Weeks after losing a difficult race for a U.S. Senate nomination, state Sen. Marlin Stutzman, R-Howe, wants to represent northeast Indiana in Congress.
Stutzman traveled the district Thursday, announcing he will seek the GOP nomination to replace Rep. Mark Souder, who resigns today after admitting to an affair with a part-time staffer.
The decision to run for office so soon after a stinging loss to former Sen. Dan Coats was difficult, Stutzman said, as are the circumstances surrounding the 3rd District vacancy.
After discussing the issue with his family, however, Stutzman said he believes he is the best candidate to replace his former boss in Congress. Stutzman worked years ago as a special assistant to Souder in the district.
“Government is not the answer to the problem, government is the problem,” he said to a crowd of more than 50 at Allen County GOP headquarters in downtown Fort Wayne.
Despite running an aggressive statewide campaign for the Senate nomination, a campaign that has about $10,000 remaining, Stutzman said he considers himself the underdog in the new race. Many political insiders have pegged Stutzman as the favorite because of the high-profile Senate campaign.
The Republican nominee will be selected by a caucus of about 520 precinct officials throughout the district. Because Allen County is home to half of those officials, Stutzman said being from Howe puts him at some disadvantage.
Of course, he said he didn’t think that would keep him from winning.
“I don’t think it’s going to come down to a geographic vote,” he said.
Other announced or speculated-about candidates, including state Rep. Randy Borror and City Councilwoman Liz Brown, are from Fort Wayne. The caucus must be within 30 days, but a date and location have not been selected.
The winner would presumably face Dr. Tom Hayhurst, former Fort Wayne City Councilman, in the special election and fall general election. Hayhurst defeated nominal opposition in the Democratic primary for the seat.
Gov. Mitch Daniels has not set a date for the special election.
Stutzman said he thought it would be appropriate to conduct the special election on the same day as the general election to save more than $500,000 across the district. This would mean people would vote for the congressional office twice on the same ballot but would keep election workers from conducting separate elections.
“There’s no reason for taxpayers to pay for a special election,” he said.
While an employee of Souder, Stutzman said he approached the congressman after hearing rumors of an affair, but he was told they were false.
Stutzman said he believed Souder at the time.
He said he is personal friends with Tracy Meadows Jackson – the part-time employee involved in the relationship with Souder – and her husband, Brad, a Kosciusko County commissioner.
“I’m very disappointed in what has happened,” he said. “It’s awkward for all of us.”
