Gubernatorial candidates disclose property, business interests

Hoosiers competing to be Indiana’s next governor have revealed their property and business interests in financial disclosure forms due this month.

Candidates for statewide elected office, including the governorship, must file the disclosures by February 1 or before they turn in documents declaring candidacy, nomination or intent to be a write-in candidate, according to Indiana Code.

Republican U.S. Sen Mike Braun reported owning farm and timberland in eight counties, and his involvement in farming company Maple Land LLC. Form-filers must report interests in land above $5,000 or that are worth at least 10% of their net worths.

Braun also reported having at least $10,000 in stocks or stock options in his former employer, Meyer Distributing, and Meyer Logistics. He and his wife also hold stocks in four banks, according to his filing: Freedom Bank, German American Bank, J.P. Morgan Bank, and Springs Valley Bank & Trust.

Republican businessman Brad Chambers, who most recently led the quasi-public Indiana Economic Development Corp., included long lists of financial interests in a disclosure he filed Tuesday.

He marked the real estate investment firm he founded, Buckingham Companies, as his employer. And he reported interests in 63 properties scattered across 10 states, including Indiana.

Chambers also recorded involvement in 279 different partnerships, mostly related to real estate. He also had stocks or options in 79 corporations, ranging from asset mega-manager BlackRock and homegrown pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly & Co. to fitness equipment brand Peloton and Coca-Cola.

Republican Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch reported having no such interests in property, businesses or partnerships. But she holds stocks or options in Amazon, Google parent company Alphabet and tobacco company Philip Morris.

Fort Wayne businessman Eric Doden, a Republican who has led the state’s economic development agency, reported owning a condo unit in downtown Indianapolis. He noted working for Domo Ventures, a real estate development company he co-founded.

Doden also said he operated two sole proprietorships or professional practices: downtown-focused developer Pago USA and Seine Development Company. He additionally listed several real estate-related partnerships: Domo Development, Domo Ventures, Maumee Development and Cumberland.

Wife Maci also is a board member for family services nonprofit New Mercies Ministries and holds stocks or options in nine companies, according to the filing. They include Alphabet, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Charles Schwab, J.P. Morgan Chase, Microsoft, Nike, Tesla and United Health Group.

Former Attorney General Curtis Hill — reprimanded by the state’s Supreme Court in 2020 for committing battery — reported no interests in property, partnerships or stocks. He noted his work for Maverick Consulting and his own legal practice.

Jamie Reitenour, a devout Christian running as a Republican, reported no properties and no stocks. She detailed husband Nathan’s employer, Illinois-based Swenson Technology, and her own partnership in publishing company Promise Books.

Democrat Jennifer McCormick similarly listed no interests in property or stocks. She instead reported operating consulting, bee-keeping and rental property businesses: Fierce Up! Leadership, Mac Bee’s, and Tmac and Jmac Properties — but wrote that the two latter limited-liability corporations aren’t active.

McCormick additionally said that she or her husband earned at least 33% of their non-state income from Equitable Education Solutions and Gibraltar Design. She chairs the architectural firm’s board, according to its website.

None of the filers reported any business relationships involving gifts with the office of the governor.

Libertarians choose a gubernatorial nominee at a convention, so a candidate from that party will file once chosen.

Note: This story has been updated with recent filings by Brad Chambers and Jamie Reitenour.