VALPARAISO | Mayor Jon Costas hopes to appear on the Republican ticket in November as the party's nominee for Indiana attorney general, the two-term city leader announced Tuesday.
Costas said he began considering the statewide post three weeks ago, after Republican Attorney General Steve Carter announced he would forgo a third term.
"I took six days to do a lot of soul searching to determine whether or not this is something I could do logistically. I want to make sure that it doesn't have a negative impact upon my family, certainly not upon the city either," Costas said. "I've come to the conclusion that I am seeking the nomination, and I am at this time attempting to gather the necessary support to obtain that nomination at the (state GOP) convention in June."
Four other prominent Republican lawyers have expressed interest in the nomination. But one of them, Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita, on Tuesday said he'd step aside for Costas
"I would support his candidacy 100 percent, not only for the strong leadership he will provide to another corner of the Statehouse, but (because) it would allow me to continue my current service as secretary of state and spend more time with our newborn this year," Rokita, a Munster native, said in a statement.
Costas, who drew no Democratic opponent on the way to a second mayoral term last year, could help bring regional balance to the November GOP ticket. It will be headlined by Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels, who has no primary opponent.
Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, who is expected to stay on as Daniels' running mate, hails from southern Indiana. And Greater Clark County Schools Superintendent Tony Bennett, another southern Indiana Republican, is campaigning for state superintendent of public instruction. Current Republican state schools Superintendent Suellen Reed, has said she is leaning against seeking another term.
The Indiana Republican Party will slate candidates for the three statewide offices at its June 2 convention, but Daniels is expected to have a big say in who runs.
"The governor is aware that I'm seeking the nomination, and he seems very positive on my candidacy," Costas said. "We've had a great relationship. And I think if you look at the type of leadership that he's bringing to the state, in a very real sense we've brought that type of leadership, in sort of a microcosm, to the city of Valparaiso."
Costas, now a part-time attorney specializing in elder law for the Valparaiso office of Burke Costanza & Cuppy, said he would stay on as mayor if he secures his party's nomination. Local Republican precinct officials would select a new mayor if Costas ultimately were elected attorney general in November.
Greg Zoeller, Carter's chief deputy, also has expressed interest in the GOP nomination for attorney general, along with Kyle Hupfer, a former director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and Tom Wheeler, the chairman of the Indiana Election Commission.
Daniels was traveling in northeast Indiana Tuesday, and his press secretary had no comment on Costas' announcement.
