State rep will not seek re-election

TERRE HAUTE, Ind (WTHI) - District 46 Indiana State Representative Vern Tincher said he will not run for re-election in 2010.

Tincher noted that he has been involved in public service for the past 50 years. He attended the Indiana State Police Recruit School in 1960 and retired from the State Police after being elected Representative in November 1982.

Tincher has served 24 of the past 28 years, losing in 1994 and 2002, but coming back to win the next election.

Tincher said he and his wife, Linda, discussed retiring prior to the 2008 election, but after Bob Heaton announced his candidacy in November 2007, they decided they were more than up to answering the challenge.

Tincher said he will help whoever the Democratic candidate will be for the primary election.

"Once you get politics in your blood, you never get rid of it. So we will kind of sit back and get involved as much or as little as we wish," State Representative Vern Tincher said.