ANDERSON — Kim Builta has her eye on the prize for the 36th Indiana House of Representatives district: jobs.

Builta announced her candidacy for the representative spot Monday in a short speech at the Paramount Theatre Hardacre Ballroom in front of her family, friends and supporters. Builta will run in the May primary, and if she wins or no other Republican candidates run, she will face Democrat Rep. Terri Austin in the November 2010 general election.

“I’ve talked to a lot of people,” Builta said. “I’ve been out there. I think it will be a very tough race.”

The 36th District includes part of Anderson and northern Madison County, as well as a section of Hamilton County.

Builta is banking on the fact that, even in a largely Democratic Party county, her constituents will be tired of a Democrat-controlled House and its speaker, Rep. Pat Bauer.

“I believe that people would like to have a change in the House speaker,” Builta said. “He is an obstructionist. I will do my best to get people to get him out.”

Builta said she felt called to action earlier this year after Austin failed to vote on the budget in the Indiana General Assembly. Austin said at the time she had a conflict of interest that kept her from voting on the budget and that she hadn’t been given enough notice of the conflict of interest to feel comfortable voting.

“I found that completely unacceptable,” Builta said. “It was the ‘A-ha’ moment for me. If she has a conflict of interest or if anybody else does, they should not be there.”

Builta said her experience as a small business owner puts her in a good place to influence the Legislature to run the state like a business. Builta is president of Rowland Title Co. in Anderson.

“I do believe we need to have people at the Statehouse that are going to fight for small business,” she said. “A lot of us are afraid to hire because of the decisions at the Statehouse.

“When there was a downturn in the economy, I had to see it in advance and make decisions. I have the experience behind me to say this is what it’s looking like in our district.”

Builta said jobs were her most important priority for her district, saying she would try to keep Hoosier Park Racing and Casino’s jobs in the county.

“I want the jobs,” she said. “I want people back to work. I’m not willing to sit back and not fight to have those stay here.”

Builta’s daughter, Deca Williams, said her mother was a unique candidate for the representative position.

“She’s not your typical candidate for office,” she said. “Kim is a candidate who understands nothing can be achieved without hard work.”