Amid the backdrop of the playground at Eastside Park, Republican Dist. 63 House candidate Mark Messmer received a key endorsement Tuesday.
Messmer, who will face Democrat John Burger in the fall, received the endorsement of Indiana Right to Life political action committee. The pro-life movement is one of the largest voting blocs in Daviess County and in District 63.
The two are vying for the seat held by Rep. Dave Crooks, D-Washington. Crooks announced he would not seek another term.
The Jasper native held press conferences in Jasper and at Washington for the endorsement along with Right to Life PAC chairman Mike Fichter.
“We believe that Mark Messmer will play a key role in helping to pass pro-life legislation in Indiana by voting for a Speaker of the House who will allow a straight up-and-down vote on pro-life legislation,” Fichter said.
Fichter said that current Speaker Patrick Bauer, D-Fort Wayne, has not given pro-life legislation a chance to be voted on since he was speaker. Fichter said the endorsement was key for pro-life voters to help change the balance of power in the house.
“A vote for Messmer is a vote for new leadership and for the passage of pro-life legislation,” Fichter said.
Messmer, thanking Fichter for the endorsement, said he is not a “typical politician that suddenly develops an interest in pro-life issues for political expediency.”
“When I started my campaign last year, I made a commitment to bring the values we share in our community to the statehouse,” Messmer said. “No other value is as fundamental as the respect for life.”
Messmer said he has been active in Dubois County Right to Life for 19 years, writing numerous letters to representatives. He has also been active in national pro-life events.
While the state Right to Life organization has given endorsements in the past, Tuesday’s announcement was earlier than normal. A strategy, Fichter said after the announcement, that was planned to help its candidates.
“This year we will be rolling out endorsements in infrequent intervals,” Fichter said.
Besides the endorsement, Fichter said his organization plans to donate money and effort into the Messmer campaign. Messmer said after the endorsement that he appreciated the nod.
“The personal convictions of people of this area and Right to Life issues are important to a large majority of people in this area,” Messmer said.
Messmer’s opponent, Burger, said from the Dubois County Fair Tuesday evening that his stance on pro-life issues are very similar to Messmer.
“I have been a long-time member of Dubois County Right to Life,” Burger said. “When it comes to right to life issues, Mark Messmer and John Burger agree to that.”
He also stated the partisan nature of the Right to Life in politics. Burger also asked for the group’s endorsement.
“It appears the Indiana Right to Life has become very partisan,” Burger said. “Here they had a chance to get a Democrat in the statehouse that will be supportive of right to life issues and they chose not to.
Burger, who along with Messmer was at last year’s Daviess County Right to Life banquet, said their differences in economic issues are what separates the two. Last week, Burger came out in support of asking the sales tax on gasoline be suspended.
“Just as the gas tax position, I feel that it is proper that the gas tax is suspended and that will help Hoosier families,” Burger said. “People are having to choose between a gallon of gas or a gallon of milk.”
Messmer said after the announcement he plans to make announcements on his economic positions in the future.
Local News
Related Photos
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Republican candidate for Indiana House of Representatives District 63 Mark Messmer (center) accepts the endorsement of Indiana Right to Life Executive Director Mike Fichter (right) at Eastside Park in Washington on Tuesday. At left are members of Messmer's family, including (from left) son Luke, wife Kim, and daughter Maddie---Photo by Mike Myers.
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Indiana Right to Life endorses Messmer
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