Siekman May Try Again For Congress In '18

By Mike Perleberg Lane Siekman may become a Democratic candidate for Indiana's 6th Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Photo provided. (Rising Sun, Ind.) - A Rising Sun attorney may be considering his second run for Congress. Lane Siekman, a Democrat, has formed and exploratory committee for a potential campaign for Indiana’s 6th Congressional District in 2018. “I wanted to take the opportunity to tell you this morning that I am forming an exploratory committee to test the waters for a congressional race in the Sixth District in 2018,” Siekman said in a May 8 announcement on his website, adding that he must file required paperwork with the FEC before announcing or running as a formal candidate. Siekman says healthcare is in jeopardy, public education is not being supported, and questions about government integrity are on the minds of many Hoosiers. The 56-year-old married father of three runs his own law practice. He is also the executive director of Rising Sun Works – Ohio County Economic Development Corporation, and an adjunct professor at Ivy Tech Community College Southeast. He has previously run for Congress in 2014, losing in the primary. The Democratic candidate who beat him in the primary didn't came close to defeating current Republican 6th District Congressman Luke Messer in the following general election. Siekman also considered running in 2012. Messer, who Siekman says has refused to hold town halls with constituents, is considering a run for U.S. Senate next year. If he does, the decision would leave the 6th District seat open for a new congressman for the first time since 2012. “Last week's actions in Washington cry out for a response on behalf of the people of the District. Luke Messer must be held responsible for his actions. It is also very likely that he will jump to take on Joe Donnelly for the Senate leaving the 6th as an open seat in 2018. Either way he must be stopped. We cannot afford to just crown another Republican successor in 2018,” Siekman said.