Former Porter Superior Judge Thomas Webber announced his intention Monday to run as a Democrat for the state House seat now held by Republican Ed Soliday.
"I think the district needs some help," the 73-year-old said.
Webber, who had served as a Portage police officer for 20 years before completing law school and spending 13 years on the bench, cited highways, law enforcement and the judiciary as among his priorities.
He said he would elaborate as the campaign progresses toward the May primaries.
The 4th District includes areas of Liberty, Center, Union, Morgan, Porter, Boone and Pleasant townships in Porter County; areas of Winfield and Center townships, and Crown Point in Lake County; and Wheatfield West in Jasper County.
Soliday was elected to represent the district in 2006, helping the GOP hold on to the seat occupied for the 26 years prior by Ralph Ayres.
Soliday was one of the backers of the proposed Regional Transportation District, which was overwhelming shot down by voters in Porter and St. Joseph counties last month. The proposal would have allowed for the implementation of an income tax of up to 0.25 percent in Lake, Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph counties to fund a regional bus system for Lake and Porter counties, fund South Shore operations and finance rail extensions to Lowell and Valparaiso.
Since leaving the bench in 2002, Webber said he has served as a senior judge and has done some civil law work.
He came out of retirement to fill a vacancy left when Lake County Judge Joan Kouros was removed from the bench because she was slow in completing routine paperwork, adversely affecting cases.
His nine months on the bench were acknowledged by Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels, who awarded Webber in 2005 with the Distinguished Hoosier award.
Webber said he also presided a short time over Lake County's domestic relations division.
If elected next year, Webber said he would have to relinquish his senior judge status.
District maps and lawmakers
The following links provide maps of State House and Senate districts, and U.S. Congressional districts and the lawmakers in those posts:
http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/2393.htm.
http://www.in.gov/apps/sos/legislator/search/?WT.ac=LegislatorsWidget
