What is your professional experience?

Volunteering regularly with local non-profits and community organizations, US Army Reserves (deployed to Iraq 2005 as a body guard for Gen. George Casey with extensive experience being around VIPs both military and civilian), spa manager and lead esthetician/massage therapist 2007-2018, small business owner since 2018, precinct committee chair since 2023, appointed board member on Bargersville Police Merit Board 2023, elected state and national delegate 2024, municipal candidate 2023 and 2024, graduate of Emerging Leaders Project, Hoosier Women Forward, Center Grove Ambassadors, and Leadership Johnson County, MBA in conscious capitalism, corporate and small business administrative experience since 2001. Local organizer for protests and acts of resistance.

What is your public office experience?

have run before but not held office

If applicable, please list offices you have run for or held.

Ran for 2023 ran for Bargersville Town Council against three republicans and almost won! 2024 Johnson County Council

What are the specific skills that you bring to the position for which you are running?

Extensive experience in administrative work, end-user experience of the Secretary of States websites (InBiz especially), experience in marketing and advertising which I believe will help increase voter turnout, I’m an educator of non-violent communication and extensive training in non-violent communication and training civil civic discourse. These are skills that I believe are important for all leaders.

What are your top 3 priorities if you are elected?

Have an independent audit done on the office, work with county clerks to Increase civic education and voter turnout by creating a comprehensive voter guidebook for all registered voters (physical and digital versions), and improve transparency in the office of SoS by showing how secure our elections are (also education), ensure people know what bids and contracts are being sought, and continue to listen to residents on how we can improve this office to benefit all users.

How do your values motivate your run for office?

As an army veteran, I very much still honor my oath of service to this state and our country. I am tired of seeing leadership that doesn’t understand what it means to actually live and survive, and the desire to thrive, in Indiana. The leadership style we had witnessed my entire life in the state more reflects that of a drill sergeant, and do as I say not as I do mentality than it does of leading by example and being servant leaders. Politicians, in my experience should be working with and for the people, they should be responsive to feedback, and they should be ready and willing to both share the proverbial baton, and pass it when necessary. We cannot allow gatekeeping and greed to be what runs this state. We need real people in office with real life experience and the desire to improve life for the most underserved/represented amongst us.

Key Issues

Please share with us your position on a number of issues that are key for Muncie Resists and describe what actions you would take with regard to them. We recognize that some elected positions may not have a direct role in addressing some of these issues, but if you had an opportunity to have an impact, what would you want that to be?

What have you done and/or what do you commit to doing to support the rights of

a. LGBTQ+ individuals?

I am always learning how I can better support our LGBTQ plus community and actively working to ensure their needs and rights are honored and respected. I consider myself an ally to our minority and global majority communities. As a small business owner, I have been an active supporter of our local pride organizations. As your Secretary of State. I will continue to be an active supporter of the voting rights and civic rights of all humans and Indiana.

b. people with disabilities?

I will likely sound like a broken record because all of these demographics are included in our underserved communities. We need to remove the stigma around our sisters and brothers who have been “othered” for far too long. I very much recognize and I’m listening to feedback from Hoosiers, who are concerned about accessibility at our polls and with our voting system. No eligible voter in the state of Indiana should lose out on the opportunity to vote due to lack of access to the polls.

c. people experiencing poverty?

Those who are unhoused and in poverty should have the most access to voting and information about the candidates on their ballots. In many ways, we can vote ourselves out of the problems we are facing with proper education. The office of SoS provides a bully pulpit and a platform that has a lot of leeway of what it can advocate for. I want to use this office as a megaphone for these issues and work with the legislature to solve these issues. One example here is expanding access to the internet and a means of receiving mail for our unhoused population.

d. immigrants?

Our immigrant community is the backbone of our economy and livelihood and this country was formed, for better or worse, by immigrants. We need to be better at recognizing that in our government. The country is run by those who come from immigrants and therefore our immigrant neighbors should have equal access to information and voting should they be legally eligible to vote under Indiana law.

e. people who are racial or ethnic minorities/minoritized individuals?

Our minority/minoritized (global majority) individuals should have access to understanding the law and their legal rights and the administrative services of this office as everyone else. Minority rights are human rights.

What have you done and/or what do you commit to doing to support voter access? (This might include your position on vote centers, polling hours, voter IDs, signature matching, the SAVE act, etc.)

