Out one race and into another

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Out of one race and in another.  Phil Troyer announced his decision to drop out of the 3rd District race Tuesday, just four days before the Republican caucus.

Instead, he'll run for the state representative seat recently open in Indiana's 83rd District.  It's all part of the political whirlwind surrounding the congressional race.

If somebody were to hand me either of these opportunities on a silver platter and say, 'you get to pick,' right now I would choose the state representative seat over running for congress," said Troyer.

He's not throwing in the towel, just changing his political plan.

"I think I could be much more effective as one of 100 state representatives in the Indiana general assembly as opposed to a freshman member of congress," said Troyer.  "Knowing the political hierarchy, it would take several years I think to really be effective in Washington D.C."

Last Wednesday Indiana state representative Matt Bell announced he will not seek reelection in the 83rd District.  The reason being that he's taking an executive director position at the Regional Chamber of Northeast Indiana.

"Matt contacted me the day after he made his announcement to see if I would be interested in the seat," said Troyer.

Similar to the political situation with Mark Souder's seat, there will have to be a Republican caucus for the state representative seat.

"There's going to have to be a caucus because Matt won the primary and now there's going to have to be a caucus to replace him on the ballot in November," said Troyer.  "But that caucus is going to have to take place by the end of June, so it's going to be a very short time frame."

As for other candidates vying for Bell's seat, another person has expressed interest.  But he won't announce his candidacy until Bell's name is officially off the ballot.

"It's politics," said Troyer.  "You know it's an open system.  Everybody has the right to get in who wants to get in, and we'll just see who else decides to get in."

Officials at the state's Republican party headquarters said Bell has yet to officially file any paperwork, so as of June 8th his name was still November's ballot.

Troyer's intent to drop out of the 3rd District race has to go through the local precinct committee before he can be eligible for the state representative caucus.