Of the three statewide offices on Indiana‘s ballot next week, only one has no incumbent running -- in fact, there‘s no incumbent at all. Governor Pence named only an interim state treasurer after Richard Mourdock resigned in August.
GOP nominee Kelly Mitchell, who ran the TrustINdiana investment pool for local governments under Mourdock, says the office belongs in fiscally conservative hands. She says a cautious investment philosophy shielded Hoosier banks from collapse during the recession.
Democrat Mike Boland is a former Illinois state legislator who retired to Fishers two years ago. He says the office needs a change of direction, both from Mourdock‘s policies and his "wacky statements." Boland slams Mourdock‘s unsuccessful lawsuit to block the Chrysler bankruptcy deal. He argues the suit could have put thousands of Hoosiers out of work.
Mitchell and Boland say they‘d emphasize the College Choice college savings plan, which the office administers, though Boland charges Mourdock didn‘t do enough to publicize it.
Mitchell says high school students need to learn not only about the College Choice plan, but about how to weigh their career prospects against the student loans they may take out.
Financial adviser Mike Jasper is the Libertarian nominee.
