Sakbun off to D.C. to meet with Buttigieg, others

Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sakbun will visit Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to meet with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, members of the Indiana Congressional Delegation and officials from the Department of Defense to discuss a variety of issues.

During his one-day trip, according to a news release issued by his office, Sakbun expects to talk about:

* The Destination Wabash project;

* Grants for the Federal Railroad Elimination project to begin building another overpass;

* Support for veterans and the 181st Intelligence Wing;

* Long- and short-term plans for funding I-70 renovations and infrastructure improvements regarding stormwater and wastewater.

“The city of Terre Haute will continue to advocate for itself in a bipartisan manner,” Sakbun said. “I look forward to meeting with leaders from both sides of the aisle in an effort to elevate the city of Terre Haute. The administration remains committed to working with the federal government to bring our tax dollars back here to the Hoosier state.”

Sakbun said he would not have time to visit Vice President Kamala Harris in the White House during his brief time in D.C.

“The focus of this trip is federal agencies and the Indiana Congressional Delegation,” he said via text.

In November, after he was elected mayor of Terre Haute, Harris called to congratulate him — the only mayor among the governors and congressional representatives she contacted. They bonded over their similar backgrounds as children of immigrant parents, and she invited him to come see her.

Last November, Sakbun told the Tribune-Star, “She made sure to say, ‘Hey when you’re in the area, make sure and stop by the office. We’d love to sit down and talk with you in person and shake your hand.’ I don’t know if I’ll have any vacation time to take her up on that, but if I’m in the area for the state and the community, I will take her up on that.”