The race for Indiana's Fifth Congressional District seat pits three-term incumbent Republican Steve Buyer against Democrat David Steele.

Steve Buyer

Buyer, elected in 1992, is a native of Monticello and a graduate of North White High School in Monon. He received a degree in business administration from the Citadel and a law degree from Valparaiso University Law School in 1984.

He is also a U.S. Army veteran, serving three years as a member of the Judge Advocate General Corps. After his military service he served as a special assistant to the U.S. attorney in Virginia and as deputy attorney general for Indiana, serving as counsel to the Indiana Commodity and Warehouse Licensing Agency. He later opened a private law practice in Monticello, specializing in family law.

Buyer supports a balanced budget amendment, term limits and controlled government spending. He has become a recognized leader on national defense and security issues. He has been a strong proponent for greater medical assistance to Gulf War veterans suffering from undiagnosed illnesses.

Locally, Buyer has fought to have the Continental Steel site in Kokomo, one of the nation's largest Superfund sites, cleaned up. He has also introduced legislation to give more local authority over out-of-state waste.

David Steele

Steele is a resident of Logansport and serves as executive director of the Center for International Business Education and Research in the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University. He received a bachelor's degree from Ashland University in Ohio and a master's degree in government and international studies from the University of Notre Dame.

Steele has focused his campaign on four key issues: superior education, better infrastructure, stronger families and smarter government.

In terms of education, Steele believes now is the time for national educational standards to be set. The economic costs of an underperforming public educational system are a national concern. He asserts that funding inequities and bureaucratic inefficiencies have created a situation where some communities are unable to realize their highest educational aspirations or are incapable of articulating high standards.

Steele said he believes Indiana's transportation infrastructure is grossly underfunded - a situation that particularly affects the Fifth District - and he will back improving Indiana transportation system through ensuring the state receives more federal transportation dollars.

A strong pro-family approach to government is also a Steele goal. He said he supports tax relief for families, more educational assistance, eliminating the marriage tax, meaningful welfare reform and health care reform - all of which can improve and strengthen families.

Making government smarter, not necessarily smaller, is also a main goal of Steele's, who said the "big vs. small" debate focuses on the wrong question. Rather, the focus should be put in terms of responsiveness and efficiency. [[In-content Ad]]