Governor, State Rep, U.S. Rep Primary Winners Discuss Wins
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Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Indiana governor, state representatives and second district U.S. representative primary winners discussed their wins in Tuesday’s primary.
Republican State Rep. Rebecca Kubacki, who will be serving her second term if re-elected in the fall, said issues important to her are the meth issue, early childhood development funding and job creation.
Kubacki defeated opponent Jon Hare. Kubacki faces Democrat John Bonitati in the November election.
“My mom, sister and brother voted today, and to be able to have family supporting me is wonderful, and I am thankful they were able to take part in this,” Kubacki said.
She also thanked the voters.
Kubacki said the meth issue needs to be tackled in the county. She said she met with officials from Court Appointed Special Advocates recently to discuss the issue.
“The children are being affected by the meth problem, it is not just the parents,” Kubacki said.
There are children being taken away from their parents because their parents are on drugs, she said. She said she would like to work to put an end to this.
Kubacki spoke about early childhood development funding.
“Higher education gets a lot of money, but we need to start taking some money and giving it to early childhood development and the elementary and middle schools where the foundation is set for learning,” Kubacki said.
“These kids will never make it to the college level if we don’t give them the right tools at the onset so they can have the tools to learn,” she said.
She spoke about job creation, and said her goal is to make sure Indiana has the lowest unemployment rate in the country.
“I know it is a lofty goal but I know we can do it, we are going in the right direction,” Kubacki said.
She said being a right to work state has already brought companies to the state who are interested in coming.
She said businesses have been given an economic business climate where they can make money, succeed and hire people.
“We need to continue to create a business climate that will attract businesses to the state of Indiana, and when we do that we will get people back to work,” Kubacki said.
Bonitati said he does not support Kubacki voting in support of the right to work bill.
“The right to work bill will drag down wages and take money out of people’s pockets,” Bonitati said.
He also said there needs to be vocational programs and worker training programs.
Bonitati agreed the meth problem in the county needs to be ended.
Jackie Walorski won the U.S. representative district two Republican primary race. She defeated opponent Greg Andrews. Walorski faces Democrat Brendan Mullen in the fall.
Walorski said she is thankful and it is humbling to win the Republican primary.
She thanked her volunteers.
“I’ve been an independent voice at the statehouse and I will be an independent voice for this district at the federal level and that is what people in this district said they wanted,” Walorski said. “I’ve listened to folks this past year and built coalitions and voters wanted an independent voice who would represent them and not a political party.”
Walorski said issues important to her are working to make sure there is a balanced budget, and a mandatory debt reducer so the debt starts coming down and is not frozen and incrementally creeps up.
“Creating jobs in northern Indiana is the key, and the way we do that is to reduce regulations and bring certainty in the economy and allow private industry to prosper,” Walorski said.
Mullen said he was pleased with voter turnout and said he looks forward to the election in 182 days.
“For the last 10 months we have had our eye on the election and I would like to be a voice of the community, middle class and mainstreet,” Mullen said.
State Representative District 18 Dave Wolkins was unopposed in Tuesday’s primary. Wolkins faces Democrat Chris Wright in the November election.
Wolkins said he is excited with having a new district this year. He has a lot of voters to meet in Miami, Grant and Wabash counties.
“I have been spending a lot of time in the Wabash area trying to get to know the people and learning how to represent their interests,” Wolkins said.
Wolkins said he supported the right to work bill that passed.
Wright said Wolkins has the lowest voting attendance record in the GOP House or Representatives and he does not feel that is right.
Wright said he wants to fight for education funding and said the county’s meth problem needs to be taken care of.
Republican Governor primary winner Mike Pence, who was unopposed, spoke about his win. Pence faces Democrat John Gregg in November.
“I ran for governor because I love this state and I believe that Indiana is on a verge of growth and economic opportunity like no other in our lifetime,” Pence said.
Pence said he is humbled to be the Republican nominee.
“It is my ambition to be a voice for every Hoosier who dreams for a better life,” Pence said.
Pence spoke about the U.S. Senate race and said he had a heart-felt congratulations to Richard Mourdock for winning the Republican nomination.
Pence said he looks forward to campaigning with Mourdock.
“I’ve known Richard Mourdock for 20 years and I know he is a man of high integrity and great vision,” Pence said.
Gregg said he is looking forward to the governor race.
“Hoosiers have fatigue over career politicians and Virginia-based politicians who are out of touch with Indiana,” Gregg said.
Gregg said he feels he is running against a career politician.
“I might be a gun-toting, Bible-quoting Democrat from southern Indiana, but I don’t believe denying access to women for cancer screenings and birth control is right,” Gregg said.
The top 15 candidates chosen as state convention delegates are: Kent Adams, Nancy Adams, Kyle Babcock, Brian Boyer, Monica Boyer, Ernest Wiggins, Daniel Hampton, Steven Foster, Christine Hampton, Kathy Stutzman, Joe Thallemer, Joshua Zimmerman, Larry Kinsey, Christopher Kehler and Ron Shoemaker.
