Friends, this episode is a little different. With Election Day on November 3, Dinine is back at The Engine Room in Broad Ripple with something she's calling an audible voter's guide — a conversation for anyone who has ever stared at a ballot and wondered what an office actually does, what a candidate can realistically accomplish, or how a public question would change daily life. The goal isn't to tell you how to vote. It's to make the choices in front of you easier to understand, and to help all of us ask better questions — and listen better, too. Dinine is joined by two guests. Chris Hartig is a Hoosier native who grew up right here in Broad Ripple, came up through Indianapolis Public Schools, teaches emotional intelligence and values-based leadership at Western Governors University, and was the 2024 Democratic candidate for Indiana House District 29. Devon Wellington is a Noblesville small business owner, mom of two, and the Democratic candidate for Indiana House District 29. Her career began in American Sign Language and moved into education policy at the local, state, and federal levels, including at the U.S. Department of Education. The conversation opens on something that matters beyond any single election: how we keep seeing people who vote differently as our neighbors. Chris shares how losing a child reshaped his sense of purpose and pulled him toward public service, and a chance conversation with a local official that ended with both of them saying, at the same moment, "We all want the same things." Devon explains why she decided to run after her calls and emails to her own representative went unanswered — and the dinner-table moment when her son told her she already does the job. She also introduces ring theory, a framework her family leaned on during her father's brain tumor diagnosis ("comfort in, dump out"), and makes the case that Indiana is legislating the opposite way: comforting those who need it least and dumping on those who need it most. From there, the episode turns practical. Chris and Devon walk through the race for Indiana Secretary of State — Democrat Beau Bayh, Republican Max Engling, Lincoln Party candidate Greg Ballard, and Libertarian Lauri Shillings — including what the office actually oversees and what voters should look at beyond party labels. Dinine then breaks down the two proposed amendments to the Indiana Constitution: Public Question 1 on expanding the circumstances in which bail can be denied, and Public Question 2 on where city and town court judges may live, with a plain-language look at what a yes vote and a no vote would each change. Dinine, an attorney, is open about her own concerns, and the group discusses presumption of innocence, judicial discretion, and accountability to the community. The episode closes with Indianapolis-specific questions: school board races appearing as partisan for the first time, the new mayor-appointed Indianapolis Public Education Corporation (IPEC), and the IPS operating referendum. Dinine is transparent about her concerns over charter school expansion and how public education dollars are distributed, and the guests share their perspectives on vouchers, accountability, and what the referendum outcome could mean for IPS. Whether you're a Hoosier heading to the polls or listening from somewhere else, this episode is a reminder that the most important thing is to know what you're voting on, and to look closely at who stands behind the names on your ballot. Key Takeaways: Party labels don't tell the whole story. Ask candidates where they stand on specific issues, and look at who is supporting them.Chris Hartig's approach to political disagreement starts with refusing to let national narratives dehumanize our neighbors; on the local level, he says, we usually want the same things: strong schools, safe neighborhoods, and amenities our families can enjoy.Devon Wellington's ring theory framing ("comfort in, dump out") offers a way to think about who policy should protect first, and she commits to explaining every vote to her constituents.The Secretary of State oversees Indiana's elections, maintains state records, and handles business-related responsibilities. This year's candidates are Beau Bayh (D), Max Engling (R), Greg Ballard (Lincoln Party), and Lauri Shillings (Libertarian).Public Question 1 would expand when bail can be denied beyond murder and treason; Public Question 2 would let city and town court judges live elsewhere in the county or a bordering county. Read the exact ballot wording before you vote.Straight-ticket voting does not apply to school board races, so every school board contest needs its own decision.Indianapolis voters will also decide the IPS operating referendum. The guests stress understanding what both a yes and a no vote would mean for IPS before casting a ballot. Resources: Dinine's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinine-sig-917784252/ DJean inine's Website: https://dininesig.com/ Dinine's Instagram: @dininesig Dinine's TikTok: @dinine.sig Devon Wellington for Indiana House District 29: https://votedevon.com VOTE411 (League of Women Voters nonpartisan voter guide; choose your state and enter your address): https://www.vote411.org Indiana voter portal / sample ballots: IN.gov WFYI election coverage: https://www.wfyi.org IndyVotes (Marion County sample ballots) Have a voice you think was missing from this conversation? Reach out to Dinine at dininesig.com, and maybe we'll have that conversation next.
