Four years and one City Council later, property tax abatements are back in the cross hairs of Fort Wayne’s legislators.
Longtime Rep. Jeff Espich, R-Uniondale, will not seek re-election, ending a 40-year career in the Indiana House.
Today was the filing deadline to run in a newly-drawn House District 50 seat against incumbent Rep. Dan Leonard, R-Huntington.
Despite saying for months he intended to run, he sent a letter to the Journal Gazette early Friday saying he will not seek re-election.
“I have worked hard and tried to lead well. I hope I have succeeded in the minds and hearts of my constituents,” Espich said. “But, in fact, it has been an easy task to act in their interests. This is because I share their belief in the importance of faith and traditional American values in our lives and society. I have never had to compromise my actions or act in ways that were not in support of the thoughts of my neighbors.”
He pointed to other representatives now serving southwest Allen County and Wells County, including Leonard, Rep. Kathy Heuer, R-Columbia City, and Rep. Matt Lehman, R-Berne.
“These incumbent representatives are all my friends. All of them serve the same principles of faith and traditional American values that most of us hold dear. They each do a great job serving their constituents and will do likewise in their new area in the coming years,” Espich said.
“For these reasons, I have decided not to seek re-election as a State Representative.” He said he and his wife Sharon intend to remain involved in the community.
Espich has steered fiscal matters for the House Republicans’ caucus for decades, and is currently Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Niki Kelly is the Statehouse Bureau Chief for the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette.
