With three days to go before the filing deadline, Indianapolis State Representative Dan Forestal says he will not run for re-election in House District 100.
Forestal faced criminal charges from last summer for OWI, resisting arrest and impersonating a public official.
“It has been the honor and privilege of my life to serve for the past eight years as the state representative for the people of House District 100. I’ve dedicated my life to public service as a firefighter and as a state representative, Forestal said in a statement. “However, the time has come for me to focus on my mental health. This has been one of the hardest decisions of my life. Ultimately, I’ve decided that it’s time for me to focus on my health at this time. I hope that we as a society continue to work together to shatter the stigma around mental health issues.”
Forestal faced a primary challenge from Indianapolis musician and community activist Andy Duncan.
Also making news in HD 100 today, Indianapolis City-County Councilor Blake Johnson says he will file this week to get in the race. Johnson was mentioned in the Cheat Sheet last summer as likely replacement for Forestal. Johnson is a nonprofit executive in Indianapolis and is currently serving his second term on the City-County Council representing District 12 on the east side.
“I love Indianapolis and have had the honor of dedicating my professional life and public service to the goal of making it a better place for this and future generations,” Johnson said. “I am excited by this new opportunity to serve, and I look forward to important conversations about how we can continue to move our neighborhoods forward.”
Republican Niles Yensel has also filed to run.
