Although Luke Puckett and Tony Zirkle reside in neighboring counties in northern Indiana, don’t expect to see these two 2nd District Republican Congressional candidates next to each other on a debate stage.

Zirkle has extended invitations for debates to each of the 2nd District candidates, including campaign trailers Joseph Roush and John N. Frame, but only Roush accepted.

Puckett has taken the lead from Zirkle’s past Republican challengers, including former Congressman Chris Chocola, and declined the invitation.

In a statement to Zirkle, Puckett campaign manager Kyle Bailey said, “Your antics have caused the Republican Party ... great embarrassment, and we refuse to stand next to you on a debate stage to avoid even the slightest appearance that you belong to the same Republican Party that we do.”

Zirkle, who has several law offices throughout the state, including one in South Bend where he filed, has a long history of such “antics,” especially during his failed attempts in 2004 and 2006 to gain the party’s nomination.

His often inflammatory statements opposing abortion, pornography and same-sex marriage, as well as his support of what he refers to as “self-determination segregation,” have not only ruffled feathers of party leaders but also garnered him a reputation both in politics and the media as a party radical. An article in the South Bend Tribute referred to Zirkle as “batpoop crazy.”

Determined to take what his campaign considers the political high road, Puckett is trying to steer clear of Zirkle, although the two did cross paths at the Republican Dyngus Day event in St. Joseph County.

“Words matter. But even more important, hurtful, insensitive and shameful words do not deserve a stage nor audience,” said Puckett, who said he fully agreed with Bailey’s statements to Zirkle. 

Instead of focusing on hot-button topics like those that have garnered Zirkle so much attention, Puckett’s political platform deals with tax reform, economy, health care and border security.

“... I have spent a great deal of time listening to the concerns of Hoosiers on our economy and how we can rein in spending and lower taxes, about our national security and how we must continue to be on the offensive in order to defeat the terrorists, about our border and how we must secure it, and about health care and how we must make it more accessible and more affordable,” said Puckett.

The Goshen businessman has been building his campaign for more than a year. He said he has been talking with voters across the district to share his priorities, which he says are very different from Democratic incumbent Joe Donnelly, who is running unopposed in the primary.

Puckett earned his bachelor’s degree from Northland Bible College in languages and theology before relocating briefly to Central America where he earned a master’s in Spanish from the Spanish Language Institute in Costa Rica. Puckett and his wife of nearly 20 years, MaryBeth, have three children, and family values are a big part of his political platform.

Zirkle, however, feels Puckett has no real platform and that the political newcomer has been misguided by members of his staff and the Republican Party regarding public debates.

“Mr. Puckett is just following the misguided advice of the Republican non-leadership,” said Zirkle. “He should fire his campaign manager. His mis-advisers have rejected the best opportunity to get name recognition and his ideas into the public forum. This is his first campaign. Once he develops a solid platform, he will not need to run from debates.”

Not only does Zirkle feel the party leadership is advising Puckett to avoid debate situations, he also said he feels his fellow Republicans are trying to silence him.

It hasn’t worked — not in previous campaigns or this one.

In fact, he has derived a second, unpronounceable middle name, Hvfvgpd, partially as a protest to previous political campaigns and has even made a contest of guessing what it means on his political Web site.

Although Zirkle has previously made statements indicating that he runs his campaigns to intentionally lose, he has also made statements saying he is the best party choice.

A general practice attorney with nearly 10 years of experience, Zirkle earned bachelor’s degrees from Georgetown and Andrews universities, a master’s from Andrews University Theology Seminary and a doctorate of jurisprudence from Indiana University School of Law. Zirkle also attended the U.S. Naval Academy.

His study of theology has provided much of the basis for his campaign platform.

“The target of my campaign is the original scapegoat porn dragon who has been laying waste to civilizations since the beginning of time via his most effective weapon of mass destruction — porn-prostitution,” said Zirkle. “With teen STD rates at 30 to 50 percent, out-of-wedlock births at 40 to 80 percent and the incarceration rate tripling since 1975, I’m doing all I can to wake up voters to the really substantive issues. I’m ignoring personal attacks and am not obsessed with winning.

“We deserve better laws and a more just society, and since I’m the most qualified candidate to fight for these issues, it is my duty to campaign with the spit ball gun and whiffle ball bat resources at my current disposal.”

Both Zirkle’s statements and the very public disagreements between him and Puckett have made headlines throughout the district; however, the shared billing is likely the only place voters are likely to see the two candidates together.

Carla Knapp can be contacted at (574) 732-5150 or via e-mail at carla.knapp@pharostribune.com