81st District State Representative race heats up

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Three weeks away from the election, and every vote and endorsement counts.

"Having the opportunity to be endorsed by a sitting congressman is overwhelming for me," said Martin Carbaugh, the republican State Representative candidate in the 81st District.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Pence came to Fort Wayne to endorse Carbaugh.

"I think Indiana is on the verge of an era of growth and opportunity like no other in our lifetime, and it’s going to take the right leadership in every level," Pence said.

Carbaugh is going up against 20 year democratic incumbent Win Moses. He says it’s time for change and that he can bring something a little different.  

"What I can tell you is that I’m going to bring a positive attitude," Carbaugh said.

However, Moses said that he is more focused on getting local endorsements.

"If I had to choose between getting local endorsements from people that’ve known us both for long periods of time or someone from out of the city, I’d choose the local people every time," Moses said.

Although it’s a close race, Moses said his track record during his nearly 30 years of political service in Fort Wayne shows how much he's accomplished.

"I’m looking forward to working for Fort Wayne for the people of the 81st district," Moses said. "And doing what’s right for them, creating jobs at IPFW, at our medical facilities, at our military facilities, at our manufacturing facilities. That’s what I’m good at. That’s what I do. My opponent doesn’t have any of that experience."

At the rally, Allen County GOP members took time to comment on the Democrat walk outs in previous years.

"I can appreciate being passionate about things that you believe in…I have heard that people are frustrated they took that route, and decided to go to Illinois in protest, that’s something I will not do," Carbaugh said. "I plan to stay and work for the people of this district."

However, Moses said without the walk out, the Right to Work wouldn’t even be an issue debated in Indiana.

"I did everything I could in the last session to preserve the jobs of the citizens of the 81 ^st district to make sure they were going to have high paying, careful jobs that they can count on," Moses said. "Leaving for a time period helped me fight better. That’s the reason I went out. I will always fight for them. I don’t ever expect to do that again, but I think I’m going to be the most effective person of bringing jobs into Ft. Wayne."

Libertarian Alexander Avery is also running for the seat.