Former Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel has decided to stay out of the 8th District congressional race.
The Ivy Tech chancellor released a statement Wednesday evening in which he said “after much soul searching and deep discussions with family and friends, it is clear to me that the time is not right for me to re-enter the political arena.”
Weinzapfel said like many Hoosiers, he’s watched Congress become more polarized, move divisive and more partisan, and unable to get much done.
The Democrat called it “nerve-wracking to sit on the sidelines and watch the dysfunction” and in the past 3 months, many people urged him to run for Congress.
Weinzapfel called deciding whether to run for public office a “complex process,” and the timing needs to be “just right.”
He said in the end, the time wasn’t right.
Weinzapfel doesn’t rule out a run in 2020 and said he will continue to “roll up his sleeves” and take an active role in moving Indiana forward.
Terre Haute attorney William Tanoos entered the Democratic race for the congressional seat in August.
On the Republican side, Jasper-based doctor Richard Moss has signed up for the May Primary, despite losing to incumbent Larry Bucshon by 30 points in 2016.
Bucshon has served in Congress since 2011.