Citing the need for working-class people to serve their neighbors in the statehouse where others are failing, Valparaiso combat veteran and steelworker Ryan Kominakis this week announced his Democratic candidacy for the seat held by District 4 State Rep. Ed Soliday, a Republican.

“I’m someone that’s a worker,” Kominakis said. “I work 12-hour shifts. I’ve got to work to make ends meet.”

The U.S. Steel crane operator and union crew leader said he’s concerned with the critical issues facing working-class families, from rising utility bills to the onslaught of companies wishing to bring the likes of data centers to the area.

“We have local legislators that have authored bills to give tax breaks to those companies,” he said.

He and his wife Alyse have two young boys. He said their fellow ci

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