INDIANAPOLIS—Five of six Republican gubernatorial candidates engaged in a spirited debate on April 22, two weeks before the primary election that could determine the next governor of this reliably red state.
Present were Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, businessmen Brad Chambers and Eric Doden, both former secretaries of commerce for Indiana, former Attorney General Curtis Hill, and political newcomer Jamie Reitenour. Frontrunner Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) was absent from the stage, having bowed out to participate in a Senate vote the same day.
Throughout the evening, all candidates seemed bent on presenting themselves as political outsiders—a term even Mr. Braun has used to describe himself—despite the fact that all but one have held statewide legislative or administration positions.
Candidates sparred early over the role of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), which Messers. Dodin and Chambers had previously led.
At issue was a project undertaken by the IEDC under Mr. Chambers’s leadership that requires pumping millions of gallons of water each day from the Wabash River aquifer to serve the needs of businesses in a development zone some 40 miles away. Some candidates criticized the plan and attacked the legitimacy of the agency itself.
“The IEDC should not spend billions of dollars of taxpayer money buying land in one county only to discover we have a water problem and taking resources from a smaller community,” Mr. Doden said.
“Indiana Economic Development Corporation is not what Hoosiers want,” Ms. Reitenour said. “They want to know where their property tax money is going.”
“The IEDC is a shadow government,” Mr. Hill said. “We’re taking public money and putting it into an organization that hides the ball and lacks transparency.”
Mr. Chambers vigorously defended the agency and its record.
“That’s a terrific contrast between career politics and small thinking and the big thinking that’s going to put more money in your pockets,” Mr. Chambers said. “We grew the economy by $51 billion in two years, and those are high-wage jobs.”
“There is an abundance of water in this state,” Mr. Chambers added. “It’s an asset that we can use strategically against our competitors like Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois.”
Ms. Crouch has campaigned on a pledge to eliminate the state’s income tax, which some candidates said was not a serious proposal.
“The income tax proposal is a gimmick. It’s not realistic,” Mr. Hill said. Mr. Doden and Ms. Reitenour said reducing property taxes would be a more helpful goal.
“This is a political talking point if there ever was one,” Mr. Chambers said. “She has not articulated a plan to cut $12 billion out of our budget.”
Playing on her nearly 25 years in county and statewide government, Ms. Crouch said, “If my opponents understood the legislative process, they would also understand that [the income tax] can end for certain Hoosiers".
She argued that the plan was achievable and already happening since the income tax rate had been reduced twice under the current administration.
“Let’s just keep going that direction when we have an excess surplus in revenues,” she said. “We can get there, helping Hoosiers, small businesses, and attracting people to Indiana.”
Mr. Braun has been the clear frontrunner in preference polling since December, leading other candidates by more than 20 percentage points in a race that has already consumed some $35 million.
The latest poll shows Mr. Braun at 44 percent, followed by Ms. Crouch at 10 percent, Mr. Chambers and Mr. Doden at 8 percent each, and Mr. Hill and Ms. Reitenour at 2 percent each.
The candidates showed little disagreement on most issues, however, especially core conservative beliefs such as the sanctity of life and the limited role of government.
Asked which state agencies she would downsize or eliminate, Ms. Crouch said, “All of them.”
Mr. Doden said he would require all agency heads to reapply for their jobs.
There was also agreement that the southern border crisis has serious implications for this state, which has sent national guard troops to the border in support of Customs and Border Patrol. All candidates were eager to blame the Biden administration for this.
However, only Mr. Hill directly answered a question posed to all candidates about whether they would crack down on businesses that hire illegal immigrants.
“Absolutely,” Mr. Hill said, adding that businesses should not be allowed to “hire just anybody” because they need laborers. “We can’t have it both ways. We’re either going to stop illegal immigration, or we’re going to lay down for it. I’m not laying down for anybody.”
Each candidate was allowed two minutes for a closing statement.
Mr. Chambers presented himself as a hardworking entrepreneur who had started his successful real estate management business from scratch 40 years ago. “This is a service opportunity for me, not a career change. I believe in the potential of the state,” he said, promising to function as a CEO when in office, bringing more business development and high-wage employment to the state.
Mr. Hill appealed to his record of proven leadership as a former attorney general. “Hoosiers are hungry for proven conservative leadership,” he said. “I have a record of getting the job done.”
Mr. Doden said, “What’s important for a leader is to have a bold vision for the people of Indiana and the ability to implement that vision.” He touted the numerous written plans he has created for improving state government, including a plan to revitalize Indiana’s small towns for the 2.5 million people living in them.
Ms. Crouch cast herself as a capable and experienced officeholder. “I’m the only candidate on the stage who has the experience to deliver results,” she said, adding that her plan to eliminate income tax would improve the living standard and business competitiveness in the state.
Ms. Reitenour said the state was failing to deliver adequate education and economic opportunity for its citizens. “If you want billions of dollars and backroom business, choose the politicians,” she said, presenting herself as “ someone who loves freedom and is going to look out for your families and encourage you to grow the state through the private sector.”
The Indiana primary election will be on May 7.
Two-term Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb is ineligible for reelection due to term limits. He has not endorsed a candidate.
Jennifer McCormick, the presumptive Democratic nominee, is unopposed in the primary election. Libertarian Donald Rainwater was nominated at that party’s convention in March.
