The Hoosier Hometown Tour made its way through Crawfordsville Wednesday morning.
Democrat candidate for governor, Jill Long Thompson, was on the campaign trail that took her to Crawfordsville, Lebanon and Frankfort. Long Thompson said it was just the third day of the tour as she and running-mate Dennie Oxley travel the state, promoting job growth in small towns.
Long Thompson said that while Gov. Mitch Daniels has individual programs to create growth, she wants to get all 92 counties involved.
"Gov. Daniels' approach is not working," she said. "Economic growth occurs when you have an economic climate that works for growth."
Long Thompson said that the first thing she would do if elected is to institute collective bargaining for state employees.
"I think (collective bargaining) is a God-given right," she said.
She said that she would also work on reforms to bring higher paying jobs to the state, as well as work to improve the state of public education.
"I will work every day to make that happen," Long Thompson said.
She said she wants to work with the Legislature to bring about tax reform as well as make health insurance more affordable to Hoosiers.
Long Thompson said that she does not have any political aspirations higher than being governor.
"It is not even that I want to be governor," she said. "I want to grow the economy and the best way to do that is from that position (as governor)."
While in Crawfordsville, Long Thompson stopped by Moon Dance Café to talk to voters. One voter, Jinny Dawson, told Long Thompson that her mind is already made up in the governor's race.
"You will have my vote," Dawson told Long Thompson.
Long Thompson said that the campaign has gone well so far and that she is looking forward to continue traveling the state.
"We need change and I represent change in a good way," Long Thompson said.
The Paper of Montgomery County 101 W. Main St. Suite 300 | P.O. Box 272 Crawfordsville, IN 47933 Main: (765) 361-0100 • Classifieds: (765) 361-8888 • Fax: (765) 361-1882
