FORT WAYNE – State Sen. Jim Banks announced his candidacy for Indiana’s 3rd Congressional District Tuesday. According to a press release, Banks launched his campaign in front of a large crowd of family, friends and supporters at the Allen County GOP headquarters in downtown Fort Wayne. Banks vowed to run a substantive campaign built on issues and ideas, the release states. Pam Galloway and Liz Brown also have announced they are seeking the seat that is being vacated by Marlin Stutzman, who is running for Senate. “We will talk about cleaning up the bureaucratic mess that is our VA. We will talk about supporting our troops and strengthening our military that has been weakened by the current administration. We will talk about creating jobs right here in the 3rd Congressional District by once and for all ending the medical device tax and by protecting and growing the 122nd Fighter Wing,” Banks said. Banks returned three weeks ago from a tour of duty in Afghanistan where he served for eight months in his capacity as a U.S. Naval Reserve officer. He referenced his combat boots as a reminder of the sacrifices made by veterans and service members today who are protecting our freedoms abroad, and vowed to take the boots with him when elected to Congress, the announcement states. Banks went on to describe what led to his decision to run for Congress. “As I think about what makes America great and those in our nation’s capital who have worked to diminish America’s greatness at home and abroad, I realize there is more I must do to serve our country – the greatest country in the world,” he is quoted as saying. Banks was introduced by his wife, Amanda Banks, and Indiana Senate President Pro Tempore David Long. Amanda commented about her recent service in the Indiana State Senate during her husband’s deployment. “I had very big shoes to fill when I became the senator from the 17th Senate District. Jim’s record standing for conservative and traditional values is nearly unrivaled at the Statehouse,” she is quoted as saying. “He consistently has stood on principle and taken the less-traveled road to both author legislation and vote for legislation consistent with pro-life, pro-family, free market and smaller government values.” Long offered his endorsement, according to the announcement. “Jim Banks embodies precisely the type of person we want representing us in Congress. He is a strong conservative with the voting record to prove it; he is unabashedly pro life; he understands the Constitution and the appropriate limits that must be placed upon the federal government; he knows how to balance a budget; and he is a genuine family man. We need a lot more people like Jim in Congress if we are ever going to turn that place around, which is why I strongly support Jim Banks to be our next Congressman from northeast Indiana,” Long is quoted as saying.
