Three seek office

Marlin Stutzman cruised to victories in the race to represent Indiana’s third district in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010 and ’12. He faces one new contender and one familiar opponent as he seeks his third term.
Stutzman (R-Howe) will take on Libertarian Scott Wise, who ran for the same office in 2010, and Democrat Justin Kuhnle.
After serving three terms in the Indiana House and one in the state senate, Stutzman scored an easy victory over Democrat Tom Hayhurst and Wise in 2010 with 63 percent of the vote. The fourth-generation farmer defeated Kevin Boyd with 67 percent of the vote in 2012.
Kuhnle, a Decatur native, is making his second run for the House of Representatives after losing to Boyd in the 2012 primary. He works for Bowen Center, Albion, which provides behavioral healthcare services.
Wise, who lives in Columbia City, is a supervisor at Warner Electric. He earned 4 percent of the vote in his 2010 District 3 run.
While Stutzman noted that he feels it was a mistake to pull U.S. troops out of Iraq, all three candidates expressed their support for the recent air strikes against the Islamic State.
Congress should have returned to Washington to debate the issue and give its approval for such strikes, Kuhnle said, noting that authorization given in 2003 no longer applies. Stutzman disagreed with that stance, but added that when Congress returns to session it would be a good idea to authorize such action again.
Wise emphasized the complicated nature of the conflict and its religious overtones.
“I think we’ve been slow to react,” he said. “I think it’s one of the preeminent concerning issues in the world today. We have to pay close attention to it and see to American interests.
“I don’t think we’ve done a good job of that.
“It’s tough to take an optimistic view of what’s going on there.”
Although they differ on feelings about the issue, the candidates all agreed that the future of same-sex marriage should be decided on the state level.
Kuhnle referred to banning same-sex marriage as “discrimination,” saying recent court decisions should stand and states should move on and be less divisive. Wise took a stance that government should get out of the marriage business, leave such issues to churches and instead issue civil unions for all couples.
Stutzman noted his belief that marriage should be only between one man and one woman.
“I think it’s a state issue,” said Stutzman. I’m really disappointed that the supreme court decided to not hear the challenges from different states.
“I believe citizens across the country should have the opportunity to have a say in what the law for each particular state is.”
Stutzman responded to the criticism that the current congress has gotten nothing done by putting blame on the Senate, saying the House of Representatives has tried to be responsive to the issues that are having an impact on Americans. Wise took a different view, saying as a Libertarian he believes the government doing less tends to be a good thing and that he would work to shrink the role of the federal government if elected.
Kuhnle discussed the lack of action as a result of a desire of those in office to protect their jobs rather than working together.
“They’d rather pass a short-term solution,” said Kuhnle, specifically pointing to the budget issue as one that Congress has kicked down the road rather than confronting. “That’s too often how they operate. …
“One thing they need to do, and I think Congress has long forgotten this, is come to the table, on both sides, and talk about the issues at hand, present your ideas, have open communication and then discuss what you can actually do to solve the problems.”
Wise touted his small-government views and focus on individual rights as qualities that would help District 3 if he was elected. An outsider with different views could “change the world,” he said.
“That may seem a little bit narcissistic, but we very much need a different point of view there,” Wise added. “We very much, in my opinion, need to move back to a Constitution-oriented government that looks to secure the individual liberty of our people. I believe that’s what this country was founded on, and I also believe that’s what made this country great.”
Kuhnle also noted his status as a Washington outsider as a positive. He said many of those who currently hold office have been blinded by money and corporate sponsorships.
“I’m not corrupted by politics. I’m a newcomer to it,” Kuhnle said. “That’s actually a positive, because I’ve seen the needs of the communities, I’ve traveled around and talked to people and I listen. Too often, that’s not what they get.”
Stutzman referred to his two terms in office as a privilege. He said he plans to continue to build on the work he’s done in Washington thus far if he is elected again.
 “I believe that every generation has a responsible to pass on a stronger America to the next, and I’m going to continue to listen … and take the values that we have in northeast Indiana to Washington,” Stutzman said. “I’m just going to continue to fight for an improved economy, strong defense and less government regulation.”