As a PC and municipal candidate, I have seen firsthand how little information and education is available to the public regarding voting and being civic all engaged. We rely heavily on 501c4s to do the work that the SoS could be doing. For years I have been active in sharing information through local party involvement and as the former chairwoman, and current committee member, of Veterans for Indiana PAC. I want to increase the education about our elections to all residents in Indiana. Whether they are eligible to vote, or not, people should understand exactly how our voting works to include what our ID laws are, which I believe are sufficient as is. Hoosiers need to know who the candidates are that they are voting on, what the offices oversee that we are electing people to serve, etc. I want to create the most comprehensive voter guidebook this country has ever seen and empower all registered voters in Indiana to vote for what will best serve their community. As far as vote centers (I would prefer a combination of centers and locations), polling hours (I want longer hours and early voting options), and anything surrounding how we vote like straight ticket voting; I want to work with the state legislature to change our constitution and to allow citizen led ballot initiatives so that voters can decide what that looks like. Elected officials need to be hearing from the people this affects and the people who will be paying my paychecks with their tax dollars. This is a customer service position and it needs to be treated as such. No one will be a better advocate for the residents of Indiana than I will be and it is my opinion that only someone who has lived and suffered in this state as long as I have will have the best method to get us out of this mess.

In recent months, federal agencies have overstepped the power of local and state governments. In what contexts would you support resistance by local officials?

I am and will continue to be the biggest advocate when it comes to accountability. I expect people to hold me accountable as well. I think one of the biggest problems we have in our state, and maybe the country, is we have had leadership likely since the formation of our government that never led by example. We seem to have the do as I say not as I do leadership where the rules don’t apply to the people who appear to have the power. The power needs to be back to the people, and our elected officials need to realize they are part of us, not above us. I want to encourage and support local officials to advocate for their positions and the power of the people they serve.

In recent months, federal agencies have overstepped the constitutional rights of the people. How would you protect and defend our constitutional rights?

To the greatest extent that this office allows, I will publicly speak truth to power and hold all appointed, hired, and elected government officials accountable for their actions, especially when it comes to our constitutional rights.

What have you done and/or what do you commit to doing to support healthcare access for all?

I am a lifelong activist and I recognize that human rights should not be negotiable. Human rights include but are not limited to (in the event I forgot to include some) access to healthcare, education, safe shelter, food, water, and air, equal opportunity an the ability to partake and thrive in our society.

What have you done and/or what do you commit to doing to address the affordability of

housing costs?

I will have to rely solely on my education platform points on this. If we educate our eligible and registered voters on what the politicians they are voting for say they will do to fix or improve the affordability of housing in the state, we need to be able to hear directly from all candidates how they plan to address housing costs if they are running for an office that can directly affect the cost of housing. My voter guidebook will include information directly from every candidate on the ballot from every party (this will also allow for third-party options in hopes to get money out of politics so that grassroots candidates will still have exposure to their voting base).

This will be my response for every hot button issue because other than being an advocate, and other than working with the state legislature, there is not a lot that I can directly do as your Secretary of State to fix these problems, but I sure as heck can help raise awareness as to who they can vote for, or who is elected to, address and fix these problems.

food costs?

Access to nutritious and affordable food is a human right. If we educate our eligible and registered voters on what the politicians they are voting for say they will do to fix or improve food costs in the state, we need to be able to hear directly from all candidates how they plan to address food costs if they are running for an office that can directly affect the cost of housing. My voter guidebook will include information directly from every candidate on the ballot from every party

healthcare costs?

Healthcare is a human right. If we educate our eligible and registered voters on what the politicians they are voting for say they will do to fix or improve the affordability of healthcare in the state, we need to be able to hear directly from all candidates how they plan to address healthcare costs if they are running for an office that can directly affect the cost of housing. My voter guidebook will include information directly from every candidate on the ballot from every party

What have you done and/or what do you commit to doing to support discussion about science, history, and gender as necessary parts of educating children in our schools?

I am constantly sharing accurate information and sources in any way possible on the importance of discussion about science, history, and gender both in and out of our education systems. I would love to work with a state legislature to be able to have ballot initiatives led by citizens to be able to vote on issues like this. Voters should have a say in what our children are learning in school, not just our elected officials. Ideally, we would be able to have something in our state constitution to reflect the desires of the voters. Education is so important and we should not be changing education requirements on the whim of any governing body without accurate information and reliable cited sources on the consequences or potential outcomes.

What have you done and/or what do you commit to doing to support public education?

Please see above. I assure you my plan is to be a part of change and saving this state from the GOP supermajority that has plagued us for 20+ years. We need to properly fund and support public education and I have committed to not taking money from people who support school vouchers and the demise of our schools. I stand with our teachers unions and believe no teachers should have to choose between putting food on or table and ensuring their students are taken care of in our schools.

What do you think should be Indiana’s priority in terms of the electrical grid and energy generation sources? What have you done and/or what do you commit to do regarding a clean energy economy?

Sadly, I will have to have similar verbiage as above because this is an administrative job. I would love to see viable, alternate energy, sources, and community generated sources, such as community solar, and appropriately taxing energy corporations. I hate the tax abatements that have been given to these large corporations that are harming the residents of Indiana. I think sharing verified, impartial and non-partisan information about the harm that is currently being done within the state of Indiana and the options to get us out of this situation is the best avenue, however, I’m also open to hearing other suggestions because I know my answers may not always be the best. Voters should have a say, voters should have the education to help make decisions to best support all of our communities. I can assure you that, as your Secretary of State, I will still be the largest advocate for equity, education, and transparency in our government, whether I can directly affect it or not.

