Because One Dick Lugar Just Isn't Enough: Another Former Lugar Staffer Runs for Congress

Todd Young being the other former Lugar staffer currently running for Congress.

This one is Phil Troyer, a financial services lawyer (previously of Washington, now of Fort Wayne), who intends to announce a primary challenge to Mark Souder on Tuesday:

Phil Troyer to Announce Candidacy for Congress

(FORT WAYNE) Phil Troyer, a Fort Wayne attorney, will announce his intention to challenge incumbent U.S. Congressman Mark Souder in the 2010 Republican Primary during press conferences to be held at the following times and locations:

Chestnut Hills Clubhouse (off U.S. 14) in Fort Wayne - Tuesday, November 10, 2009 @ 8:00 a.m.

Goshen Public Library - Tuesday, November 10, 2009 @ 4:00 p.m.

Troyer, a former aide to U.S. Senators Dan Coats (R-IN) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) and campaign manager for Rick Hawks' 1990 congressional challenge race, brings considerable political experience to the race. "Frankly, I had no intention of returning to politics," said Troyer. "Working on Capitol Hill was a tremendous opportunity for someone who grew up in small towns like Etna Green and Shipshewana. However, I decided to move back to northeastern Indiana to concentrate on raising a family and building a career outside of government."

Troyer currently serves as General Counsel for a national financial services firm whose parent company was recently named the 2nd fastest growing privately-held company in the country by Inc. magazine. "I have a great job and was not looking to change careers," noted Troyer. "However, when Congressman Souder voted in favor of the $700,000,000,000.00 bailout of Wall Street, I decided someone needed to do something."

I am not thinking that "worked for Dick Lugar" is going to be a big selling point with conservative Republican primary voters. It's certainly not what a smart, conservative candidate would want to start their resume with or list as their first qualification in a campaign announcement press release (unless he's either not smart, or not conservative, or both).

Also, let me get this straight. Troyer work as a lawyer for a big national financial services company. So big that he don't mention its name in his press release, but important enough to his resume that he mentions it anyway.

And, since he works in the financial industry, he's basing his campaign on complaining that Mark Souder voted to bail out the financial industry.

What?

Wow.

Pot, meet kettle.

Anyway, Troyer's challenge to Souder will be the third Congressional primary for Republicans in Indiana, after the 5th District and the 9th District (the latter having probably just gotten considerably less interesting and more, well, over).