Summitville native running for Congress

Feb. 5—ANDERSON — Kokomo attorney Mark Hurt is one of nine candidates seeking the Republican Party nomination in the 5th Congressional District.

Hurt said Monday that he will remain in the race despite the announcement that incumbent Republican Victoria Spartz has decided to seek re-election to a third term.

Hurt grew up in Summitville and graduated from Madison-Grant High School.

"I have a strong interest and passion in serving the people of the 5th District," Hurt said in a press release. "Hoosier commonsense conservatism is needed in the nation's capital to stop the staggering deficits and gross spending."

He emphasizes the need for budgetary reforms so that taxpayers can see where their hard-earned money is going and agencies must justify budget increases in the annual appropriations process.

Protecting Social Security and Medicare while working to balance the budget and maintain limited government is the challenge, according to Hurt.

He touts himself as the only candidate born and raised in the district and the only candidate with extensive legislative experience drafting laws, working in committees, and assisting in management of floor activities for Congressman Fred Grandy and former Sen. Dan Coats. He also worked as a health care policy advisor for former Michigan Gov. John Engler.

Hurt believes strongly in standing with Israel and opposes the advancements of weapons grade uranium as Iran moves closer to having a nuclear weapon.

He said immediate action was needed to stop Houthi rebels and Iranian-backed militias who are killing innocent civilians, damaging shipping lanes and supply chains in the Middle East.

Hurt believes strongly in securing the southern border, eliminating bureaucratic red tape, modernizing the work visa system and stopping birthright citizenship for those who take advantage of citizenship laws through maternity hospitals and birth tourism.

He supports term limits and believes that career politicians are a problem nationally.

Hurt ran for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2018 but eventually withdrew from the race, which was won by Mike Braun.

Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.