Thomas challenges Souder to debates

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Third district congressional candidate Bob Thomas has challenged incumbent Congressman Mark Souder to a series of five debates.

"The people of northeast Indiana deserve to hear informed debate on the issues that affect them and their families,” said Thomas. “It is our responsibility as candidates to present our ideas to the voters."

The Thomas campaign's news release laying out the challenge was short on details other than that Thomas is proposing that the debates be held at different sites around the district.

It's not clear if fellow May Republican primary candidates Phil Troyer and Greg Dickman are invited to the debates as well or whether there has been any response from Souder's campaign.

Thomas was a surprise entry into the race. He owns Dimension Ford in Fort Wayne and Capitol City Ford in Indianapolis. A graduate of Princeton and Harvard, Thomas says on his website that "it is time to get the career politicians and lawyers out of Washington, and replace them with businessmen; businessmen who know how to take what was previously a failing, bankrupt company and transform it into a success."