GOP's Souder latest Ind. congressman to bow out

[May 19, 2010]  INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Indiana's delegation to Washington will have a decidedly different look in January with Rep. Mark Souder's decision to resign Friday and become the third of the state's nine congressmen to step down this year.

The eight-term Republican who promoted abstinence education rocked party leaders Tuesday with his announcement that he was stepping down because of an extramarital affair with a part-time staff member. Souder won a bruising primary just two weeks ago, and the resignation could hurt the GOP's chances of holding onto the Republican-leaning district in November in a year that many expect will favor the party.

Two other Indiana congressmen -- GOP Rep. Steve Buyer and Democratic Rep. Brad Ellsworth -- are also leaving their seats. Buyer, who had been under fire over a foundation he had set up to award college scholarships, didn't seeking a 10th term in the House after his wife was diagnosed with an incurable autoimmune disease. Ellsworth is leaving his southwestern Indiana seat to run for the open Senate seat created by Evan Bayh's decision not to seek re-election.

A spokeswoman for Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels said a special election will be held to determine who will fill the rest of Souder's term, which ends in January.

Souder's fellow Republicans in northeast Indiana wasted little time in jockeying to replace him. State Sen. Marlin Stutzman, a tea party favorite who finished second in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate two weeks ago, said he would announce within days whether he's running.

Allen County GOP Chairman Steve Shine had a list of potential candidates, including the two Republicans Souder defeated in the primary -- Bob Thomas and Phil Troyer -- as well as state Rep. Randy Borror of Fort Wayne and Fort Wayne City Councilwoman Liz Brown.

Republican and Democratic precinct committeemen in the district will choose nominees for the special election, and GOP precinct officials will choose a candidate for the November ballot. The special election cannot be held until for at least 60 days.

Souder, an evangelical Christian who has championed family values and opposed gay marriage, has been married to Diane since 1974, according to the biography on his office website. They have three adult children and two grandchildren.

Rumors of Souder's infidelity had circulated in the northeastern Indiana district for months. Opponents reported receiving anonymous calls a few days before the May 4 primary with allegations of the affair.

Still, Souder's resignation and confession stunned some voters.

"I just think it's a crying shame," said Jean Tarner, who owns the Huntington Street Bar in downtown Syracuse. "He's supposed to be setting the values for the youth. It's just too bad."

Souder, 59, stood alone during an emotional news conference at his Fort Wayne office during which he apologized for his actions but provided no details, including the name of the staffer. He said his wife and family were "more than willing" to stand with him, but "the error is mine and I should bear the responsibility," Souder said.

"I am so ashamed to have hurt the ones I love," he said as he battled tears. "I am sorry to have let so many friends down, people who have worked so hard for me."

Throughout his time in Congress, Souder made his evangelical Christianity a centerpiece of his public persona. It was an image that played well in the 3rd District, which has a strong base of religious conservatives. Souder was known for his outspoken views on religion and his uncompromising conservative positions on social issues such as abortion.

He said after a 2008 hearing on abstinence-only education that the only fully reliable way young people can protect themselves from pregnancy and STDs is by "abstaining from sex until in a committed, faithful relationship."

As a lawmaker, Souder was best known for his work on drug enforcement issues and his opposition to online gambling.

"To serve has been a blessing and a responsibility given from God. I wish I could have been a better example," Souder said. "I sinned against God, my wife and my family by having a mutual relationship with a part-time member of my staff."

Nate Bullock, a campaign spokesman for Thomas, said he received anonymous phone calls about Souder's affair shortly before the primary but wanted to run a campaign on the issues.

"We're not going to spend our time digging through the mud looking for every dirty little secret we can find on somebody," Bullock said.

In November, Souder was to face Democrat Tom Hayhurst, a former Fort Wayne city councilman who got 46 percent of the vote against Souder in 2006 -- the toughest challenge since Souder was first elected in 1994.

"I'm not running for Congress to run against anyone, but I'm running because I think I can help change Washington, and that will not change no matter who is in the race," Hayhurst said.

[Associated Press; By TOM DAVIES and DEANNA MARTIN]

Associated Press writers Henry C. Jackson in Washington and Rick Callahan in Indianapolis contributed to this report.

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