Updates
The Mike Pence for Indiana Campaign is currently seeking interns for the summer of 2012 in the following areas:
Political: Candidates for this position should be interested in Indiana politics, have developed interpersonal skills, and be confident working independently. Political interns will be responsible for communicating with and organizing supporters and volunteers along with attending events on behalf of the Mike Pence for Indiana organization.
Finance: With a focus on fundraising, candidates for this position should possess strong organizational and time management skills, as well as an interest in political finance. Responsibilities will include researching and managing database entries, orchestrating mailings and, on occasion, staffing events.
Policy: Candidates for this position should have exceptional research and writing skills and an interest in policy. Policy or legislative experience is preferred but not required. Interns will be responsible for data collection and analysis, coordinating policy meetings, and drafting memos on specific policy topics.
Communications/Media: Candidates for this position should possess strong writing skills and have an interest in political communications. Prior communications or media experience is preferred but not required. Responsibilities will include media research, speech transcription and drafting communications pieces on behalf of the Mike Pence for Indiana organization.
Mike Pence for Indiana internships are unpaid and available to students who may earn college credit. Please email a resume and cover letter, specifying which area is of interest to you, with the subject line “Summer 2012 Internship” to pencecampaignjobs@gmail.com by midnight March 18, 2012.
We are always excited to talk to Hoosiers across the state to hear new ideas for an even better Indiana. This weekend, we had four incredible opportunities to do just that.
On Friday, we joined Hoosiers in Frankfort for the Clinton County Lincoln Day Dinner. It was great to spend time visiting with residents of Clinton County, as well as Frankfort Mayor Chris McBarnes and Clinton County Chairman Jim Moyer.
Bright and early Saturday morning, we stopped in Pence, Indiana. Pence is located in Warren County less than a mile from the Indiana-Illinois state line. What a way to kick off a busy day in the Heartland!
Following our stop in Pence, we were thrilled to attend the Tippecanoe County Republican Women’s Club Annual Meeting in Lafayette, Indiana. Thanks to Tippecanoe County Republican Women’s Club President Barb Knochel for allowing us to be a part of such a significant day. Congratulations to all those who were sworn in for the 2012-13 term.
Traveling northeast, we met with supporters Saturday afternoon at the Stone House Restaurant in Delphi, Indiana. It was great to hear all of your ideas for improving Indiana, and we appreciate your words of encouragement as we continue our travels around the state.
In the evening, we joined Hoosiers at the Miami County Lincoln Day Dinner. We are encouraged by all of your support and ideas, and we look forward to building an even better Indiana with your help.
We look forward to visiting with Hoosiers at Lincoln Day Dinners in the coming days and would like to thank all who offered support as we work to bring good jobs, great schools, safe streets and strong families to all Hoosiers!
Peru Tribune, Jonathan Kleyer, 2/20/2012
Congressman Mike Pence, Republican U.S. representative for Indiana’s sixth district, spoke at Miami County’s Lincoln Day Dinner on Saturday to rally local Republicans as part of his push for the governorship.
More than 280 tickets had been sold for the dinner in Miami County’s 4-H exhibition building. Addressing the room, Pence said he wants to be Indiana’s governor because he felt current Gov. Mitch Daniels had brought the state to the brink of economic greatness, and that the right leadership could help the state progress even further.
“The message I’m taking to the four corners of Indiana is that I think Indiana is on the verge of growth and opportunity,” Pence said.
Indiana went from near bankruptcy to being “the financial envy” of the country in the seven years of Daniel’s office. To build on that, Pence said he felt leaders need to fight to keep taxes low, look to make further cuts for small businesses and family farms, and make sure that recent legislative education reform efforts produce results.
He added that he felt whoever the next governor of Indiana is, the primary focus for the next five years must be on jobs. Though Pence described Indiana’s economy positively, the congressman said there are still more than 250,000 Hoosiers out of work, and many have only been able to find jobs with lower wages.
“Indiana can be the place that knocks the rust off the rust belt,” Pence said.
Pence also said he was for reducing the size of government – and along with that, he wants to see state governments act more on their own. Hoosiers need to act for the state because the “cure for the country” is not waiting in Washington D.C., he said.
The congressman earned degrees from Hanover College in 1981 and the Indiana University School of Law in 1986. He was elected to Congress in 2000. His background also includes time as president of the Indiana Policy Review Foundation and as host of the “Mike Pence Show,” a radio program.
Indiana State Sen. Randy Head, R-Logansport, said he felt Pence would be a good successor to Daniels, with a background serving on business and agricultural committee.
