Longtime Indiana GOP stalwart Mutz says he'll vote for Biden

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Longtime Indiana Republican stalwart John Mutz has gone public with his opposition to President Donald Trump, saying in a newspaper column that he will vote for Democrat Joe Biden.

Mutz, who was Indiana's lieutenant governor for eight years in the 1980s before losing the 1988 governor's race to Democrat Evan Bayh, wrote in a column in the Indianapolis Business Journal that Trump 'œhas engaged in corruptive behavior and outright self-dealing."

Mutz, 84, goes on to say that Trump lacks character after listing several actions by the president he finds objectionable, including Trump's refusal 'œto assure the American people that he would accept the results of a free and fair election, win or lose."

He also writes that Trump has 'œdeceived the public about the dangers of COVID-19."

'œCharacter counts when evaluating a candidate," Mutz wrote. 'œTrump fails to meet my preference for honesty, empathy, respect for those who are different, and a willingness to admit mistakes."

Mutz, who writes that he remains 'œa proud Republican," is the most prominent Indiana Republican to publicly rebuke Trump.

'œThere's a time when you've got to stand up and do what you think is right,'ť he told the Indianapolis Business Journal in a separate interview.

Mutz served as lieutenant governor under Gov. Robert Orr from 1980-1988. After losing the 1988 race to Bayh, he served as the president of the Lilly Endowment and later as president of PSI Energy.

He served as a state representative from 1966-1970 and a state senator from 1970-1980.