When Indiana leased its toll road to an Australian-Spanish consortium for nearly $4 billion to raise money for highway construction and repair, Gov. Mitch Daniels' name was most often associated with the “Major Moves” proposal. But that controversial legislation may not have been approved without the help of Randy Borror - one of many reasons the Fort Wayne Republican cites to justify his re-election as 84th District state representative.

Democratic Mark Wehrle, on the other hand, views that involvement as justification to evict Borror from the seat he has held since being appointed to fill a vacancy created by the death of Gloria Goeglein in 2001.

“I'm saying the same things I've been saying for the past 10 years: I won't take any money from political action committees, which is bribery, and I want to get more people out to vote,” said Wehrle, who owns a water-vending service and first sought office a decade ago by challenging U.S. Rep. Mark Souder. Wehrle said the toll road sale, changes in tax laws and other state actions have either been unconstitutional or favored the wealthy. New state-imposed caps on property taxes, for example, violate constitutional requirements that taxes be fair and equal, Wehrle said.

As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Borror has helped craft tax laws, and is also influential in other key areas, including economic development and establishment of the state budget.

Borror is proud of his role in creation of the Indiana Economic Development Corp. and in Major Moves. “It was incredibly important (for funding highway projects). We looked at facts, not innuendo,” Borror said. “The federal highway fund is broke.”

Instead of spending more money on highways, which Wehrle calls “100-year-old technology,” he would invest in new forms of transportation, such as a high-speed rail network.

As a member of the State Budget Committee, Borror said the state will need to cap spending increases at no more than 2 percent because “it is incredibly important to pass a balanced budget.”

He also believes recent reforms in the state's property tax system need to be given a chance to work before rushing to make changes.

“I'm aggressive, and have (proved) in a short period of time that I'm a leader. It's our job to vote on tough proposals, and we're not done.” Borror said he has worked with legislators from both parties to support projects in northeast Indiana, including $40 million in 2005 alone.

Wehrle said he would work to support Indiana's public schools, which he called some of the best in the country.

But he worries Hoosiers can no longer afford to put themselves through college, as he did - which is why he favors some form of tuition assistance, especially for the top students.

“I'm running against a career politician who's spread a lot of money from the toll road around. But I've knocked on 2,000 doors,” said Wehrle, who unsuccessfully challenged Borror in 2002 and 2006, and said he will continue in politics even if this campaign fails, too.

Borror is counting on his record and experience to see that it does.