Gubernatorial candidate Gregg campaigns in Bloomington

A man sporting a mustache has not been elected Indiana governor since 1808.
John Gregg, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, could change that
this year.

Gregg visited the Monroe County Building Association meeting Thursday to discuss his campaign.

“Oh,” said Keith Hanson, a sales manager at Menards, as Gregg took his place at the front of the dining hall. “His bumper stickers now make sense.”

Gregg’s logo is a sweeping blue mustache.
Several political columnists have predicted Gregg will not beat his opponent, U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, R-2nd District, in November.

Pence has outspent and is more familiar to constituents than Gregg.

The event started a little late. Gregg sat down with a plate of food at noon, when he was to begin speaking.

A chair of the building association led the Pledge of Allegiance and listed multiple sponsors.

“At this time, we’ll bring Mr. Gregg up here,” he said. There was a pause. “Here he is.”
Gregg was in mid-bite. He walked to the front of the room, swallowing. After minor difficulty withthe microphone, he started to speak. He thanked the chairman for the shortest introduction he’s ever had, and the crowd chuckled.

Gregg spent the first few minutes making up for the short preface. He explained his history as a Hoosier who put himself through a bachelor’s at IU and law school in Indianapolis. He spoke about his 16 years in the Indiana House but said he doesn’t consider himself a career politician.

He said his goal as governor would be to bring back the days when congressmen from both parties worked together.

He said he wants politicians to consider ideas rather than party labels.
“If you’re a person who thinks ideas are good or bad, and you’re an idealist ... give me a shot,” he said.

Gregg outlined his vision for Indiana, a future that includes opportunities in energy, agriculture, research and manufacturing.

As he talked, people who had gazed down at their plates began to sit up. They unfolded their arms. Some began to lean forward, watching and nodding.

He talked long about education. His own was from public institutions, he said, and he’s sick of what he calls a war on public education institutions.

“I tell people the day I’m elected, the war on those institutions will end,” Gregg said.
He said he wants teachers and parents to have a voice in the decisions about public education. He wants that governance to be bottom-up.

This comes just a week after Pence said Pell Grants should be given to students, but those who fail

to graduate in four years with a university-approved class plan should have the rest of their education covered by the university rather than by using government funds.
Gregg stopped in the middle of his speech, looked down and shook his head.
“We spend a lot of time in Indianapolis picking on people,” he said.

Hoosiers can’t even agree on basketball tournaments and time zones, he continued. The crowd laughed.

“Thank you for laughing, but it’s true,” he said.

He ended on a light note, though.

He mentioned the last mustached governor and he said his odds aren’t that bad despite the facial hair.

His opponent is a sitting member of Congress, and Indiana hasn’t elected one of those for governor since 1888.

Gregg said people will march into the polls in November, and they’ll
wonder whether they should elect the guy with the mustache or the one in Congress.

“Well,” he said, “the answer is right under your nose.”