Gubernatorial race focuses on state's future

Democrat Frank O'Bannon, the incumbent gubernatorial candidate, and running mate, Lt. Gov. Joe Kernan, are campaigning for re-election on a wide range of initiatives, including education, law enforcement and fuel usage. \nEducation, a key topic in this year's election, is a main priority for O'Bannon and Kernan. \n"Education is fundamental to everything we celebrate in Indiana, from a sound economy, to safer streets, to the overall quality of life," Kernan said.\nTheir elementary and secondary education improvement plan, which will cost $311 million dollars during the next four years, involves a wide variety of education-centered grants and allocations. The funding distribution includes:\n• $15 million each year, as well as $4 million annually, to train 500 specialized mathematics and reading teachers to bolster the state's lowest performing schools.\n• $4 million allocated by the State's General Fund to finance general elementary remediation.\n• $1.6 million for the biennium allocated for preliminary SAT funding.\nImprovements in Indiana's higher education institutions are main concerns for the candidates. Technological improvements, improved financial aid and efforts to retain graduates comprise the bulk of the spending efforts.\nJohn Grew, the governor's executive assistant for higher education, said O'Bannon's achievements in his previous term show his commitment to education.\n"One of the largest funding initiatives that focuses on higher education involves technological improvements in all of the state's secondary education facilities," Grew said.\nMore than $100 million allocated for technological improvements and future expenditures can be expected to include initiatives to complete the Internet 2 and supplement the Internet Academy program, which is designed to bring educational opportunities to students via the Internet. \nStrong bonds with the universities themselves have also been developed to improve technology, Kernan said.\n"(IU President Myles) Brand and IU are very supportive in these efforts, as well as the General Assembly, by directing $50 million to the projects," said Kernan. "There are exciting days ahead in terms of stronger links among the state government, our universities and the private sector in Indiana."\nWith the trend of escalating fuel costs still in effect, O'Bannon plans to continue his efforts to obtain federal support for low income heating assistance programs and promote the use of alternative fuel sources.\n"The governor sent a letter to President Clinton to request an increase in the amount of money that would be available to low income heating assistance programs and the state has received an additional $10 million as a result of the federal government making the money available," Kernan said.\nThese funding efforts will continue to be supplemented with home improvement programs, such as winterization, funded by the state. \nThad Nation, O'Bannon's campaign spokesman, said, "Caulking windows and sealing door frames are some of the small things the state can and will do to help residents prepare for winter." \nO'Bannon is encouraging utility companies to allow residents to pay their winter bills over a period of time that will reach into the spring months when fuel needs to taper off.\nWhile these efforts fix problems for the moment, O'Bannon and Kernan are continuing to look toward the future by supporting renewable fuel sources to limit future fuel cost increases.\n"It would make sense to put in place a strategic plan to take advantage of renewable fuels such as ethanol and soy diesel," Kernan said.