Republican former State Representative Luke Messer announced on Thursday his plans to run for Congress in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District. The seat is currently held by U.S. Congressman Dan Burton who has announced he is seeking a 15th term. The district includes all of Miami, Wabash, Huntington, Grant, Tipton, Hamilton, and Hancock counties, as well as parts of Howard, Marion, Shelby, and Johnson.
“This is a very serious time in our nation’s history,” Messer said at a gathering with supporters in Shelbyville. “And, in tough times, Hoosiers step forward. We’re not the kind of folks to sit back and wait for others to solve our problems. That’s why we’re working with our friends and neighbors to build this campaign for Congress.”
“We can and must do better,” Messer continued. “The old ways of doing business in Washington just aren’t good enough. We need new ideas and fresh perspectives to move our country forward.”
Messer announced his candidacy at a small business in Shelbyville citing the significance that, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses employ about half of all private sector employees and created nearly 80 percent of the nation’s net new jobs in recent years.
“If history is any indication, the jobs created in small businesses will lead our economic comeback,” Messer explained. “Yet, as we consider bailout after bailout of another failing large corporation, we need to remember that the burdens of the debt and taxes associated with those bailouts will fall on our nation’s families and small businesses. Simply put, if the burden is too high, these folks won’t be able to create new jobs.”
“In these tough times, Hoosiers are ready for their own brand of change,” Messer concluded. “We know it will take new ideas to move our country forward. But, we want a change built on Hoosier values that aims higher than the old business-as-usual in Washington, reins in reckless spending, and empowers individuals with the tools needed to improve their own lives.”
Cross-posted at CircleCityPundit.com
I cross posted this on my site too … with Jacob’s permission. First comment asked about the genesis of multiple Republicans running against Dan Burton. Why?
Can one of you adroit analysts explain the reasons and issues in this race?
There’s blood in the water would be the short answer. It’s no secret that Mr. Burton has, shall we say, enjoyed being a congressman. After all, he ran for the seat three times before he finally won it.
But the flip side is that he’s taken it for granted, in recent years rarely returning to the district for much more than his golf tournament.
So recognizing that, my friend John McGoff made an excellent challenge in the ‘08 primary, and likely would’ve succeeded without the interference of “Operation Chaos”.
But now Mr. Burton has been awakened a bit, putting himself out there more, being more visible, establishing a more visible online presence (thanks to the able assistance of Prosper Group), and acting a little more like…well, a congressman.
It’s also recognized that this is an extremely safe seat, thanks to gerrymandering. Whomever wins will likely have a seat for life, and that’s an extremely tempting thought for many.
Watch enough money be blown on this race for the Republicans to take the state house. What policy and social view does Messer bring to the table?
I wonder how redistricting will affected this district for 2012.
I care more about Dan Burton’s voting record than I do about his physical location. He’s always been a solid conservative, and that’s the bottom line for me.
Thanks for the kind comments Mr. Perry.
Every one of these candidates opposing Dan are good individuals. It’s just awfully sad we couldn’t postpone the battle royale until after the 2010 redistricting year.
I suspect the person enjoying this the most is Pat Bauer.
More people are on the eastern side of Indiana as people have been leaving western Indiana. District maps are going to shift. I’m just waiting for Andre Carson to have Martinsville in his district.
First, McGoff wants to be Mayor, then he runs against Burton. Then, McVey runs against Carson and gets thumped and now wants to run against Burton. Then, Messer runs against Pence and gets thumped and now wants to run against Burton. These guys are candidates in search of an office!
I think you have them confused with Mr. Burton, a career politician (and “Bridge to Nowhere supporter) who ran for nearly every office in existence before being elected to Congress…on his third try.
I go back to my original thought, is this the best use of campaign dollars? We need to win back congressional seats in the north and south … potentially winnable seats that would tip the balance in Indiana. We need to win the Indiana house so we are strong going into redistricting … although the democrats may enjoy this primary battle, it’s going to cost a lot of money.
I can’t speak to whether Burton has forgotten his core beliefs, since sitting here in the 1st District we don’t even remember what those are supposed to be.
I have to agree that there a greater races in need of campaign cash than a GOP primary in the 5th. With redistricting on the horizon, State House races need all the money they can get, especially with about three or four winnable State House districts held by Democrats that reside in the 5th Congressional. Focusing on those races alone could flip the State House to GOP control, giving Republicans the ability to redraw the districts and draw favorable lines for GOP victories in one to two other congressional seats.
But the fact is, that three of these four challengers could lose the opportunity to gain a “seat for life” if they didn’t run against Burton this time. Brose is from Hamilton County. That stays in the 5th, but you can’t say the same for Perry Township in Marion County (Murphy), Shelbyville (Messer) or the east side of Indianapolis (McGoff). These guys are running because they know it’s their last shot ever at being a Congressman (save for Brose). Basically, they are looking out for themselves rather than what’s best for the party in the long term. (And yeah, I’m Burton supporter…big surprise there! But facts are facts.
That said, I like most of these guys and if Burton wasn’t running, I’d side with one of them and probably campaign vigorously for them.
Josh, are you saying the voters do not pick there representives but the representives pick their voters.
You’re kidding right? That’s a dumb assumption. Heaven forbid someone actually come out in support of Congressman Burton.
I disagree. I’m sure each of them is running because they think they are a better candidate for the office and could do a better job serving than the current Congressman Burton. I happen to think that at least one or two of them could do so. I don’t think it’s a fair argument to say that they should “help the party” by abdicating the seat and letting the current office holder continue to tarnish the Republican party via a variety of minor infractions. Maybe Congressman Burton should step aside while he is on top, collect his pension, and let some new blood reinvigorate the party base.
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