Another teabag spoiler???

Tea Party chairman wants seat

Lyons among challengers to Burton in House

By Maribeth Holtz
mholtz@chronicle-tribune.com

Published: Thursday, November 12, 2009 1:09 AM EST

The chairman of the Grant County Tea Party announced his intention to represent Indiana’s fifth district in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Andy Lyons, Marion, said he intends to make decisions with the U.S. Constitution in one hand, and the Bible in the other.

“The time for (Dan) Burton is done,” Lyons said. “The time for career politicians is over.”

Lyons joins four other Republicans in the district that intend to run for the May 2010 primary election. Because the district that stretches from Huntington south to Shelbyville has consistently voted Republican, political analysts say the winner of the GOP primary will likely to be the winner of the seat.

Other challengers of Burton include former state Rep. Luke Messer, state Rep. Mike Murphy, businessman Brose McVey, and Dr. John McGoff.

Lyons, a high school economics and history teacher for Elwood Community Schools, said he believes the opponents challenging Burton were career politicians. He said Burton has lost his connection with the people in Indiana’s central district.

He said the country needs to go back to the roots of the Constitution, and he hopes to defend the ninth and tenth amendments.

“The craziness, the corruption, the lobbying must stop,” Lyons said. “I guarantee you that when I am elected I am going to go in and I am going to call everyone out that needs to be called out — and that’s what’s on both sides of the aisle.”

Lyons made his announcement Wednesday afternoon on the lawn of the Grant County Courthouse, with about 50 Tea Party supporters waving flags and cheering.

According to recent financial reports, Burton has $441,835 on hand for campaigning. Challenger Messer has $214,476; Murphy has $162,084; McVey, $83,973; and McGoff, $70,461.

Lyons said he’s never going to have the kind of money the others have, but he believes if he has the passion and connection with the right people, and if it’s meant to be, he will win the election.

David Bartley, professor of political science at Indiana Wesleyan University, said candidates have to have financial backing in order to win.

It’s common, Bartley said, to have several members of one party opposing an incumbent initially.

“You get a flurry of interest (and) activity, and it tends to wean,” he said. “Very few stay with it.”

Ray Scheele, political science professor at Ball State University, said Burton is vulnerable.

“There’s some real heavy-weights in the Republican party thinking that he may actually be able to be beaten in the primary,” Scheele said.

Because of redistricting in 2010, the fifth district as it is known might disappear after this election. Those who run this year, even if the effort fails to unseat Burton now, will have name recognition in the future to run in a new district.

“They’re positioning themselves for a congressional run in 2012 as much as they are in 2010,” he said.

Still, if Republicans really want Burton to go, chances would be better if it was a two-way race, Scheele said.

Lyons said other candidates will probably drop out of the race, but he intends to stay. He said his connections across the district including with members of area Tea Parties will improve his chances of winning.

Lyons and his wife, Barb, have four children.

Other Grant County Tea Party members who intend to run for office next year include Robert Lennens for Grant County commissioner and Sue Van Matre for Grant County Council. Lyons said more may also step up.