Indiana candidate speaks out about own party's actions

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Democrat Rick Cornstuble said the State Democratic Party sent out a mailer without his consent.

The mailer claims Republican State Representative Randy Truitt is putting children in Indiana schools at risk because of a bill passed by his administration.

Cornstuble said he doesn't agree with the tone of the mailer and how information was presented. He said he made it very clear to the State Democratic Party he wanted to have a positive campaign.

Even if the information is true in the mailers, Cornstuble said he would never have agreed to have the mailers sent out.

"All of a sudden here, four or five days before the election we get this surprise of a mailer that we had no knowledge of and it's not the kind of thing that I wanted to do," Cornstuble said. "We made it clear early on when we announced we were going to run on the issues and only the issues."

Cornstuble said he has contacted the State Democratic Party and asked them to stop sending the mailers.

Truitt sent News 18 this statement in response to the mailers:

"Today, I received a call from my opponent Rick Cornstuble to apologize for the untruthful, negative mail pieces that residents in District 26 are receiving. He indicated he had nothing to do with these mailers and was unaware they were being sent. However, he was aware that there are several more scheduled for mailing.  

"Interference such as this by outside groups, such as the State Democrat Party, in local campaigns should not be tolerated. I call on my opponent to stand up to the political machine in Indianapolis and halt the negative mail being sent on his behalf.