By Marilyn Odendahl
The Indiana Citizen
July 11, 2024
Beth White is touting her experience leading nonprofits and public agencies in her run for the Democratic nomination for Indiana attorney general.
She and her opponent, Destiny Wells, will be vying for the attorney general spot on the ticket at the Indiana Democratic Party convention on Saturday. Party delegates will select the candidate who will face Republican incumbent Todd Rokita in the November election.
“I am the best candidate to win in November,” White said. “Winning this race takes more than saying the right things. You have to demonstrate you can do the job, and you have to stick with it and deliver on your promises. There is just no substitute for experience and hard work, and I have what it takes to win and to do the job from Day One.”
Currently on leave from her position as president and CEO of the Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking as she runs for the party’s nomination, White served as Marion County Circuit Court Clerk for two terms from 2007 to 2014 and then became executive director of the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee, according to her LinkedIn profile. She said on her campaign website that, as clerk, she oversaw 14 elections and was the first clerk in Indiana to marry same-sex couples.
White earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Indiana University – Bloomington in 1987 and earned a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1990.
As an attorney, she worked in private practice at Barnes and Thornburg, before moving to the public sector, where she served as a deputy prosecutor in the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, and chief legal counsel for the Marion County Office of Family and Children. Also, she worked in various capacities for the city of Indianapolis.
Her run for attorney general is not her first statewide campaign. In 2014, White won the Democratic nomination and ran for Indiana Secretary of State, but she lost to Republican Connie Lawson, while capturing 39.5% of the vote.
White took time from the race for the attorney general nomination to answer a few questions about her campaign and her agenda if she becomes the state’s chief legal officer.
I am running for Attorney General because the people of Indiana deserve better. The Office of the Attorney General has lost its way and suffers from low morale and attrition. Hoosiers deserve an Attorney General who protects their rights and privacy, rather than trying to take them away; one who spends taxpayer dollars on public safety and defending our state, rather than self-serving political stunts.
This race is winnable – if we put forth a disciplined, credible alternative. I am the best candidate to win in November. Winning this race takes more than saying the right things. You have to demonstrate you can do the job, and you have to stick with it and deliver on your promises. There is just no substitute for experience and hard work, and I have what it takes to win and to do the job from Day One.
I have the skills and depth of experience to be Indiana Attorney General. I’ve been an attorney for 30 years and my entire career has been about protecting Hoosiers – kids, crime victims and voters. My integrity, experience, and no-nonsense approach are needed to get back to the business of serving Hoosiers and get the job done.
Integrity: I have worked for more than 30 years as a lawyer to build a reputation as an honest and caring public servant who fights for victims of crime and for vulnerable people. My work has afforded me the chance to make a difference and sometimes it makes history: We just celebrated 10 years of marriage equality, and on the very day that “justice for all” finally meant “all” I became the first Clerk in Indiana to marry same-sex couples. It was a proud moment and we married 650 couples in three days!
Experience: I am a proven leader, have been elected to two terms in office, and have managed hundreds of staff and millions of dollars throughout my career. Currently, I am President and CEO of the Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking; the second nonprofit I’ve led. Earlier, I was a criminal prosecutor, chief legal counsel for two state agencies, and have worked at all levels of government (local, state, and federal), serving an average of five years for those organizations. I know how to find efficiency and build out teams that deliver results, and as Attorney General, this experience will help us rebuild the office and refocus on protecting consumers and victims.
No-nonsense: I’m a straight talker and hard worker who works well with others, gets the job done, and is ready to lead on Day One.
It really boils down to people.
First, you cannot spend enough time talking to people and I’ve been traveling and calling people across the state every day. I’m also practical and resourceful – something I’ve learned as a working mother – and we tap into my broader network, social media, podcasts and technology to reach as many people as possible.
Second, it’s critical to spend time with people who don’t see the world as you do, who have different life experiences and different ideas. Better solutions are built with open minds and open hearts.
Third, if we equip Hoosiers to have kitchen table conversations – to talk to their friends, family, and neighbors, to share their experience and concerns – we can win this election and restore common sense to governing. Too many people are hurting and their stories and hopes for a better future need to be told.
The other thing I bring to this race is hands-on leadership. I’m often asked for advice by people who want to run for statewide office, and I always tell them this: Go lead something for a while – a government agency, a business, a nonprofit – being the top leader teaches you things you can’t get any other way. It’s been 10 years since my last statewide campaign and in that time, I spent almost six years as the Executive Director of the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee (GIPC) and am coming up on three years as President and CEO of the Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking. As the top leader, you learn how to create a high-performing team and keep them engaged; to turn people’s ideas into solutions that work in real life; and to be resourceful and overcome barriers. The buck stops with the person at the top and they are on the line to deliver results. I am well-prepared to win this race and lead from Day One.
As Indiana Attorney General, I will fight the right fights. Protecting Hoosiers is a serious job, there is serious work that’s not getting done, and I’m prepared and ready to do it. The people of Indiana need their Attorney General to protect seniors from fraud, protect children and businesses from cybercrime, and focus on consumer protection. We also need to stop the drain of talent from the office and return dignity and pride to serving as the state’s attorney.
Todd Rokita’s ideologically driven lawsuits are a waste of taxpayer money, and his attacks on private citizens are disgraceful. His ongoing disciplinary saga further underscores his inability to execute the duties of one of the most important elected offices in our state. It’s time to get back to the right fights, like protecting Hoosiers’ access to health care, keeping families safe, and protecting vulnerable citizens.
Elected officials must lead with integrity and by example – serving people as an elected leader is a true privilege. To me, doing the right thing means serving all, not just the powerful or those in your political party. It’s not always easy: You have to set ego aside, be willing to partner, and stick to it until you find a way. Above all, an elected official must put the people of Indiana above self-interest and political posturing.
I have an unassailable record and as Indiana Attorney General will uphold the highest standards of personal and professional conduct and for myself and those who work in the office.
This race is winnable because Todd Rokita is focused on the wrong things. The situation is intolerable, and voters find it disgraceful.
Defending reproductive rights, medical privacy, and consumer protection require urgent action in Indiana. My work at the Coalition to End Sexual Abuse and Human Trafficking stands in stark contrast to Todd Rokita’s record, particularly his attacks on Dr. Bernard and survivors of rape and incest.
Hoosiers are kind and practical, and the punitive actions of Todd Rokita don’t reflect their values or priorities. People are offended by the nonsense and harm they see from this misguided politician, and they are ready for a change. As Indiana Attorney General, I’ll protect people from government overreach and protect their rights.
Nobody will work harder than me to win this race. I have the discipline to focus on the right fights and to capitalize on Todd Rokita’s missteps, and we’ll leverage my extensive network to make this race a top priority on Election Day.
The Indiana Citizen is a nonpartisan, nonprofit platform dedicated to increasing the number of informed and engaged Hoosier citizens. We are operated by the Indiana Citizen Education Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity. For questions about the story, contact Marilyn Odendahl at marilyn.odendahl@indianacitizen.org.