Describing this year’s legislative session as rough, Head urged Republicans to stay positive, and said Pence presented a good opportunity to keep things moving positively.
Head also commented that the dinner was one of the highest-attended Lincoln Day Dinners that he has seen.
Pence’s focus on topics such as jobs and education were highlights of his speech at the dinner, said Janet Corwin, Miami County Republican Women president. Corwin has heard the congressman speak before, but said this was the first time she had heard him speak for a run to become governor.
“It’s a huge turnout. We had seats for 300, and I believe we nearly filled them,” Corwin said. “(Pence) is just a wonderful speaker.”
With the month of February comes Lincoln Day Dinners around the state, and we’re thrilled to have visited with Hoosiers at three in the last week!
Last Thursday, we joined more than 150 Hoosiers in Crawfordsville at the Montgomery County Lincoln Day Dinner. We were truly humbled by your words of encouragement at this event and look forward to the comings months as we continue on the campaign trail. Check out photos from Crawfordsville on the Mike Pence Facebook page.
Before the dinner, Mike spent time with Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton at Allen’s Country Kitchen. It was great to visit with this strong leader, and, under his guidance, we envision great things for the city of Crawfordsville.
Friday evening, we were excited to join a huge crowd at the Lawrence Township Republican Club for their Lincoln Day Dinner in Indianapolis. Thank you for all those in attendance for your warm welcome at tonight’s fantastic event. View photos from the event here.
In Plymouth last night, we spent time at the Marshall County Lincoln Day Dinner. We enjoyed joining so many friends at the event and appreciate your support for good jobs, great schools, safe streets and strong families.
As we travel across the state, we’re encouraged by all who have volunteered their time to help. To get involved with the campaign, please visit www.mikepence.com/volunteer to ‘Join the Team’ and learn how you can get started helping to build an even better Indiana!
On Monday, Mike filed more than 13,000 petition signatures from Hoosiers in all 92 counties to secure a place on the ballot for the May 8th primary. Below is a sample of some of the news coverage from this major milestone for the campaign:
AP: Indiana gubernatorial candidates gear up
Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Pence turned in more than 13,000 signatures from supporters to get his name on the statewide ballot for governor. Pence and about 100 supporters walked 92 boxes of signatures Monday morning to the Indiana Elections Division. “Today, I’m going to make it official,” he said to cheers outside the Indiana Government Center South in downtown. “I am seeking the Republican nomination for governor of the state of Indiana.”
Indianapolis Star: Front-runner Pence is first to turn in signatures to get on ballot
Standing next to his wife, Karen, Pence said Monday that he plans a positive, issues-oriented campaign. Pence said he wants to bring a “common-sense and common values” approach to the office. And he wants to build upon the work of Gov. Mitch Daniels, who is in his eighth and final year as governor. “It is going to be a people-centered campaign that will carry our message for an even better Indiana to the four corners of the state,” Pence said. “And we will be carrying our message to every community, in the city and on the farm.”
WIBC: Pence Files Petitions for Gubernatorial Bid
Pence led a brigade of supporters in carrying 92 boxes, one for each county, into the Indiana Election Division office. He boasts he collected nearly triple the required 45-hundred signatures.
Evansville Courier & Press: Indiana gov hopefuls get ready for ballot
As supporters crowded behind him, Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Pence dropped off boxes containing 13,000 petition signatures to get himself onto the ballot for the Indiana governor’s race. That made him the first candidate to file for the governor’s race. “We’re going to have to have a governor that’s willing to stand up to the avalanche of federal red tape and government programs that are stifling our economy and stifling our growth,” he said.
WSCH 99.3 FM: Mike Pence Makes Gubernatorial Run Official
It was no surprise that Mike Pence would file to run for Indiana’s next governor.The current Sixth District Congressman has been campaigning and vocally promoting himself since announcing his intentions last May. What was a surprise, however, was the overwhelming number of petitions Pence brought with him to the Secretary of State’s Election Division office at the Indiana Government Center in Indianapolis on Monday.
On Monday, February 6, Mike Pence joined more than 100 supporters in downtown Indianapolis, where he filed more than 13,000 ballot petition signatures from Hoosiers in all 92 Indiana counties. Thank you to all who helped to collect these signatures and, in turn, get Mike on the ballot for the May 8th primary. As we continue along the campaign trail, we are excited to have the support of so many as we work to create good jobs, great schools, safe streets and strong families for all Hoosiers!
