Bunch shakes up State. Rep race, pulls off surprising defeat of Siler

A pavement-pounding, workmanlike campaign coupled with increasing voter dissatisfaction with old guard politicians propelled a Whitley County high school teacher to surprising victory in the race for 82nd District State Representative.

In his third go round against Republican rival Charles L. Siler, Dewayne Bunch proved that inroads he’d gained in his two previous Primary Election races for the seat were building blocks. He won Tuesday by a narrow margin 4,291 to 4,168.
"I knew I was going to do a lot better than the past two elections,"

Bunch said after results from Tuesday’s Primary Election were finalized. "I was confident. I had several people tell me I would be surprised … I think a lot of people were just fed up with things."

Siler, who is serving in his 11th term as State Representative, seemed a local political legend almost unassailable to opponents in past races. Bunch had made inroads, but finally turned the corner this time in a straight-up two-man field.

Siler, who lost by a total of 123 votes, said he was "disappointed, but not crushed" by the defeat. He is nearly 81 years old and said he will not seek elective office ever again.

"I’m very grateful to the people who have elected me 11 times. I hope I have been worthy of their confidence," Siler said. "I think many changes for the better occurred while I was in office and I take pride in what I was able to do to improve the infrastructure and road system in my district."

Early on, Bunch took his campaign to the streets, knocking on doors to meet voters face-to-face and networking in order to gain support. He said the strategy paid dividends.

"If the sun was shining, I was knocking on doors," Bunch said. "I met a lot of people. I didn’t put yard signs on trees or telephone poles or anything like that. People asked me to put a sign in their yard. I’d like to thank the people that supported me and talked to other people about me. You can only knock on so many doors. Word of mouth really helps."

Like in the past, Siler and Bunch formulated their strategies early. Siler tried to convince voters that change would mean a loss of political clout and know-how in Frankfort. Prized committee memberships do not go to freshman legislators, he would contend. In the past it worked.

But Bunch said this time around, he thinks those arguments may have been a hindrance to his opponent.

"I think to a lot of people, when Charlie talks about his experience and being a senior member up there … a lot of people say that’s the good old boy system. It was a mark in my column. It helped me."

Siler said he was given few clues by voters there was dissatisfaction with his job performance over the last two years. He said he thinks the recent state budget impasse was viewed negatively by many voters and he was hard pressed to convince them of his position on the issue.

"I think, perhaps, it was used heavily against me that the session of the General Assembly ended without a budget," Siler said. "To the uninformed, that could have made an impression. The truth of the matter is no budget is better than a bad budget. My only option was a bad budget and I voted against it."

Siler said the budget proposed saddled the state with over a billion dollars of debt for the next 20 years.

Bunch said he thinks voters looked at state budget woes as an example of "mismanagement of taxpayer dollars," and a new direction was needed.

"I think the voters see the condition the state is in and they know it didn’t happen yesterday."

Bunch said he plans to be a fair but firm representative for the 82nd District and points to the fact that he has taken only a handful of donations from close friends and family as a sign of his independence.

"I’m not obligated to anyone but the citizens. I don’t have any favors to repay," Bunch said. "Most everything I spent on this election came right out of my checking account or savings account."

The 82nd District covers all of Whitley County and four voting precincts in Laurel County. Siler made a furious rally late in the Laurel County precincts to almost close the gap from Whitley County voters who preferred Bunch. Siler got almost 67 percent of the vote in Laurel, 616 to 305.

Siler will serve out the rest of his term which will include a special session of the General Assembly this summer. Bunch will have no Democratic challenger in the fall General Election, so barring opposition from an independent candidate he will take office January 2011.

Siler said he plans to farm and fish and enjoy the rest of his years outside of public service.

"I may even write a book," he said. "I am fulfilled with what I’ve been able to do with the years the Lord has given me. Twenty-six years serving my country in the military and 22 years in government … I don’t think anyone could ask for more."