Candidates Express Interest In Souder's Seat
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
Souder announced his resignation Tuesday after it came to light that he had an affair with a female staffer who worked in his northern Indiana district office.
Secretary of State Todd Rokita said a special election will be held to select a replacement for Souder, but the date of the election has not yet been determined. Governor Mitch Daniels will set a date for the special election.
The winner of the special election will complete the remainder of Souder's term that ends in January. Under state law, caucuses of Republican and Democratic committeemen from the district will select candidates for the special election.
In a separate procedure, a Republican caucus will select a candidate to replace Souder on the ballot in the upcoming November election.
Republican and Democratic precinct committeemen in the districts will choose nominees for the special election, and GOP precinct officials will choose a candidate for the November ballot. The special election cannot be held for at least 60 days after Souder's resignation Friday.
Souder won 49 percent of the vote in the eight-county northeast Indiana district in the May 4 primary, defeating Gregory (Greg) Dickman (R-Auburn) who received 3 percent, Bob Thomas (R-Fort Wayne) who received 34 percent, and Phillip J. (Phil) Troyer (R-Fort Wayne) who received 14 percent.
Souder was to face Democrat candidate Tom Hayhurst (D-Fort Wayne) in the November election.
During a telephone interview this morning, Marlin Stutzman (R-Howe), said that he is very interested in seeking the congressional seat and will make a decision today or tomorrow if he will seek the office.
Stutzman ran for the U.S. Senate seat in May, but was defeated by Dan Coats (R-Fort Wayne).
"We are talking about a direction this administration is taking our country and I believe we need a strong conservative voice and with not only my experience as a state senator, but also as a small business owner and farmer and knowing the third congressional district I would be a strong voice for northeastern Indiana," Stutzman said.
He said Souder's resignation is a sensitive issue and Stutzman's campaign is disappointed in it, but at the same time moving forward.
"People are looking for candidates of integrity and honesty and right now it is difficult in a situation like this when the people's trust has been very fractured," Stutzman said.
Stutzman said he has received hundreds of calls encouraging him to seek the congressional seat.
Stutzman released a statement Tuesday that said "I am saddened by the announcement today by Congressman Mark Souder. Our thoughts and prayers will be with the Souder family and all those affected by this sad situation. Our campaign has been contacted by numerous people and media sources about our intentions concerning the vacancy that Congressman Souder's resignation creates. We will be making an official statement regarding our decision on this situation in the next few days."
Thomas's campaign issued a statement Tuesday to the media that said "It would be inappropriate to comment on Congressman Souder's resignation at this time. This is a difficult situation for Mr. Souder's family and the district."
The release also stated Thomas is currently away with his family celebrating his daughter's recent admittance into the Indiana Bar Association. The campaign will release more information to the public on Thursday morning regarding its position going forward.
Thomas's campaign told the Times-Union Tuesday afternoon that Thomas will seek the seat.
It has been reported that Allen County GOP Chairman Steve Shine had a list of potential candidates for the third congressional seat, including Thomas, Troyer, as well as state Rep. Randy Borror, Fort Wayne, and Fort Wayne City Councilwoman Liz Brown.
During a phone interview Tuesday, Troyer said he is interested in seeking the seat in the special election, but has not yet decided if he will put his name in. He said he has received phone calls from supporters encouraging him to run.
Hayhurst, 67, previously ran for the seat in 2006 when he won the Democratic primary election over the Rev. Kevin Boyd in May 2006.
During a telephone interview with the Times-Union Tuesday afternoon, Hayhurst said he was doing public health work Tuesday when he received a phone call advising him of Souder's resignation.
"The primary thought on my mind is that I am focused on issues right now more than personalities," Hayhurst said.
"As far as I'm concerned the issues facing us are bigger than any one person and bigger than me or whomever runs."
He said there needs to be a congressman who can get things turned around for northeast Indiana in regards to jobs and the economy.
"I think we need to have what our founding fathers felt we should have and that is citizen legislators at the national level representing this congressional district," Hayhurst said.
He said he thinks of himself as a citizen legislator, not a political professional and is eager to fight for northeast Indiana citizens.
Hayhurst said it is imperative to place citizen's concerns above a political party.
He said in campaigning his focus will continue to be on job creation.
"I want to have good, strong middle America jobs and I think it will give us economic and political stability for the United States of America," Hayhurst said.
He said he served in the U.S. Air Force and has felt very strongly on the security of our country.
He also said if elected he wants to work on the healthcare issue and said it is largely an economic issue.
"Half the bankruptcies in Indiana are healthcare related, and there are folks in Kosciukso County that have gone bankrupt because of health care debt and I think that is wrong," Hayhurst said.
He said Congress needs to continue to work to improve the healthcare system.
Tom Metzger,Warsaw, announced in March that he is seeking the seat as an independent write-in candidate.
Metzger Tuesday said he is running as a working class candidate and feels negatively about big corporations. He said he will have a blog within the next week that states his positions on issues.
In 1980, Metzger won the Democrat Party's nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives in San Diego. He later lost in the general election to the Republican incumbent.
He was a precinct worker for the campaign of Barry Goldwater in 1964.
He said he supports manufacturing in the U.S. and believes illegal aliens should be deported.
Kosciusko Silent No More issued a statement Tuesday regarding Souder's resignation.
The statement said "We are disappointed that Congressman Souder broke the trust of his constituents. His actions go against the principles and values of Kosciusko Silent No More. We appreciate his prompt resignation. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families and staff involved. We will continue to pray for Mark in this difficult time."
