Former state Rep. Luke Messer has entered the race against U.S. Rep. Dan Burton because, he said, now is not the time for old politics.

"He's been a leader in the bickering ways of Washington for the last 16 years," Messer said about the 14-term Republican who represents the 5th District.

Messer, 40, entered the 2010 primary Friday in front of 90 supporters in his hometown of Shelbyville. He told them small businesses are the key in turning around the economy.

"If history is any indication, the jobs created in small businesses will lead our economic comeback," Messer said.

Messer joins Carmel resident Brose McVey in opposing Burton, and he might not be the last.  Several other Republicans have expressed interest in the race, including current state Rep. Mike Murphy, Indianapolis, and former Marion County Coroner John McGoff, who took on Burton in last year's primary, losing by 7 percentage points.

McVey, 47, jumped into the 5th District race last month. He welcomed Messer. "Voters benefit when they have choices," he said. "I hope Mr. Messer will join me and Congressman Burton at debates I will host this summer at every county fair."

Burton, however, may be the real beneficiary.  Hancock County GOP Party leader Michael Griffin said that while anti-Burton sentiment exists, Messer's announcement helps the incumbent because multiple candidates would divide votes.  "If you have two or more challengers, it's probably Burton's race," he said.  Hancock County is one of 11 counties the district touches.

A spokesman for Burton, 70, declined to comment on Messer's announcement and said Burton is focused on his constituents.

Burton still has many supporters, but has long been controversial. National party leaders passed him over for a top committee position in 2007, and he broke away from many Republicans in favoring a bill to let Medicare negotiate lower drug prices, despite the heavy presence of Eli Lilly and Co. in his district.

He also came under fire during the last election when some charged he spent nearly $200,000 of taxpayer money in mailings to constituents that looked like campaign fliers.

Messer did not seek re-election at the state level in 2006 after four years in the General Assembly.  In his time there, he served on the House Ways and Means Committee, among others.  Afterward, Messer became a partner at the Indianapolis law firm Ice Miller LLC.

In addition to four years as a state representative, Messer is a former executive director of the Indiana Republican Party.  He ran unsuccessfully for Congress once before. He was defeated in the 2nd District primary in 2000 when he lived in Greensburg. He moved to Shelbyville in 2002.

Messer said he has not begun raising funds but was confident he could organize a grass-roots campaign to be competitive.

The 5th District includes the communities of Carmel, Fishers, Franklin, Greenfield, Huntington, Peru and Shelbyville, as well as parts of Indianapolis.