Democratic state lawmaker enters Evansville mayor's race

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) - A Democratic state legislator will try to unseat Republican Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke in this year's election.

State Rep. Gail Riecken announced her candidacy on Saturday before a crowd of supporters. She said Winnecke has had too many failed starts on projects during his time leading Indiana's third-largest city.

Winnecke is seeking election to a second term after first winning the mayor's race in 2011. He says the city's finances are strong and has a historically low unemployment rate.

Winnecke has been troubled in recent weeks with the collapse of a financing plan for construction of a $71 million downtown project that was to include a 10-story hotel and apartment complex.

Riecken has been a state representative since winning election in 2008.