State GOPers Visit Courthouse During Bus Tour

BY JENNIFER PERYAM, Times-Union Staff Writer

Local officials had the opportunity to meet three Republican candidates during a bus tour Thursday.

The candidates spoke at the Kosciusko County Courthouse about the Nov. 7 election.

Republican candidates who attended included Secretary of State incumbent Todd Rokita, current State Treasurer and State Auditor candidate Tim Berry and State Treasurer candidate Richard Mourdock.

The visit was part of a statewide bus tour sponsored by the Indiana Republican Party.

The candidates also made stops in Howard, Cass, Marshall, Elkhart and St. Joseph counties Thursday as part of their tour.

The candidates have been touring counties in Indiana since Oct. 19, speaking about issues such as initiatives to improve Indiana’s voting process and increased distribution of tax money.

Rokita is running for a second term as Secretary of State and will serve as president of the National Association of Secretaries of State in 2007.

Rokita spoke about the importance of voter identification and the necessity to protect the integrity of elections.

“I take my role seriously as Indiana’s chief election officer,” Rokita said.

“That’s why I fought to have photo identification at the polls and a statewide voter registration system as part of my election reform efforts.”

Berry said while he was treasurer, $1.5 billion in investment income has been earned in Indiana while 13 percent of the budget has been returned to the state’s general fund.

He was named outstanding state treasurer in 2005 by the National Association of State Treasurers.

“We are no ordinary Mourdock, Rokita or Berry but a team with leadership, experience and innovation whose goal is to build a stronger Indiana.”

Mourdock, who brings a business background with more than 30 years of private sector experience and was elected twice as Vanderburgh County Commissioner, spoke about the budget.

“For the first time in eight years, Indiana is operating on a balanced budget,” Mourdock said.

He said he is committed to keeping the budget balanced if he is elected as state treasurer.

He also said he supports continuing the work that has been done on the Wireless Emergency 9-1-1 program and said the program will help save lives.

“This program will allow public safety officials to pinpoint the location of someone who makes a 9-1-1 call on their wireless phone,” Mourdock said.

He said now is the time to look forward in Indiana to create higher paying jobs, improve education and protect taxpayers.