Wayne Township Trustee Thomas Essex won the Democratic primary with 4,056 votes.

The race was projected by Howey Political Report to be "safe Republican", with Helmke anticipated to be easily reelected.

It saw the election of Democrat Graham Richard, who defeated Republican Linda Buskirk by a narrow margin.

[7] Running for the Republican nomination was Linda Buskirk and Allen County Sheriff Joe Squadrito.

It saw the reelection of Democratic incumbent Graham Richard, who again defeated Republican Linda Buskirk in what was a rematch of the 1999 election.

[15] During the general election, the voter turnout in Allen County, in which Fort Wayne is located, was 30.63%.

[12] 2003 was a good year for Democrats in Indiana's mayoral elections, with the party winning control of the mayoralties of all of the state's top seven most populous cities for the first time since 1959.

[15] The Democratic Party also won control of the mayoralties in twenty of the state's thirty cities with populations above 25,000.

[24] During the primary elections, the voter turnout in Allen County, in which Fort Wayne is located, was 12.78%.

[24] During the general election, the voter turnout in Allen County, in which Fort Wayne is located, was 26.21%.

[26] During the general election, the voter turnout in Allen County, in which Fort Wayne is located, was 22.49%.