Dennis Kruse | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theIndiana Senate from the 14th district | |
| In office April 14, 2004[1] – November 22, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Charles "Bud" Meek |
| Succeeded by | Tyler Johnson |
| Member of theIndiana House of Representatives from the 51st district | |
| In office November 4, 1992 – April 14, 2004[2] | |
| Preceded by | Vanessa Summers |
| Succeeded by | Dick Dodge |
| Member of theIndiana House of Representatives from the 1st district | |
| In office August 19, 1989[3] – November 4, 1992 | |
| Preceded by | Orville H. Moody |
| Succeeded by | Ron Tabaczynski |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1946-10-07)October 7, 1946 (age 79) |
| Party | Republican |
| Residence(s) | Auburn,Indiana |
| Alma mater | Indiana University |
| Profession | Auctioneer, politician |
Dennis K. Kruse (born October 7, 1946) is an American businessman and politician. Kruse was a founder of the auction businessKruse International before entered politics as aRepublican. He was a member of theIndiana House of Representatives from 1989 to 2004 and theIndiana Senate from 2004 to 2022, representing Senate District 14.
Kruse started working in the local auction business with his father,Russell W. Kruse, and his older brotherDean Kruse. They were later joined by his younger brother, Daniel J. Kruse, and started what became Kruse International Collector Car Auctions in 1971.[4]
In 1979, Kruse left the collector car business to focus on local auctions and real estate. A 1964 graduate of theReppert School of Auctioneering inDecatur, Indiana, Kruse served as president of theauction school, from his purchase of the school in 1996, until its sale to the Christy family in Indianapolis in 2011. Kruse graduated from the School of Education atIndiana University in 1970, and was a licensed teacher in Indiana from 1970 to 1975. He currently serves on the board of trustees atTrine University inAngola, Indiana.[5]
He is a past president of the Indiana Auctioneer's Association, and a member of their hall of fame.[6] Kruse was president of theNational Auctioneers Association from 2005 to 2006, and was instrumental in advocating for industry research for the auction profession.[7] In 2013, Kruse was inducted into the National Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame.[8]
Kruse was an Indiana State Representative from 1989 to 2004. Originally, he was appointed to the 1st district after the death of incumbent State Representative Orville H. Moody.[9] In 1992, afterredistricting, Kruse was reelected into the 51st district. He was succeeded by Ron Tabaczynski in the 1st district in 1992.[10] Kruse succeeded Vanessa Summers in the 51st district.[2] He was succeeded by Richard Dodge in the State House. Since 2004, Kruse has been a member of theIndiana Senate for the 14th District. He was appointed to the seat after the death of Charles "Bud" Meeks.[11]
Kruse is acreationist and in 2012 proposed legislation to allow the teaching of "creation science" to be taught in Indiana schools,[12][13] TheNational Center for Science Education strongly opposed the bill, noting that it would violate theEstablishment Clause of the First Amendment and the Supreme Court's ruling inEdwards v. Aguillard.[12] Kruse said: "I believe in creationism, and it's worthy of being taught equally with evolution theory. . . . Just because there are constitutional concerns doesn't mean you don't try to get something done you believe in."[13] Kruse also introduced a bill during the 2013 session to allow school districts to mandate the recitation of theLord's Prayer at the beginning of the day in Indiana public schools.[14] Legal experts and the state Senate's legal committee stated that the proposal was unconstitutional.[14][15]
In 2018, Kruse introduced legislation that would prohibit public schools from providingsex education to students without a parent's prior written permission ("opt-in"). The legislation would have changed the existing practice in may public schools, in which parents can exclude their children from sex education classes through an "opt-out" note. The legislation was backed bysocial conservatives and passed the state Senate,[16] but Kruse's controversial proposal was removed in the state House version of the legislation.[17]
Kruse served three years as chairman of the Senate Pensions and Labor Committee, then served as chairman of the influential Senate Committee on Education and Career Development from 2009 to 2018, resigning that position at the onset of his wife's health issues. He was known as a champion of community college and received an honorary degree from Ivy Tech Community College in 2016, at the time, the nation's largest, singly-accredited community college.[18][19]
Kruse announced he would not seek re-election in 2022 and would instead retire.[20] RepublicanTyler Johnson, a physician atParkview DeKalb Hospital inAuburn, waselected to succeed Kruse to his Senate seat.[21][22]