Stockton seeking Congress seat

Dan Stockton of Banbridge, center, is seeking Indiana's 8th District congressional seat. Pictured with Stockton are, from left, his son Cameron, wife Melisha, daughter Ashley and grandson Landon.

Longtime Putnam County resident Dan Stockton has thrown his hat in the ring for Indiana's 8th District congressional seat.

Stockton, who is running on the Republican ticket, officially announced his candidacy for the office Saturday at the Blast from the Past festival in his hometown of Bainbridge.

District 8 includes the counties of Putnam, Clay, Daviess, Fountain, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Martin, Owen, Parke, Pike, Posey, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, Vermillon, Vigo, Warren and Warrick. Democrat Brad Ellsworth is the current District 8 representative. The population of District 8, according to the 2000 census, was over 675,000.

"I want to make sure the voice of the rural American is heard in Congress," Stockton said. "I want to see that it is not silenced."

One of Stockton's major areas of concern is the economy.

"The current administration talks about how the American people are tightening their belts, but is the government?" he said. "I would push for a constitutional amendment for a yearly balanced budget and would do away with pork barrel spending."

Stockton is verbal about such hot-button issues as gun control and immigration.

"I firmly believe in the Second Amendment," he said. "Leave our right to bear arms alone.

"Legal immigration is fine," he continued. "Illegal immigration is just that -- illegal. We are a country based on laws. Everyone should obey them, even immigrants."

Stockton graduated from North Putnam High School in 1981 and Wabash College in 1985. He has been married to his wife Melisha for 25 years and has two grown children, Ashley McMickle and Cameron Stockton, who also graduated from North Putnam.

Melisha said her husband's desire to run for Congress came out of the blue.

"It was kind of a shock," she said. "He'd never mentioned it before."

Stockton said he sat down with his entire family before he committed to his campaign.

"Their support is extremely important," he said.

Stockton's campaign is being managed by his son-in-law, Adam McMickle. Over the next several months the duo plans to campaign hard, doing many speaking engagements and addressing groups such as Rotary and Kiwanis.

"We're going to be at 18 county fairs," Stockton said. "I want to meet as many people and make as many appearances as possible." Stockton has been employed at Heartland Automotive for five years. He is active in Abate of Indiana and the Putnam County Playhouse.

Stockton can be reached via e-mail at stocktonforcongress@yahoo.com.