COMMENTARY: Indiana voters seek jobs and job security as November elections near

It’s an issue that is shaping the run up to this year’s race that lacks the national attention fostered by a presidential election. But candidates say voters are not short on issues. They’re being asked if new jobs are coming to the area and about job security. Education funding, property taxes and public safety are common talking points.

“Say what you want about the recovery,” said Tony Goben, a Democratic candidate for the Indiana House, “but we are still struggling. A lot of people are struggling just to meet their basic needs in life, basic necessities – that’s definitely a concern.”

Goben, who is running against Republican state Rep. Wendy McNamara for House District 76, said the state focusing on improving its infrastructure could boost job opportunities.

McNamara said she’s spent the better part of the year talking about the needs of the Southwestern Indiana community and closing the skills gap through a focus on career and technical education. McNamara said on the campaign trail, jobs and job security is a main issue.

“Making sure the economy grows and having policies that foster that sort of development in their community,” McNamara said of what she’s hearing from voters.

Vanderburgh County Commissioner Stephen Melcher said as House District 78’s Democratic candidate, he’s going door to door to talk about issues with constituents. He said he’s hearing concerns about the option the General Assembly passed this year to allow counties to choose to eliminate the tax businesses pay on new equipment and how it could affect other taxpayers.

Melcher said he’s also fielding concerns on education in Indiana, which he said really didn’t come up with voters in the years he’s run for local office.

“It’s coming up now that I’m running for state,” Melcher said. “Education is something we all must be working toward and making sure there’s equality. Some of the legislators have been trying to meet with different groups and (parent-teacher associations) to see how they all work together to get parents back involved with their children. That’s a step I think will help.”

State Rep. Holli Sullivan, who is the Republican candidate for House District 78, said as she goes door to door, voters tell her they want lawmakers to look to the next generation when they make decisions. Sullivan said voters have told her they want to ensure their kids who are going to college can get good paying jobs and stay local.

Sullivan said in speaking with teachers and parents, they want money the state sends to education to be used in classrooms.

“They understand we had really good strides with strong Republican leadership at the Statehouse,” Sullivan said. “They don’t want us to go backward. They want us to look forward to the next generation when making decisions. They want the state to continue to work together to improve the education system.”

One issue candidates say voters aren’t bringing up a lot is same-sex marriage.

The social issue packed the halls of the Indiana Statehouse during this year’s legislative session. Since then, a federal judge based in Evansville ruled the state’s law banning same-sex marriages unconstitutional, which led to a flurry of same-sex couples being granted marriage licenses and holding ceremonies at county clerks’ offices. But those ceremonies grinded to a halt when a federal appeals court stayed the ruling at the request of the Indiana attorney general’s office. Now the case is before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago on Tuesday.

“Surprisingly, I’ve not yet to be asked about same-sex marriage,” Republican House candidate Jeremy Heath said. “Had I been, I’d be the first to say I support letting Hoosiers decide.”

The General Assembly changed the wording of a proposed state constitutional amendment during this year’s legislative session that kept the ban on same-sex marriages – identical to state law now subject to a court challenge – but removed a ban on civil unions. The alteration means the earliest a referendum could go on the ballot for voters is 2016, but the wording would need to be introduced and passed by state lawmakers in 2015.

“I know it only came up one time out of the doors we knocked,” Melcher said. “I think the economy is taking precedence to it.”

Heath, who is running against Democratic state Rep. Gail Riecken for House District 77, said he wouldn’t be surprised if November’s election experiences a low voter turnout.

“Everyone I talk to seems pretty disenfranchised with the way things are going, not just Democrats but Republicans, too,” Heath said.

But Heath said he continues to get questions on the economy.

“There are people asking me, ‘I’ve been out of work six months, seven months,’ and they want to know if there is actually going to be new jobs that are going to be in the area,” Heath said.

State Rep. Gail Riecken, who is running for reelection to House District 77, held three town halls this month and said the overwhelming theme from those meetings was ensuring Southwestern Indiana residents had ample job training for opportunities that will come from the planned Midwest Fertilizer plant in Posey County, the downtown Evansville regional medical school campus and the downtown hotel.

Riecken said she’s continuing to push for the Evansville area to receive its own share of dollars through the Indiana Plan for Equal Employment. The program offers training for minority and woman candidates in union construction fields.

“We need onsite planning, outreach and scheduling of promotions,” Riecken said, “so I will be continuing that question.”