The group also said in the statement that they are moving forward to contact all precinct committeemen to encourage them to support a candidate who is both fiscally, socially and morally conservative.[[In-content Ad]]
Latest News
E-Editions
Souder announced his resignation Tuesday after it came to light that he had an affair with a female staffer who worked in his northern Indiana district office.
Secretary of State Todd Rokita said a special election will be held to select a replacement for Souder, but the date of the election has not yet been determined. Governor Mitch Daniels will set a date for the special election.
The winner of the special election will complete the remainder of Souder's term that ends in January. Under state law, caucuses of Republican and Democratic committeemen from the district will select candidates for the special election.
In a separate procedure, a Republican caucus will select a candidate to replace Souder on the ballot in the upcoming November election.
Republican and Democratic precinct committeemen in the districts will choose nominees for the special election, and GOP precinct officials will choose a candidate for the November ballot. The special election cannot be held for at least 60 days after Souder's resignation Friday.
Souder won 49 percent of the vote in the eight-county northeast Indiana district in the May 4 primary, defeating Gregory (Greg) Dickman (R-Auburn) who received 3 percent, Bob Thomas (R-Fort Wayne) who received 34 percent, and Phillip J. (Phil) Troyer (R-Fort Wayne) who received 14 percent.
Souder was to face Democrat candidate Tom Hayhurst (D-Fort Wayne) in the November election.
During a telephone interview this morning, Marlin Stutzman (R-Howe), said that he is very interested in seeking the congressional seat and will make a decision today or tomorrow if he will seek the office.
Stutzman ran for the U.S. Senate seat in May, but was defeated by Dan Coats (R-Fort Wayne).
"We are talking about a direction this administration is taking our country and I believe we need a strong conservative voice and with not only my experience as a state senator, but also as a small business owner and farmer and knowing the third congressional district I would be a strong voice for northeastern Indiana," Stutzman said.
He said Souder's resignation is a sensitive issue and Stutzman's campaign is disappointed in it, but at the same time moving forward.
"People are looking for candidates of integrity and honesty and right now it is difficult in a situation like this when the people's trust has been very fractured," Stutzman said.
Stutzman said he has received hundreds of calls encouraging him to seek the congressional seat.
Stutzman released a statement Tuesday that said "I am saddened by the announcement today by Congressman Mark Souder. Our thoughts and prayers will be with the Souder family and all those affected by this sad situation. Our campaign has been contacted by numerous people and media sources about our intentions concerning the vacancy that Congressman Souder's resignation creates. We will be making an official statement regarding our decision on this situation in the next few days."
Thomas's campaign issued a statement Tuesday to the media that said "It would be inappropriate to comment on Congressman Souder's resignation at this time. This is a difficult situation for Mr. Souder's family and the district."
The release also stated Thomas is currently away with his family celebrating his daughter's recent admittance into the Indiana Bar Association. The campaign will release more information to the public on Thursday morning regarding its position going forward.
Thomas's campaign told the Times-Union Tuesday afternoon that Thomas will seek the seat.
It has been reported that Allen County GOP Chairman Steve Shine had a list of potential candidates for the third congressional seat, including Thomas, Troyer, as well as state Rep. Randy Borror, Fort Wayne, and Fort Wayne City Councilwoman Liz Brown.
During a phone interview Tuesday, Troyer said he is interested in seeking the seat in the special election, but has not yet decided if he will put his name in. He said he has received phone calls from supporters encouraging him to run.
Hayhurst, 67, previously ran for the seat in 2006 when he won the Democratic primary election over the Rev. Kevin Boyd in May 2006.
During a telephone interview with the Times-Union Tuesday afternoon, Hayhurst said he was doing public health work Tuesday when he received a phone call advising him of Souder's resignation.
"The primary thought on my mind is that I am focused on issues right now more than personalities," Hayhurst said.
"As far as I'm concerned the issues facing us are bigger than any one person and bigger than me or whomever runs."
He said there needs to be a congressman who can get things turned around for northeast Indiana in regards to jobs and the economy.
"I think we need to have what our founding fathers felt we should have and that is citizen legislators at the national level representing this congressional district," Hayhurst said.
He said he thinks of himself as a citizen legislator, not a political professional and is eager to fight for northeast Indiana citizens.
Hayhurst said it is imperative to place citizen's concerns above a political party.
He said in campaigning his focus will continue to be on job creation.
"I want to have good, strong middle America jobs and I think it will give us economic and political stability for the United States of America," Hayhurst said.
He said he served in the U.S. Air Force and has felt very strongly on the security of our country.
He also said if elected he wants to work on the healthcare issue and said it is largely an economic issue.
"Half the bankruptcies in Indiana are healthcare related, and there are folks in Kosciukso County that have gone bankrupt because of health care debt and I think that is wrong," Hayhurst said.
He said Congress needs to continue to work to improve the healthcare system.
Tom Metzger,Warsaw, announced in March that he is seeking the seat as an independent write-in candidate.
Metzger Tuesday said he is running as a working class candidate and feels negatively about big corporations. He said he will have a blog within the next week that states his positions on issues.
In 1980, Metzger won the Democrat Party's nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives in San Diego. He later lost in the general election to the Republican incumbent.
He was a precinct worker for the campaign of Barry Goldwater in 1964.
He said he supports manufacturing in the U.S. and believes illegal aliens should be deported.
Kosciusko Silent No More issued a statement Tuesday regarding Souder's resignation.
The statement said "We are disappointed that Congressman Souder broke the trust of his constituents. His actions go against the principles and values of Kosciusko Silent No More. We appreciate his prompt resignation. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families and staff involved. We will continue to pray for Mark in this difficult time."
The group also said in the statement that they are moving forward to contact all precinct committeemen to encourage them to support a candidate who is both fiscally, socially and morally conservative.[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092