On Monday, the Hamilton County Republican Party held a sold-out Lincoln Day dinner at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in Noblesville. According to County GOP Chairman Mario Massillamany, between the dinner itself and the VIP reception, over 800 people were in attendance.
While the keynote speaker was Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan, the Reporter found it more interesting that, as far as we can tell, this was the first time all three GOP candidates who have announced to run for governor in 2024 were in the same place at the same time.
Doden
Crouch
Braun
We took that opportunity to speak to U.S. Senator Mike Braun, Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, and Ft. Wayne businessman Eric Doden about the challenges they see for Indiana in the next several years and why each believes he or she is the best candidate for Indiana’s top elected position.
In the interest of removing bias, we offer you each candidate’s answers to the same two questions, in alphabetical order.
Senator Mike Braun
What are the biggest challenges facing Indiana in the next several years?
When I travel the state, I’ve complied a lot of good information because I visit all 92 counties from the very smallest to the largest, and this is beginning the fifth year of that. I put a lot of emphasis on visiting small businesses. They are the heartbeat of towns. They are the ones that become larger companies someday.
The number one thing I hear is how we are not training our kids in high school and not meeting the need of the workforce. They are telling me we need better skills generally taught in high school.
We need to start the conversation in middle school. Whether you are going to be in an AP [Advanced Placement] trajectory or you are going to hit the workforce after you are out of high school, only 35 percent of the jobs require four-year degrees. Sixty-five percent need a better high school education. In the idea that you are going to beat those odds, we have left 135,000 jobs unfilled in this state: double what it was pre-COVID. And we export a lot of our great talent into a four-year degree they get, but there’s no demand for it here in state. A lot of those kids would not have needed to spend four years, unless it was just something they wanted to do.
We are always talking about how we keep the kids we have raised here in our state, and I think that’s the issue.
Along with that I hear rural broadband. We’re a rural state. That’s at least moving in the right direction.
Affordable housing.
And then a national issue is the high cost of healthcare. Sadly, we are known for having some of the poorest healthcare results and the most expensive healthcare costs. And then, in our state government, $18 to $19 billion, now it’s $22 billion a year, we need to make sure all the money we are spending we are doing it in a way that’s getting the most bang for our buck.
I, as a CEO and someone that’s actually run a business for 37 years as my career, I think I’ll know how to size that up better that most governors would be able to.
Why do you want to be governor?
I’m a problem-solver. At least you can fix it if you are setting the agenda. You’ve got to lead the legislature in a way to get something accomplished.
Out there we’ve been an effective senate office by not on setting the agenda, just working on practical legislation. I wasn’t going to do that more than two terms. This is either/or and I thought it made more sense to come back and run for governor.
I’m going to be a governor that’s going to be entrepreneurial. I’m going to tackle problems others may not. I got into politics not to make a career out of it, but to enter into it to preserve a lot of what Jim Jordan was talking about: that American dream; what ordinary citizens ought to be able to do despite the government, especially the federal government.
I’m here to come back, work for a state that’s pretty good and make it a little better.
Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch
What are the biggest challenges facing Indiana in the next several years?
As a governor candidate, I have a real clear vision for Indiana. Let me share it with you.
First of all, as governor I will make sure it is parents – and only parents – who control what is taught to our children. I’ll also invest in an early childhood program I helped to launch so every child has a chance to succeed.
I will enforce and make sure Indiana is a state that funds and supports our police and enforces our crime laws to the fullest.
Transparency has always been a priority for me. It was as auditor of state. I was able to make that a priority and end wasteful government spending and prevent fraud and leading Indiana to be a national leader. That continues to be important and will as we move forward.
I’ve protected Indiana jobs, helping companies move and grow here, creating the good-paying jobs of today. As governor, I’ll invest in worker training, which is critical to ensure the good-paying jobs of tomorrow.
I’ll continue to work to lower Hoosiers’ taxes.
I have been a relentless protector of Hoosier values that say we will always be here for the most vulnerable and we will never compromise in protecting faith, family, and freedom. Those are the issues that are not only important today but will continue to be important moving forward: education, jobs, safety, transparency, faith, family, and freedom.
Why do you want to be governor?
As Lt. Governor, as Auditor of State, as State Representative, as County Commissioner, and County Auditor, I have fought for Hoosiers and for values that they hold important, which are, as I’ve mentioned, faith, family, and freedom.
I have a vision for Indiana that as governor, together we can build on the successes that we’ve accomplished, which I have played a key role in, not only as a State Representative, Auditor of State and now Lt. Governor, to move Indiana forward to make it state where we have balanced budgets, we have low taxes, and we have healthy surplus. I want to build on that success and continue to move Indiana forward by growing our economy, by investing in education, strengthening our families and our communities, and then reimagining government.
As we do that, we will create more opportunities for Hoosier families and businesses to succeed.
Hamilton County is an extremely important county to the state of Indiana, and Indiana is only as successful as Hamilton County. I understand and recognize that and want to be a partner and as governor will work to ensure that Hamilton County has even more success than they’ve had because that’s how Indiana succeeds.
Businessman Eric Doden
What are the biggest challenges facing Indiana in the next several years?
I think it’s going to be centered around communities growing. Population growth. Especially our businesses are needing more employees. And our kids and grandkids staying here. I think those are some of the biggest challenges we are going to face.
I think we’ve got to really focus on having vibrant communities all over the state that can attract and retain talent. This region here has set the standard of excellence. We need to see that over 92 counties. Not just three or four counties doing well, but all 92 counties doing well.
A lot of our ideas like Indiana Main Street Initiative and our idea on regional cities is really centered around empowering local leaders to make sure they have a strong community to attract and retain their people.
Why do you want to be governor?
If guys like me don’t run, nothing changes. If you look at some of the ideas we are bringing forward – like zero-cost adoption – these are new ideas, they are a fresh perspective. The people who support me want a new generation of leadership that brings a fresh perspective and brings new ideas like regional cities, Indiana Main Street, how we fix our small towns with 30,000 or less where over 2 million people live – no one’s ever had an idea for that. We have not just published an idea, but we have actually implemented it in Van Wert, Ohio, and have a book about it on how we can implement it across the state of Indiana.
I’m really proud of this region and of all the things that have been accomplished here. I just think we need to see that go across the entire state.
Reporter photos