Indiana’s 8th District was in Democratic hands as recently as 2010, but when that particular Democrat left to run for the US Senate, Larry Bucshon was able to become Larry Bucshon (R-IN) in a convincing victory. But local radio owner Dave Crooks of DLC Media is going to try to take the seat back for the Democratic Party.
Crooks’ radio company runs WAMW-AM and WAMW-FM in Washington IN, and WFML-FM Vincennes IN, serving unrated territory in the southwestern portion of the state.
A gathering of local Democrats caucused for the purpose of gathering behind a candidate to run against Bucshon, and Crooks won out over two others. It does not make him the official nominee, but does set him up to be the likely winner of an official primary in May 2012.
The seat opened up during the 2010 election cycle when Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) ran for the Indiana Senate seat vacated by Evan Bayh (D-IN). That seat went to Dan Coats (R-IN), and Bucshon handily defeated Democrat Trent Van Haafton by a 58%-37% margin, with 5% of the vote going to Libertarian John Cunningham.
In addition to his radio interest, Crooks has been a member of the Indiana state legislature.
