For as long as he can remember, Clint Cooper has been fascinated with politics. 
It began as a child, grew when he worked as a deputy for the Putnam County Sheriff's Department and intensified a few years ago he admits. 

"Politics has always intrigued me and was always fascinating to me. Four years ago, I thought about running for commissioners. That was the plan and a year and a half ago, we moved out of Dave Berry's district into Rick Woodall's and I just sat back and laid low," Cooper told The Putnam County Post. 

For the last few months, Cooper had heard a rumor surrounding Indiana House District 44 and State Rep. Beau Baird that sparked his interest again in politics. 

"I had heard from people a rumor suggesting Jim Baird may not run for for his seat in the U.S. Representatives and Beau may run for Congress. I went to the Statehouse last week with the intention of filing for the District 44 seat to give a voters a voice in the event Beau ran for Congress. I firmly believe this is the people's choice and I didn't want to chance the seat being filled by someone voters may not know. Beau and I are friends and know each other," Cooper said. 

Cooper acknowledged he visited friend and State Rep. Craig Haggard at the Statehouse before walking to the Secretary of State's office. 

"Ten minutes before the filing deadline, Craig and I walk downstairs and Beau was sitting on a bench. Craig asked Beau if he filed and he said, "yes." Craig walked in and filed, and Beau and I talked for a few minutes and then I went in and filed for the District 44 seat. I left and went to a restaurant across the street and Beau called me and asked about my filing. I asked him if he had filed and he said yes for District 44. I had no plans to run against Beau. I told him I would go ahead and unfile, and that is what I did. For a two hour period, I had filed and unfiled," Cooper said. 

Since then, Cooper said he has heard from a number of residents who were reached out with words of encouragement and support should he ever run for office. 

"I wanted to make sure the people had a say in representation. I was born and raised in Putnam County and didn't want someone caucused in that people didn't know. I will always do what I feel is right and be a voice," Cooper said. 

Will he run for office one day? 
Cooper says only time will tell. 

"The outreach has been good. People were glad to see that one day I may run for office. This is my home," Cooper said.