Karen Tallian

Karen Rae Tallian (born December 2, 1950) is an American politician and attorney who served as a member of the Indiana Senate for the 4th district from December 2005 through October 2021.

Tallian earned her B.A. in philosophy and psychology at the University of Chicago in 1972, an associate degree from Chicago's Harrington College of Design in 1978, and a J.D. from Valparaiso University in 1990.

She was admitted to the Indiana State Bar in 1990.

Tallian first ran for town council in Ogden Dunes in 1991, but lost to the Republican candidate Trusten Lee, a dentist.

In 1993, she became an attorney for Bruce Clark and Associates.

As an attorney, she has represented the Portage Township Trustees, Portage Fire Department Merit Board, Porter County Plan Commission, and Board of Zoning Appeals.

She also was an adjunct instructor for Valparaiso University Law School.

Tallian began her public service career by serving on the boards of various agencies in Porter County.

She served as president and board member of the Portage Parks Foundation, president of the Porter County League of Women Voters, and director of the State Board of the League of Women Voters.

Tallian has been an attorney and partner for Eberhard & Gastineau, based in Portage, Indiana, since 1998.

She was previously an associate with Hilbrich, Cunningham & Schwerd law firm after her admission to the bar.

She previously ran for the bench on the Porter County Superior Court in 2000, but lost to incumbent Judge Jeffrey Thode.

As president of the Portage Parks Foundation in 2003, Tallian initiated the acquisition of Brennan Woods near the Salt Creek.

Tallian first joined the State Senate in December 2005 as a replacement for Sen. Rose Ann Antich-Carr, D-Merrillville, who stepped down after 15 years to become Clerk Treasurer of her city.

Tallian represents District 4, D-Portage, which includes portions of Porter and LaPorte counties.

Larry Chubb, an opponent of hers in the caucus who had previously opposed Antich-Carr in a primary, did not successfully complete the paperwork and was disqualified.

She was re-elected in 2006, 2010 and 2014.

While serving in the Senate, Tallian, a progressive, has supported medicinal prescription and the decriminalization of marijuana, and has authored bills in its favor.

Incumbent Democratic candidate Tallian won her first re-election on November 7, 2006, to the Indiana State Senate District 4.

She received 19,431 votes to beat her Republican opponent Dale Brewer, the Porter County Clerk, who received 11,622 votes.

Tallian's first opponent Paul Childress, who won the Republican primary, dropped out in August, and Brewer was the late entrant.

Brewer attacked Tallian for non-payment of her property tax.

Tallian claimed it was a mistake that her mortgage payments and tax payments were not bundled, but once she noticed it, she settled her account.

Another issue throughout the campaign was Tallian's opposition to the solution of Governor Mitch Daniels to lease toll roads for 75 years in order to fund his Major Moves program, which other state Democrats also opposed.

Brewer supported Daniels.

During the general election on November 2, Tallian defeated Republican Shawn Olson, receiving 3,031 more votes.

She ran unopposed in the May 4 Democratic primary.

During the campaign, Tallian was critical of Governor Mitch Daniels and his 2009 cut of US$450 million from primary, secondary and higher education in Indiana, and she vowed to use her position to defend education funding.

After the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the public was told Tallian had accepted $500 from the British Petroleum political action committee, which she kept and said it was not a quid pro quo donation.

Olson campaigned with Indiana State Senator Mike Delph (R-Carmel) at a Tea Party rally to advocate for state action against illegal immigration similar to Arizona's controversial legislation.

Candidate Tallian accepted endorsements from the Indiana Manufacturers Association, the Indiana Farm Bureau's political action group and several unions.

In 2014, Tallian ran unchallenged in the Indiana primary election on May 6, 2014, receiving 3958 votes.

She went unopposed in the general election on November 4.

In 2015, she announced her candidacy for governor of Indiana but dropped out that same year, well before the primary season.

On May 12, 2015, Tallian officially announced she would seek the Democratic Party's nomination for governor in 2016.

Tallian was also a candidate for the Democratic Party nomination for Indiana Attorney General in 2020, but lost the nomination to Jonathan Weinzapfel.

Expressing frustration with the way the Republican majority ran the Indiana legislature, Tallian retired in mid-term at the end of October, 2021.

Tallian is the daughter of Raymond D. Kotansky and Lucille (née Morlan) Kotansky.

She was born in the farming community of Streator, Illinois, where her father was also born and where he traded antiques and was an auctioneer.

She is the oldest of four children, including siblings Diane (née Kotansky) Patton, David Kotansky and James Kotansky.