Annette Craycraft grew up in Selma and is a current resident of Yorktown. She is the daughter of former State Senator Allie and Juanita Craycraft. Ms. Craycraft is currently the Executive Director of East Central Indiana CASA, Inc., a non-profit agency serving children who are abused and neglected. Ms. Craycraft previously has worked in various capacities at the Indiana State House, including an internship with Governor Evan Bayh’s Summer Internship Program, the Indiana General Assembly in the House of Representatives and Indiana Senate, the Indiana Election Commission, and she was a Special Assistant to the late Governor Frank O’Bannon. Prior to coming to East Central Indiana CASA, Inc. she was the Executive Director for the Indiana Commission for Women, where she had the honor to serve as an appointee of both Governor O’Bannon and Governor Kernan. Annette served as the Executive Director of the Indiana Young Democrats from 1999 – 2001, and was the Chairperson of the Indiana Democratic Women’s Caucus from 2001 – 2006 where she created and organized the Indiana Democratic Women’s Leadership Institute, among other trainings for Democratic women across the State. She is a Precinct Committeeman, and was a candidate for Delaware County Commissioner in District 2 in 2016.
She is a graduate of Ball State University with a bachelor degree in both Political Science and History, with a minor in Japanese, and Peace Studies/Conflict Mediation. She is actively involved with many local and state organizations, and serves on several statewide and local community boards and task forces. She is the former Chair of the Indiana Public Radio/WIPB-TV Advisory Board, Vice Chair of the Open Door Health Services Board, and serves on the Anderson Rotary Club Board of Directors, as well as the Indiana Women’s History Association Board of Directors. She is a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority, and has been active in the alumni chapter over the years.
For her work in the community, Ms. Craycraft has received several awards and honors. In 2019 she was awarded the Athena Leadership Award for Madison County, and in 2007, she was given the Indiana Women of Achievement Award for Distinction in Advocacy for Women from Ball State University. She has also been honored with the Above and Beyond Award from Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and a Madison County Community Shining Star award in 2015, 2016 and 2018. She was awarded a Sagamore of the Wabash from Governor Joseph E. Kernan.