Gregg brings people together

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN -  John Gregg knows enough about Hoosiers that they cannot agree on anything whether it is time zones or class basketball.

 But the former Indiana Speaker of the House, a Democrat,  hopes people will agree on his being the next governor over Republican Mike Pence, and Libertarian Rupert Boneham.

 Gregg recalls the last time Hoosier elected a congressman as governor was 1888. It also has been over a century that a man with a mustache  that has been the state's chief executive. 

 The Democrat who wants to be governor and succeed Gov, Mitch Daniels was in Muncie Friday, first at a reception held by Dan Allen, who helped lead Mayor Dennis Tyler's transition, and later at 214 Democratic Party headquarters that brought some Team Democrats together with the central committee. Former State Sen. Sue Errington, who wants the House 34 seats. stopped by and talked with Gregg and others as well as labor leader David Walker, who is 214's choice to succeed Rep. Mike White, D-Muncie, who is not running.

 Gregg, 57, was speaker at a time in 1996 when the House was divided 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans. He served 14 years in the House, has been president of Vincennes University, a lobbyist for big coal, and an attorney by profession.  He wants to bring people together at a time the Legislature is bitterly divided to that Right to Work law, which Gregg strongly opposes. 

 : "People want somebody with experience, but they don't want a career politician," said Gregg. "I am not a career politician,"

 Gregg said he was glad he was not a member of Congress that has less than 10 percent approval rating.

 The Democratic gubernatorial hopeful was introduced by former state representative,  Hurley Goodall  and former Sen. Allie Craycraft.  

 Goodall said there was no finer leader in the House and pledged his support for Gregg to be the next Indiana governor

  The former speaker talked about bringing people together in a time that the Statehouse is divided by the Right to Work debate. A strong supporter of working people, Gregg opposes RTW, saying it weaken unions, and reduces wages and benefits.

 Labor unions were represented well at the Gregg rally. There was Walker, representing auto workers; Joe Evans, carpenters; Jerry Neal, plumbers; James Carrey, postal workers, and Gary Foreman, printers.

 Talking about his opponent Pence, Gregg said, "If that man is elected, you will wish you had Mitch back," referring to the congressman's neo-conservative views.

 Gregg still comes from another generation of lawmakers like his name, That disconnect from today's voters will be made up traveling around the state more by Gregg and his campaign. He has traveled to about 70 counties and plans to cover more and do it all over during the next nine months.

 Mayor Dennis Tyler, holding one of his grandchildren, said Gregg was all about people and would help return jobs and prosperity to the state.

 In response to Daniels' recent State of the State address, Gregg said he wanted to bring good paying jobs back to the state by improving education, investing in clean coal and alternate energy and providing small business with the tools they need to grow.

 "I know that as a state, and as Hoosiers, we can do better,: said Gregg.

 Gregg has got a start on fundraising, gathering about $1.7 million, compared to Pence with over $5 million. What Gregg said about the deep pockets of Pence was that he had six people give him over $100,000 apiece and another 42 give $25,000 each. Gregg had 5,000 people give $20 each.

 "I might be outspent, but I won't be out worked," said Gregg.

 Indiana went red in 2010 but went blue for the first time in 40 years in 2008 when Hoosiers supported President Barack Obama. Gregg still hopes to overcome Pence's millions and likely Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's billions.