INDIANAPOLIS — Former U.S. Rep. Mike Sodrel on Friday filed to run a fourth time for Congress in Southern Indiana’s 9th District.
If Sodrel wins the Republican nomination, it could set up a fourth consecutive race between him and Democratic U.S. Rep. Baron Hill.
Hill and Sodrel have faced off every two years in the congressional race since 2002, most recently in 2006. Sodrel was among three incumbent Republican congressmen defeated in Indiana that year.
“I’m sure some will try to characterize this as a grudge match,” Sodrel said. “The fact is, I would be running regardless of who’s on the other side of the ballot.”
Sodrel campaigned in 2002 as a Washington outsider protecting the interests of voters. But Hill held onto his seat that year by more than 9,400 votes.
In 2004, Sodrel rode a Republican wave with help from visits by President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Cabinet members, winning by fewer than 1,500 votes. With 49.5 percent of the vote, it was the smallest winning percentage in that year’s congressional races.
Sodrel, who announced in October that he would run again, noted that other incumbent Republicans also lost in 2006. He said some voters were upset with the war in Iraq or the president and others were unhappy with state politics. He said views have changed since then.
“I think the political climate is certainly different,” he said.
The state Democratic Party has criticized Sodrel as a sore loser who has twice been rejected by Hoosier voters.
Hill spokeswoman Katie Moreau said the filing was not a surprise but had no harsh words for Sodrel. Hill has not yet filed but will before the deadline, she said.
After Sodrel filed with the Secretary of State’s office in Indianapolis, he planned to go on a districtwide tour, stopping in Monroe, Brown, Bartholomew, Jackson, Floyd and Clark counties.
Hill, meanwhile, held a “congress at your corner” event at a Bloomington grocery store, where people could meet him or talk about issues.
“He’s very focused on serving the people of Southern Indiana,” Moreau said.
Recent Local News
Sodrel files for Indiana’s 9th District
- Recent Local News
-
-
Indiana, Kentucky partnering to end child abuse
- News and Tribune briefs for May 17, 2012
-
Floyd County preparing for busy road season
Recently, a void on the side of the payment was spotted at the top of Spickert Knob Road. The road was repaired and reopened last December.
-
Jeffersonville man sentenced to 70 years for molestation
Reese was accused of having oral sex with a then 12-year-old girl that he lived with in Palmyra, in Harrison County.
-
Treasure hunt: Attorney General explains how to find unclaimed property
Unclaimed property includes investment earnings, insurance proceeds and benefits, wages and money from bank accounts. It does not include real estate, abandoned vehicles or other such items.
-
Taking the fight to the track: Clark County Relay for Life event is Friday at Charlestown High School
“The long term goal of our research is to identify new diagnostic and treatment strategies in colon cancer by using our protein of interest as a target,” said Gao.
-
Barbecue restaurant coming to Jeffersonville
The approval was needed because the building is located within the historic district.
Don’t put on your bib yet, the business isn’t going to open until August, said Schmitt. - DWI check point set for May 23
-
Welcome home
-
First IREAD-3 test results distributed by state
While the passing percentage for West Clark Community Schools as a corporation don’t look good at 55.4 percent, their results aren’t complete yet. That’s because third-graders at Henryville Elementary School were delayed in taking the IREAD-3 test until Tuesday because of the tornadoes that destroyed their school in March.
-
Summer sports programs using Greater Clark County Schools facilities may change
Martin Bell, chief operating officer, said reducing the liability on the district was an important part of the process, especially if an injury occurred and the board had not previously approved the activity.
-
New Albany Bicentennial park gets support from Horseshoe Casino
City Councilman Kevin Zurschmiede, who also sits on the Horseshoe Foundation board, challenged New Albany “corporate citizens” to match the casino grant.
“I think the park is going to benefit not only the citizens of our community, but the whole area in general,” he said. - News and Tribune briefs for May 16, 2012
-
Setting the stage
-
Portion of Oak Street in New Albany closing for repairs
City officials expected the project would be completed today.
- More Recent Local News Headlines
-
