protocols that root out racism in our law enforcement and enable good officers to fairly enact the law.  
 
“There can be no place for the hateful, belligerent conduct witnessed this weekend. I am urging our law enforcement community, including our local Prosecutor, to take swift action in investigating this incident and bringing charges against all the perpetrators.
 
“It is time our society change. We must all join in unequivocally denouncing racism and white supremacy where we see it. We must show our commitment to the values of equality by implement a system that enables all our citizens to enjoy it. It is not enough to demand justice in this incident, but to demand it in all incidents. An offense like this against one of us, is an offense against all of us.”  
 
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