Nancy Dembowski
Encyclopedia
Nancy J. Dembowski is a Democratic
member of the Indiana House of Representatives
, representing the 17th District since 2007. Her district includes Starke County
, most of Marshall County
and three precincts in LaPorte County
. She defeated two-term Republican incumbent Steve Heim
.
As a member of the Indiana State House of Representatives, she serves as Vice-Chair of the Courts and Criminal Code Committee, and is also a member of the Agriculture and Rural Development, Local Government and Roads and Transportation Committees.
Dembowski has deep roots in Indiana’s 17th House District. Her parents lived in Knox, Indiana
their entire lives and her grandfather was a County Assessor and the longest-serving Fire Chief in Knox's history.
While her husband worked as a union steelworker for 34 years, Nancy worked at WKVI Radio in Knox for 25 years. In 1984, she was elected to the Starke County Council and received the highest number of votes among all county candidates. She was re-elected to serve on the County Council in 1988, again leading the county ticket. The County had a balanced budget all seven years Nancy served on the County Council. In 1990, Nancy Dembowski received the Starke County Citizen of the Year Award. She served on the Council until 1991.
In 1991 Nancy Dembowski was elected as the mayor
of Knox, and re-elected to two additional terms, serving a total of 11 years. As Mayor, she led the effort to build the Knox Community Center and led the renovation of the Historic Gateway Depot. In addition, during her service as Mayor, the City of Knox received two prestigious Achievement Awards from the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns. Only four Indiana Cities receive these awards annually.
Nancy was elected to the Indiana Senate in December 2002 by Democratic precinct committee people to fill the unexpired term of former Senator Bill Alexa. She is also a member of the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, having served on that board since it first began and currently serves as its Vice President.
She has served as Chairman of Starke United and President of the Starke County Junior Achievement board and the Chamber of Commerce. She is a past member of the Kiwanis Club and also served as a member of the Knox High School Improvement Plan Committee, the Harvest Festival Committee, and the Starke County Workforce One Advisory Board.
She recently became a member of the Starke County Community Foundation and is a former member of the Starke County Coalition Against Domestic Abuse where she helped institute a plan to build the Phoenix House, a safe haven for families escaping abuse. She also founded the Candy Cane Committee, a group of volunteers who built and designed Christmas decorations for the City of Knox.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Indiana House of Representatives
Indiana House of Representatives
The Indiana House of Representatives is the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The House is composed of 100 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. House members serve two-year terms without term limits...
, representing the 17th District since 2007. Her district includes Starke County
Starke County, Indiana
Starke County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 23,363. The county seat is Knox.-History:Starke County was created in 1835 and organized in 1850. It was named for Gen...
, most of Marshall County
Marshall County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 45,128 people, 16,519 households, and 12,191 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 18,099 housing units at an average density of 41 per square mile...
and three precincts in LaPorte County
LaPorte County, Indiana
LaPorte County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 111,467. The county seat is the city of La Porte. This county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area, Northwest Indiana and Michiana. The largest city is Michigan City...
. She defeated two-term Republican incumbent Steve Heim
Steve Heim
Steve Heim was a Republican member of the Indiana House of Representatives representing the 17th district where he has served since 2003. Heim served as the Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Environmental Affairs, and also serves on the Education Committee; Commerce, Economic Development &...
.
As a member of the Indiana State House of Representatives, she serves as Vice-Chair of the Courts and Criminal Code Committee, and is also a member of the Agriculture and Rural Development, Local Government and Roads and Transportation Committees.
Dembowski has deep roots in Indiana’s 17th House District. Her parents lived in Knox, Indiana
Knox, Indiana
Knox is a city in Center Township, Starke County, Indiana, United States. The population was 3,704 at the 2010 census. Knox is also within the Chicago Metropolitan Area along with the City of Valparaiso. The city is the county seat of Starke County. The city was founded in 1851 and is named after...
their entire lives and her grandfather was a County Assessor and the longest-serving Fire Chief in Knox's history.
Personal life
Dembowski graduated from Knox Community High School and married her husband Ed (died 1995) in Knox, where they raised their family. She has three children and eight grandchildren. She was widowed after 43 years of marriage.While her husband worked as a union steelworker for 34 years, Nancy worked at WKVI Radio in Knox for 25 years. In 1984, she was elected to the Starke County Council and received the highest number of votes among all county candidates. She was re-elected to serve on the County Council in 1988, again leading the county ticket. The County had a balanced budget all seven years Nancy served on the County Council. In 1990, Nancy Dembowski received the Starke County Citizen of the Year Award. She served on the Council until 1991.
In 1991 Nancy Dembowski was elected as the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Knox, and re-elected to two additional terms, serving a total of 11 years. As Mayor, she led the effort to build the Knox Community Center and led the renovation of the Historic Gateway Depot. In addition, during her service as Mayor, the City of Knox received two prestigious Achievement Awards from the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns. Only four Indiana Cities receive these awards annually.
Nancy was elected to the Indiana Senate in December 2002 by Democratic precinct committee people to fill the unexpired term of former Senator Bill Alexa. She is also a member of the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, having served on that board since it first began and currently serves as its Vice President.
She has served as Chairman of Starke United and President of the Starke County Junior Achievement board and the Chamber of Commerce. She is a past member of the Kiwanis Club and also served as a member of the Knox High School Improvement Plan Committee, the Harvest Festival Committee, and the Starke County Workforce One Advisory Board.
She recently became a member of the Starke County Community Foundation and is a former member of the Starke County Coalition Against Domestic Abuse where she helped institute a plan to build the Phoenix House, a safe haven for families escaping abuse. She also founded the Candy Cane Committee, a group of volunteers who built and designed Christmas decorations for the City of Knox.
External links
- State Representative Nancy Dembowski official Indiana State Legislature site
- Nancy Dembowski official campaign website