Writing a local news blog as a one-man-band is not easy, so I often need to pick-and-choose the stories I cover.  One part of the local political scene I have not written much about is the 5th Congressional District.  It encompasses a wide geographic footprint.

The 5th District includes not only Fishers, Carmel and Noblesville.  It also takes-in cities such as Anderson, Kokomo, Marion and Muncie.

But the political scene of this district took a big turn this week when the incumbent Congresswoman, Victoria Spartz, changed her mind.  After saying for months that she will not seek another term, she has done an about-face and says she will seek re-election after all.

There is already a long list of candidates announced for this seat.  Some have raised enough money to compete in the May primary election.

Not long after Spartz announced her intention to run again, Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness entered the fray.  He is endorsing Chuck Goodrich, a business owner from Noblesville that has been serving in the Indiana House.

In his statement endorsing Goodrich, Fadness cites Goodrich’s support of “innovative companies that call Fishers home.”

It will be interesting to see how many candidates remain in the GOP primary now that the incumbent Spartz is back in the race.  Goodrich shows no sign of leaving the contest.

On a side note, Mayor Fadness has not been shy about supporting candidates he favors outside Fishers.  He has been publicly supporting Brad Chambers as he runs in a crowded Republican Primary for governor.

The 5th Congressional District was drawn as a majority Republican district.  That’s why so many are vying to be the GOP candidate in the fall.  This is a race worth watching.