What have you done and/or what do you commit to doing to make your specific area of government more transparent to your constituents?

Sharing information! We need to have easily accessible live streams to meetings that directly affect our residents, notes from meetings, information on bids, costs of jobs that bids are being sought for, etc. I want to be a force for change in the leadership of our government and lead by example set a higher standard for our elected, appointed, and hired officials. I do not claim to be perfect or have all of the answers, but I absolutely want to be a servant leader for the people. Part of sharing information will be improving and modernizing the systems and websites that this office oversees. Many of the websites, such as the campaign finance portal are decades old, not mobile ready, and hard to navigate. Once a bud is accepted, all of that information will be available within 48 hours. The bidding process in this office needs to be easily accessible and there needs to be transparency of expenses.

Do you have any questions? Is there anything else you would like to share?

Please visit my website BlythePotter.com for a comprehensive platform as well as the opportunity to provide feedback on my platform. I want to serve the people of Muncie and beyond. This is an office I can win.

Since February of 2023, I have been actively building a statewide coalition to fill ballot positions and get precinct chairs and candidates like me elected who want to see positive, sustainable, and inclusive change in Indiana.

I know we can win this race in November. We will win not by shrinking our message or watering down our values, but by expanding the number of people in Indiana who feel seen, respected, and invited into this process.

I am a veteran and the only grassroots and people-powered candidate in this race. I served in Iraq in a non-partisan leadership role where decisions mattered, and accountability was not optional. I have run a small business here in Indiana for eight years. Like many Hoosiers, I grew up in a republican home. I KNOW firsthand what it means for some Hoosiers to identify as a republican and have traditional Republican values like safe, free, and fair elections, intact constitutional rights, and serving our communities, but feel disenfranchised by politicians on both sides of the aisle. For over 20 years, I have worked with people from every imaginable political background, and these experiences matter. My experience being born here, raised here, and staying here makes me the most qualified candidate for Secretary of State.

The experience of having an education centered on leadership in academia has taught me to be a lifelong learner. The experience of nearly 30 years in the service industry as a waitress, cashier, esthetician, and yoga teacher, and, most importantly, of calling Indiana home, has taught me to listen and be a servant leader. I have learned over the decades how to lead under pressure, work well with and alongside others, and find common ground without sacrificing principle, because that is what I hear Hoosiers value most as I travel the state.

Our coalition, my platform, is exactly what this moment and our current reality require. Our coalition will energize the Democratic base and non-voters. We are standing up for voting rights, transparency, ethics, and a government that works for everyday people like you and me, regardless of political affiliation or voting history. We are also going to register new voters and speak to independents and Libertarians who are tired of chaos.

We are going to speak to Republicans who still believe elections should be fair and honest. We are showing up in rural communities as well as urban centers. We are engaging young voters who have never felt invited. We are talking to seniors who feel forgotten. Black and white, urban and rural, Democrat and Republican, because protecting democracy should never be partisan.

The Secretary of State is supposed to be a referee, not a political weapon, not a self-promotion machine. I believe there are far more Hoosiers who want fairness, integrity, and professionalism than there are who want division. We will win by expanding participation, by showing up everywhere, and by building something bigger than a party label, and we will win this together.

As our next Secretary of State, I will conduct an independent audit of this office and its practices to hold the administration responsible for its actions, learn from past mistakes, and prevent backsliding in the future. I will defend and expand our right to vote, ensure lawfully registered voters have access to the polls and affordable voter identification, and make the systems the office oversees easier to navigate and use for all residents. The most important part of my platform is creating the country's most comprehensive voter Information Guide, which will educate Indiana voters and increase voter participation, so we can prevent supermajorities and repair the damage done to our state over the last several decades. My guidebook will be a Nonpartisan voter information guide, an official publication from the Secretary of State’s office, that reaches all registered voters and has a long-term goal of removing money from politics and increasing voter turnout. I’ll work with County Clerks to encourage creative ways to get the word out about elections. We should be advertising our elections and sending reminders to voters, and no one can do so on a shoe-string budget like a successful small-business owner in Johnson County.

I will work to modernize systems and remove barriers to accessing the office's websites and forms, such as InBiz, the campaign finance portal, and candidate forms, to better support our entrepreneurs and politically involved citizens.

I am also sending a message that Indiana is not for sale. Diego has sold our voter roll information to the DOJ for political favors and has allowed the sale of our data to benefit politicians to the tune of more than $12 million every year for many years. This needs to change, and we do this by offering transparency within the office.

I am the only candidate running a grassroots campaign that has not and will not take money from corporate PACs, corporate interests, MAGA billionaires, AIPAC or its lobbyists and representatives, executives from pharma, utilities, or fossil fuels. I am the only candidate who will be able to bring the no-Kings energy to this office, work effectively and ethically across the aisle, and work towards the shared mission Hoosiers have of saving our state.

I would be honored to receive your endorsement and work with Muncie Resists.