INDIANAPOLIS – Senate President Pro Tem David Long’s advocacy for LGBT civil rights has earned him a primary opponent.

John Kessler of Fort Wayne filed Thursday to take Long on in the Senate District 16 Republican primary.

Kessler is an economics professor at IPFW. He did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Long has angered some religious conservatives by pushing his Republican caucus to face the LGBT civil rights issue. He was intricately involved in the bill and the hours of discussion that occurred about whether ­anti-discrimination protections can co-exist with religious freedom. That effort failed Tuesday.

"This is not unexpected. I’m prepared for an opponent and have been for a little while," Long said. "When you are a leader you have to lead. You have to stick your neck out a little bit."

But Kosciusko County Tea Party leader Monica Boyer has been openly critical of Long for abandoning his conservative credentials.

"Great news!" she tweeted about Kessler. "When a politician forgets his base, listens to lobbyists and divides a state, it’s time to replace him."

She also said she has her wallet and walking shoes ready to go in helping to defeat Long.

Long has been in the Senate since 1996, and before that was a member of the Fort Wayne City Council.

He had $533,000 in his campaign coffers at the end of 2014 – the last time he was required to file a finance report.

Just a few weeks ago, Long’s campaign unveiled a slick, professional video that referred to Long as "a recognized champion of conservative values."

It referenced working with former Gov. Mitch Daniels and helping to play a part in "Indiana’s tremendous economic renaissance."

Long speaks directly to the camera in the video, citing lower property and income taxes; record job levels and investment in education and increased parental choice.

According to Kessler’s online resume, he has been an economics lecturer at IPFW since 2006 and has been director of the IPFW Center for Economic Education since 2009.

Kessler is also an adjunct scholar at the conservative Indiana Policy Review Foundation in Fort Wayne.

Other facts listed on his bio page are that Kessler has been a trumpet player in the 1st Marine Division Band, a noncommissioned officer, a transportation director, a substitute teacher, a marathon runner, a writing consultant, a liaison for Senator John McCain, a track coach, a Jeep tour guide, a singing bellhop, a security guard and a rock star.

nkelly@jg.net