Democrat picnic Sunday to feature congressional candidates

Three of the four declared Democrat candidates for the 4th District seat in the U.S. Congress will be in Greencastle Sunday afternoon.

Confirmed to attend the Putnam County Democrats' summer picnic event under shelterhouse No. 5 (near the tennis courts) in Greencastle's Robe-Ann Park are District 4 congressional candidates Tobi Beck of Avon, Joe Mackey and Sherry Shipley, both of Lafayette.

That trio and candidate George Reed of Brownsburg (and possibly others) will fight it out in the May 2018 Democrat primary in hopes of challenging for the seat in Congress currently held by Republican Todd Rokita.

District 4 includes parts of 16 Indiana counties, including all of Putnam.

Sunday's picnic is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. with food and beverages provided.

Democrat Party Vice Chairman Kim Fidler said the meet-and-greet style event is "an opportunity for the candidates to get out and meet people locally."

Although there will be no featured speaker Sunday, attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions about health care, education and more to find out how such issues may affect Putnam County, Fidler added.

Other potential 2018 Putnam County candidates are also expected to be on hand.