Democrats Tom Hayhurst, Allen Dunnagan, Larry Rensberger, James Wadkins and Brad Ellsworth will be on the election ballot in November facing Republican opponents.
Hayhurst (D-Fort Wayne) will face U.S. Congressman Mark Souder (R-Fort Wayne).
During Tuesday's primary in Kosciusko County, Hayhurst received 458 votes, or 63.17 percent, compared to his democrat opponent, Thomas Allen Schrader, who received 267 votes, or 36.83 percent, of the Kosciusko County vote.Districtwide, Hayhurst received 8,741 votes, or 80 percent of the votes, compared to Schrader who received 2,211 votes, or 20 percent of the votes.
Hayhurst previously won the 2006 primary, receiving 66 percent of the vote for the 3rd congressional seat. He defeated democrat opponent Rev. Kevin Boyd. Hayhurst eventually lost the general election in 2006 to Souder, 55 percent to 45.
Hayhurst is a former Fort Wayne city councilman, serving from 1996 to 2008.
During a telephone interview this morning, Hayhurst said he is looking forward to the November election to fight for jobs in the 3rd district.
"I've spent a lot of time talking to voters, and jobs seems to be an issue," Hayhurst said. "In Kosciusko County the job situation is better than thanewhere, but we need to change foreign trade policy to encourage more exports and discourage shipping jobs to China."
He said he thinks the United States needs a congressman that fights for good jobs in middle America.
Hayhurst also said his opponent has claimed that he supports a tax on medical manufacturers, but Hayhurst said that is incorrect.
"I don't support a tax on medical manufacturers whether it is in the orthopaedic industry or any industry and logic should be used to see that the tax is stopped," Hayhurst said.
A Vietnam-era veteran, Hayhurst served as a captain and major in the U.S. Air Force from 1969-1971. He served as general medical officer on active duty at various military installations across the United States.
He practiced medicine as a pulmonary-critical care specialist at Indiana Medical Associates, Fort Wayne, from 1974 to 2005.
Hayhurst completed an Internal Medicine Residency and Pulmonary-Critical Care Fellowship training at Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis; Grady Memorial Hospital/Emory University, Atlanta, Ga.; and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
Democrat Larry Rensberger, Syracuse, will face Doug Heinisch (R-Syracuse) in the county council district 1 race.
Democrat James Wadkins, Warsaw, will face Brad Tandy (R-Winona Lake) in the district 3 county council race.
During Tuesday's primary, Rensberger received 159 votes, and James Wadkins received 111 votes.
During an interview this morning, Rensberger said he feels he is well-qualified to hold the county council district 1 seat.
He said he was worked as an employee of the Kalamazoo transit system and served as treasurer of the transit system.
"I have experience working with politicians and budgets and have operated my own wholesale company for the past 20 years," Rensberger said.
This is not Rensberger's first time seeking political office.
He previously ran in 2006 and 2008 for State Rep. District 22 Bill Ruppel's seat that was won in Tuesday's Republican primary by Rebecca Kubacki, Syracuse.
Kubacki will face Allen Dunnagan (D-Wabash) in the November election.
Dunnagan said he is seeking office to provide good job opportunities for the citizens of Indiana and to bring a fresh voice to the 22nd district.
Brad Ellsworth (D-Evansville) will face Republican Dan Coats in the November election.
