State Senator Fady Qaddoura (District 30) will speak at the Indiana Friends Committee on Legislation session for Western Yearly Meeting Friday, July 12 at 4:00 p.m.
IFCL has appreciated Senator Qaddoura’s support of our Quaker concerns and for those who cannot speak for themselves in a variety of areas: affordable housing, rent escrow, public education, earth care, elections and health issues. Those who attend this session will be welcome to engage in discussion of any of these issues.
As a special Quaker interest, Senator Qaddoura attended the Ramallah Friends School, so we will have the opportunity to share our long-time connection to the school and Palestine in general with him.
Additional information about Senator Qaddoura is below:
Standing Committees
Agriculture, Appropriations, Education and Career Development, Insurance and Financial Institutions, Natural Resources, School Funding Subcommittee, Tax and Fiscal Policy (Ranking Minority Member)
Biography
State Senator Fady Qaddoura was elected to represent Indiana’s Senate District 30 in 2020. Before his election, Senator Qaddoura was already an experienced public servant, working on behalf of the people of Indiana for over a decade. He worked first for the Indiana General Assembly, then the Indiana Department of Workforce Development and Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, before being appointed the controller and CFO for the City of Indianapolis in 2016. During his tenure with the city, he was credited with balancing the city’s $1.2 billion budget without tax increases after a decade of structural budget deficits that exceeded $55 million annually, securing five consecutive credit ratings enhancements from national credit agencies, lowering the overall city debt, and playing a significant role in executing many of the city’s operational and economic development strategies. In 2018, he was named CFO of the Year by the Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ). Sen. Qaddoura also earned a spot in the IBJ 40 Under 40 Class of 2019 and is a recipient of the Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (AIM) Award for Excellence in Fiscal Management.
Senator Qaddoura received both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree in computer science from the University of New Orleans. Additionally, he holds a Master of Public Administration degree in public affairs and nonprofit management, as well as, a Doctor of Philosophy degree in philanthropy and public policy from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Qaddoura teaches courses on philanthropy, civic engagement, executive leadership, and finance as an adjunct faculty member at IUPUI.
During his tenure in the Indiana Senate, Senator Qaddoura has championed efforts to fully fund and improve student outcomes at public schools, increase teachers’ compensation, expand early childhood education, expand access to affordable healthcare, protect responsible tenants and expand affordable housing, strengthen our democracy, and protect civil liberties and freedoms for all citizens. His legislative successes include securing funding for the Nickel Plate Trail, Indianapolis’ low-barrier homeless shelter, increasing road funding for Indianapolis, improving home healthcare for the most vulnerable, expanding support for mental and public health, increasing eligibility for On My Way Pre-K, eliminating textbook fees, and improving access to higher education.