When US Senator Dan Coats was first elected to the US Senate he resided on Fort Wayne's northeast side off Maplecrest Road. Fort Wayne residents were glad to see the references to the "Fort Wayne Senator".
However, since Mr. Coats recaptured the seat in 2010 most news reports have not made reference to a home city. His declared residence on filing of candidacy in 2010 and times since has been Indianapolis.
The Evansville Courier & Press is still placing the Senator as being from the Summit City. The Courier & Press's Bill Straub wrote in today's edition:
Local legislators also are hoping to get some things done in the second session. Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., is perhaps the most ambitious — aiming at reforming the entire tax code. The Ft. Wayne senator has already crossed the aisle to team up with Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., on a plan that they claim would simplify the tax system, hold down rates for individuals and families, provide tax relief to the middle class and create incentives for businesses to grow and invest.
Before one says that the Evansville newspaper seems so last century, Mr. Coats still has a strong identification with Fort Wayne and that only seems confirmed by Mr. Straub's reference.
Evansville residents, of course, have the distinction of claiming the late US Senator R. Vance Hartke as their own.
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