On Feb. 9, in an article from the Indianapolis Star, Bill McCleery writes:

Zionsville resident Nels Ackerson, 63, stopped by the Johnson County Courthouse on Thursday afternoon to file paperwork to challenge U.S. Rep. Steve Buyer, a Republican, for his Fourth District congressional seat. Ackerson has filed papers in 12 different counties.

“The government in Washington has lost its way,” Ackerson said Thursday. “Everyone I talk to in Johnson County and throughout the district is angry about that.”

Ackerson said he believes in going beyond partisanship to get things done for constituents. “I’m running not as the Democratic candidate,” he said. “I’m running as a candidate to serve all the people.”

Kathy Stolz, Democratic Chair for Johnson County, acknowledges that Republicans have a strong presence in the county but, “The fact that independents ran so strongly in the municipal elections in the fall (is) an indication people were looking for change,” she said.