Rebecca Kubacki

Rebecca Kubacki is an American politician and former Republican member of the Indiana House of Representatives. Kubacki represented the 22nd District for two terms from 2010 to 2014.

Rebecca Kubacki
Member of the Indiana House of Representatives
from the 22nd district
In office
November 3, 2010 – November 5, 2014
Preceded byWilliam J. Ruppell[1]
Succeeded byCurt Nisly
Personal details
Born
Rebecca (née Espinoza) Kubacki

Immokalee, Florida
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Michael
ResidenceSyracuse, Indiana
Alma materIndiana University
OccupationPolitician

Early life and education

Born to parents Christina and Raul Espinoza, Kubacki was born in a migrant workers camp in Immokalee, Florida.[2] Kubacki, who is the middle child of her parents seven children, grew up in Texas before her parents found work as tomato farmers and settled in Oswego, Indiana when she was young.[3] She graduated from Pierceton High School in Pierceton, Indiana, where she met her future husband, Michael Kubacki.[4] She went on to attend Indiana University's Kelley School of Business.[5]

Indiana House of Representatives

In 2010, Kubacki launched a primary challenge to nine-term Republican incumbent William Rupple, where she defeated him 53.8% to 46.1%. In the general election, Kubacki faced Democratic opponent Allen Lee Dunnagan and won with 66% of the vote.[6] Kubacki was sworn in on November 16, 2010 and became the first Hispanic Republican to serve in the Indiana House.[7] She was subsequently elected to a second term after defeating Kosciusko County Democratic Party Treasurer John Bonitati[8] with over 75% of the vote.[9] In the 2014 Republican primary Kubacki was challenged by business owner Curt Nisly, who attacked her primarily on her position against amending the Indiana Constitution to define "marriage." On May 6, 2014, Kubacki lost to Nisly 2,541 votes to 4,624, or 35.2% to 64.7%.[10] Throughout the entire campaign, Kubacki stood strong in her position that proposed legislation should be for the betterment of the State and did not give in to the pressures of interest groups within her party.

Personal life

Kubacki lives with her husband Michael in Syracuse, Indiana, they have two adult children, Katherine Kubacki (Teacher in Warsaw) and Matthew Kubacki (Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Indianapolis). Michael is the Chairman of Lakeland Financial Corp in Warsaw, Indiana and is a former member of the board of directors at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.[11] Kubacki is a practicing Roman Catholic[12] and attends St Martin De Porres Parish in Syracuse.[13]

References
  1. http://www.capitolandwashington.com/offices/all-offices/122/
  2. Wabash Plain Dealer (October 29, 2010). "Four seek 22nd District seat". chronicle-tribune.com.
  3. "TODAY's MEETING: Rebecca Kubacki, State Representative" (PDF). kiwanisone.org. July 12, 2012.
  4. "MEET ELHART COUNTY DISTRICT 22'S REBECCA KUBACKI: THE FIRST HISPANIC REPUBLICAN ELECTED TO INDIANA'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY". elkhartgop.com. December 7, 2013.
  5. Project Vote Smart. "Rebecca Kubacki's Biography". votesmart.org.
  6. Office of the Secretary of State of Indiana (2010). "2010 Indiana Election Report" (PDF). in.gov.
  7. Thomas, Liz (March 15, 2011). "Hundreds Rally Against Illegal Immigration Bill". WIBC.
  8. The Goshen News (October 23, 2012). "Incumbent Kubacki faces challenge from Bonitati". goshennews.com.
  9. Office of the Secretary of State of Indiana (November 28, 2012). "ELECTION RESULTS: Indiana General Election, November 6, 2012". in.gov.
  10. Office of the Secretary of State of Indiana (June 30, 2014). "ELECTION RESULTS: Indiana General Election, May 6, 2014". in.gov.
  11. "Lakeland Financial Corp (LKFN:NASDAQ GS)". bloomberg.com.
  12. Times-Union Newspaper (February 26, 2014). "Kubacki Responds". timesuniononline.com.
  13. Brigid Curtis Ayer; Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis (January 14, 2011). "New Catholic lawmakers ready to tackle state's challenges". archindy.org.


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