Editorial: Fort Wayne News Sentinel: Article published Apr 25, 2008
Long Thompson in governor's race
She has better fiscal sense and the political experience that counts.
Democratic gubernatorial candidates Jill Long Thompson and Jim Schellinger are both personable campaigners and likeable people, and they are united in their utter conviction that the state has been on the road to ruin under Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels. If Democrats want their best shot at kicking Daniels out of the governor's office, they should opt for Long Thompson.
She and Schellinger have similar - but not identical - positions on the issues they identify as most important - chiefly jobs, the economy and education. On the economy, for example, Long Thompson would change the state's tax structure to provide incentives for companies to create jobs. She would encourage pools to buy health insurance. She would re-emphasize vocational education in high schools. Schellinger would provide state funding for advanced manufacturing training and adult education for workers. He would create a state-managed health care pool for small businesses. He would emphasize education by submitting a separate budget for that to the General Assembly.
Whichever candidate wins will have the challenging task of picking apart Daniels' record while simultaneously trying to build up statewide name recognition. The governor will be vulnerable on some issues - he has done a lot in a very short period. But he can also point to an economy much better than the ones in surrounding states.
Long Thompson stands out for two reasons.
One is her fiscal sensibleness. As a member of Congress, she never voted for a tax increase and says she would behave similarly as governor. That means she would have to do all she wants to do with existing revenue, a refreshing thought.
The other is her political and government experience. As a U.S. representative and under- secretary of agriculture, she knows how the system works, and she would make use of that knowledge not only as governor but as a candidate against Daniels. Schellinger has no political experience, and it shows. He was the choice of the Democratic establishment but has been fought to a standstill by Long Thompson. He might get surprised by the governor during the campaign - she won't be
