Amid the backdrop of the playground at Eastside Park, Republican Dist. 63 House candidate Mark Messmer received a key endorsement Tuesday.

Messmer, who will face Democrat John Burger in the fall, received the endorsement of Indiana Right to Life political action committee. The pro-life movement is one of the largest voting blocs in Daviess County and in District 63.

The two are vying for the seat held by Rep. Dave Crooks, D-Washington. Crooks announced he would not seek another term.

The Jasper native held press conferences in Jasper and at Washington for the endorsement along with Right to Life PAC chairman Mike Fichter.

“We believe that Mark Messmer will play a key role in helping to pass pro-life legislation in Indiana by voting for a Speaker of the House who will allow a straight up-and-down vote on pro-life legislation,” Fichter said.

Fichter said that current Speaker Patrick Bauer, D-Fort Wayne, has not given pro-life legislation a chance to be voted on since he was speaker. Fichter said the endorsement was key for pro-life voters to help change the balance of power in the house.

“A vote for Messmer is a vote for new leadership and for the passage of pro-life legislation,” Fichter said.

Messmer, thanking Fichter for the endorsement, said he is not a “typical politician that suddenly develops an interest in pro-life issues for political expediency.”

“When I started my campaign last year, I made a commitment to bring the values we share in our community to the statehouse,” Messmer said. “No other value is as fundamental as the respect for life.”

Messmer said he has been active in Dubois County Right to Life for 19 years, writing numerous letters to representatives. He has also been active in national pro-life events.

While the state Right to Life organization has given endorsements in the past, Tuesday’s announcement was earlier than normal. A strategy, Fichter said after the announcement, that was planned to help its candidates.

“This year we will be rolling out endorsements in infrequent intervals,” Fichter said.

Besides the endorsement, Fichter said his organization plans to donate money and effort into the Messmer campaign. Messmer said after the endorsement that he appreciated the nod.

“The personal convictions of people of this area and Right to Life issues are important to a large majority of people in this area,” Messmer said.

Messmer’s opponent, Burger, said from the Dubois County Fair Tuesday evening that his stance on pro-life issues are very similar to Messmer.