“Making Indiana the 23rd Right to Work state in America is a victory for economic freedom and Hoosier workers. I commend Governor Mitch Daniels, Speaker Brian Bosma, Senate President Pro Tempore David Long and all those in the Indiana General Assembly who took a courageous and principled stand for workers’ rights. Ensuring freedom in the workplace will make Indiana an even better place to do business and help create new jobs for Hoosiers.” -Mike Pence
Yesterday, Mike and Karen joined more than 100 attendees at Thursday’s “Women for Pence” lunch, the second event for the “Women for Pence” coalition. We were truly honored to be joined by such strong, successful women, including Lt. Governor Becky Skillman and former Indiana State Treasurer Marjorie O’Laughlin. Your leadership in Indiana has impacted the lives of countless Hoosiers, and we are so encouraged to have your support as we continue on the campaign trail. To get involved with “Women for Pence,” please visit www.mikepence.com/volunteer and create or update your volunteer profile interests.
Following the “Women for Pence” lunch, Mike joined more than 200 men and women at the “Young Professionals for Pence” event. Also in attendance at this event were three of the youngest mayors in Indiana: Ryan Daniel of Columbia City, Chris McBarnes of Frankfort and Blair Milo of La Porte. It was great to visit with so many bright, young men and women, and we look forward to the future of Indiana under their leadership.
As our campaign continues to build momentum, we’re thrilled to know we have the support of so many strong, dedicated Hoosiers. Thank you for your encouragement as we work to build an even better Indiana!
Mike Pence, Indianapolis Business Journal, 1/21/2012
Question: One of Mitch Daniels’ first acts as governor in 2005 was to end collective bargaining for state employees and to start a system of merit pay. What is your policy regarding state employees, unions and merit pay?
Answer: Every day, thousands of dedicated Hoosier public servants go to work for the people of Indiana. There was a time when these state employees were maligned as nameless, faceless bureaucrats. In recent years, Indiana has made great strides toward changing that impression and improving state government.
The reforms of the public employee system by Gov. Mitch Daniels and the General Assembly have made government leaner and more efficient. As a result, productivity and performance are on the rise: Business permits are now processed faster and BMV wait times are down. We also have the fewest number of state employees since 1975.
Reforms like introducing performance metrics, merit-based pay and employee bonuses are a good start to achieving a state government where Hoosier taxpayers see a good return for their tax dollars.
To align state government to support the kind of private-sector job growth necessary to get unemployed Hoosiers back to work, Indiana needs the best employees possible. As governor, I will continue to reward state employees for good performance and continually look for ways to attract, train and retain top employees.
I have long supported providing greater freedom in the workplace. Since collective bargaining for state employees ended in 2005, it is no surprise that few state employees choose to pay union dues, or that 90 percent of state employees choose health care packages that offer more freedom for health decisions. These changes not only improved state government, but also helped Indiana modernize its work force and maintain a strong fiscal position.
Recent reforms were not limited to state employees. Indiana’s teachers previously had a system where seniority, not performance, determined pay and employment status.
When cutbacks were necessary, many promising teachers were laid off because they did not have seniority. As a result, our children lost out on a quality education. I’m thankful that we now have a system where we can attract, train, pay and retain the best teachers.
Despite the progress made, there is much work to do. Good ideas in government begin with great employees, and I want to give state employees more incentives for creativity. For example, in addition to the current pay for performance and other incentives, we should consider additional rewards for cost-saving ideas.
As governor, I also will work to offer competitive pension benefits. Today’s young, mobile work force sees little value in pension benefits that accrue only if they work for state government for a certain number of years. The General Assembly took a step in this direction in 2011 when it authorized a program where most new employees could opt completely into a defined contribution pension system. In the future, we will consider additional steps to modernize state employee pensions.
Finally, our private-sector employees need the same freedoms our public-sector employees enjoy. Economic freedom means jobs and economic freedom begins in the workplace. No Hoosier worker should be compelled to join a union or pay dues as a condition of employment. I applaud the efforts of Daniels and our leaders in the General Assembly on this issue and as governor I will work to ensure the economic freedom of every Hoosier worker.
For state government to serve the goal of supporting private-sector job growth, it needs an innovative, flexible work force that is positioned to meet the challenges of the future. With recent changes, we have the tools in place to begin to recruit such a work force. As governor, I will seek the best and brightest talent for state government and continually re-evaluate and reform the employee policies needed to recruit and retain them.•
Mike Pence for Indiana announced today that it raised more than $5 million since announcing for governor last May. Since then, we have traveled across the state, visiting with Hoosiers in towns from Portage to Jeffersonville, from Fort Wayne to Evansville, from Terre Haute to Elkhart and plenty more in between. Your encouragement and support is the reason for the success we have had so far, and we look forward to building on this momentum in the months ahead as we work to create good jobs, great schools, safe streets and strong families for all Hoosiers.
