2 join mayor in statewide race

Bloomington Mayor John Fernandez isn't the only one with his eye on the Indiana secretary of state office. \nTwo others have made clear that they intend to run for the seat, which oversees business, securities and elections. It will be vacated in 2002 by Republican Sue Anne Gilroy at the end of her second term.\nMike Delph, an aide to U.S. Representative Dan Burton (R-Ind.), filed papers with the state to create an exploratory committee. Under Indiana law, it's a necessary first step to begin fund-raising.\nDeputy Secretary of State Todd Rokita plans on squaring off against Delph for the Republican nomination. Rokita, who also serves as chief of staff for the office, has worked with Gilroy for the past four years.\n"Secretary of state is too often used as a springboard for higher office," he said. "I think I already have the best job in America. Officials from Nevada and California come down and are amazed that I can cut the budget by 15 percent and still keep services and start up e-government."\nRokita has not yet formally filed his candidacy, which he said he plans to do in the next month. There's no hurry -- he has until the Republican state convention in May 2002. \nRokita has a similar agenda to Gilroy, who has held the office since 1994.\n"I'd like to make Indiana a nationwide model for e-government, see other states follow our lead," he said. "And of course the first priority is election reform. I'd like to create a statewide voter file to prevent fraud."\nGilroy's office is pursuing that goal in the General Assembly, among other election reform measures. Fernandez has touted the issue as the cornerstone of his campaign.\nDespite his inside position in the secretary of state's office, Rokita doesn't expect to coast to the nomination -- or the office, which is usually won by Republicans.\n"I plan to earn it by working very hard to tell the people of Indiana my story, to show them how qualified I am," he said. "The voters need a public servant who's actually interested in public service."\nDelph, now a district director for Burton, also prides himself on his experience. An alumnus, Delph has worked for four years for Burton, who represents much of suburban Indianapolis. \nBesides his employment in the Congressman's Indianapolis and Washington offices, Delph has served as a GOP state delegate and a precinct committeeman. He helped draft the Indiana Republican platform and observed elections in Nicaragua and Mongolia.\n"It is an honor and a privilege to live in a country where we enjoy the freedom to seek public office," Delph said in a press release. "Having begun the process of traveling around the state, I look forward to meeting more of my fellow Hoosiers, getting to know them better and listening to their views on how we can make our state an even better place to live."\nAlly Hedrick, a former Burton aide who's heading up Delph's campaign, said he'll likely focus on boosting voter turnout.\n"He'll be coming out with a detailed platform soon," she said. "Right now, he's focusing on meeting with delegates."\nLongtime Indiana businessman Don Marsh, who owns the Marsh supermarket chain, chairs Delph's exploratory committee. \n"Mike is a very bright and energetic young man," he said. "He has the right leadership style for Indiana and will make an outstanding secretary of state."\nFernandez, the only Democrat to express interest in the office, filed papers of candidacy Jan. 26.