Lucas seeks office

Small-business owner and Seymour City Councilman Jim Lucas announced Tuesday his candidacy for the Indiana state representative District 66 seat in the 2010 election.

Lucas will seek the Republican nomination for the seat now held by Democrat Terry Goodin of Austin, a longtime incumbent.

Goodin said Tuesday he would seek re-election next year.

Goodin, who’s not had a primary opponent since his first election, said it’s no surprise that the Republicans are fielding a candidate, saying House seats are a priority for Gov. Mitch Daniels in next year’s election cycle.

“Mitch sees the Democrats in the House as the only stumbling block between his pursuit of total domination of state government,” Goodin said. “And of course the winners of this election will redraw the maps for the next election (following completion of the 2010 U.S. Census).”

The district includes part of Jackson, Jennings, Scott and Clark counties.

At a small gathering of friends, family and other supporters Tuesday, Lucas spoke of why he decided to run for office and what changes he hopes to bring to the state, starting with spending.

Lucas said the Legislature has been spending taxpayer money irresponsibly without realizing the burden it will place on the next generation.

“Those of us who believe in the free market, fiscal restraint and personal responsibility are growing increasingly weary of seeing the same scenario played out over and over again,” he said. “We cannot continue to stand by while the government attempts to shackle our children to debt through their reckless spending.”

As the owner of The Awning Guy in Seymour, Lucas said he knows and understands the challenges of running a business and staying within a budget, something the state hasn’t done a very good job of, he added.

He pointed to the General Assembly’s special budget session this spring as an example.

“Government at every level seems to be recklessly spending money they don’t have,” Lucas said. “Rather than spending time on issues that could help business locate here and expand and create new jobs, they were concerned with trying to drain the state’s bank account.”

With a strong belief in limited government and leaving party affiliations out of decisions, Lucas said the state should be working to create a new economic climate.

Recently, Lucas and others organized what he described as a local nonpartisan group called We the People for local residents concerned with the state of their government. He said he plans to continue to be involved with that group but will keep it separate from his campaign.

“There is so much energy out there, but people don’t feel like there is anyone listening to them,” Lucas said. “That is what sealed my decision to run.”

Another issue Lucas said he is concerned with is public education.

“K through 12 schools consume half of the state budget but less than 70 percent are passing the ISTEP,” he said. “That’s not a very good return on our investment.”

However, he said he is a fan of teachers and wants to give them the support they need.

“We have a lot of good people in education, but we need to hold our schools accountable,” he said. “The answer is not to continue to throw money at the problem, but to make the system more efficient.”

In addition to serving as a state representative, Goodin is also the superintendent of Crothersville Community Schools.

Lucas said he is aware of the difficult road that lies ahead in challenging Goodin, but he emphasized that change is needed.

“I believe we can change and that we can move this state forward, but we must elect new leaders who are committed to doing so rather than the politicians who continue their attempts to block progress,” he said.

In his two years on the city council, Lucas said he has voted for more efficiency, transparency and accountability in local government.

Lucas is a Seymour High School graduate and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. He is a lifelong member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Seymour and is married to Lynn Lucas.

They have two young children, Jack and Maddie.

Dr. Jack Gillespie of Brownstown has been the Republican nominee to challenge Goodin in recent elections. He said Tuesday he will not run next year.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was corrected at 2:43 p.m. Wednesday to show that Dr. Jack Gillespie will not run for the Republican nomination in District 66 next year.)