Republican Governor Candidate Mike Pence Stops at Kosciusko Fish Fry
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Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Republican Indiana gubernatorial candidate Mike Pence made a stop at Wednesday night’s Kosciusko County Republican Fish Fry.
He attended and served fish with his wife, Karen, during the fry at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds. Pence faces Democrat John Gregg in the Nov. 6 election.
The fish fry was attended by approximately 1,140 people, according to Randy Girod, Kosciusko County GOP chairman.
The Times-Union interviewed Pence on his run for governor.
Pence said he is running for governor because he feels Indiana is on the verge of an era of growth and opportunity like no other in his lifetime.
“As I have traveled the state the last year and a half I have become more convinced of that,” Pence said.
He said Hoosiers sense that the state is poised for real economic opportunity, growth, jobs and improvement in schools.
“If we can elect the right leadership at every level with the right ideas and energy, I think Indiana can be the leading state in the Midwest and have one of the fastest growing economies in the country,” Pence said.
Pence also spoke about job creation.
He said after the state makes sure it has enough money in the bank to protect its fiscal health, taxes should be cut across the board by 10 percent for every Hoosier.
“I think that will help individuals, small businesses and make Indiana more competitive and able to attract investments,” Pence said.
Pence also said the time has come to make career and vocational education a priority in every high school in Indiana. He said that idea has been met with tremendous enthusiasm.
“Whether it is the innovation we have seen with Ivy Tech in Kosciusko County, community after community is leaning into an effort to bring more career and vocational education to our high school students,” Pence said.
He said career and vocational training will help fill jobs that even in this tough economy are out there and aren’t being filled by Hoosiers because they lack the education and training to fill them.
Pence spoke about the medical device tax and said it was among one of the many reasons he opposed Obamacare.
“I feel we can face the challenge in the cost of healthcare in this country without mandating coverage, and we can face those challenges without raising taxes on one of the most promising industries in the Midwest,” Pence said.
Pence said every Hoosier should be proud of the innovation and growth of the medical device industry.
“I think there are a growing number of voices in both political parties that are calling to undo the tax,” Pence said.
He said if he is elected governor he will be a leading voice in calling for a full repeal of Obamacare, including the medical device tax.
Pence spoke about his decision to select Sue Ellspermann as lieutenant governor.
Pence said he felt choosing Ellspermann was the right choice at the right time to fill Becky Skillman’s vacancy.
He said the lieutenant governor has some of the broadest range of responsibilities, and said Ellspermann has a great deal of business and management experience.
