MAGGIE KERNAN ENDORSES JILL LONG THOMPSON

In what must make interesting table talk, Maggie Kernan has endorsed Jill Long Thompson for governor. Joe Kernan recently decided to back Jim Schellinger, an Indianapolis CEO and political neophyte. Maggie Kernan has known Long Thompson for many years and is confident she would be an outstanding governor.

The race for Indiana governor on the Democrats side has been somewhat unusual. Originally three candidates had thrown their hats into the ring: Richard Young, Jim Schellinger, and Jill Long Thompson. Richard Young withdrew early on, leaving Long Thompson and Schellinger to fight it out. Although Long Thompson entered the race much later than Young and Schellinger, she has managed to take the lead and remain ahead in the polls.

Jill has run what some may see as a low-key campaign with much less money than her opponent. Yet she appears to be heading for a victory on May 6th. Maggie Kernan’s support is an important boost to Jill’s campaign.

NORTHWEST LEGISLATORS ENDORSE LONG THOMPSON

Democrat gubernatorial candidate Jill Long Thompson has been endorsed by five Northwest Indiana legislators. At a campaign rally in East Chicago this week, the following legislators threw their support to Long Thompson:

• State Senator Karen Tallian, D-Ogden Dunes
• State Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary
• State Rep. Linda Lawson, D-Hammond
• State Rep. Dan Stevenson, D-Highland
• State Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, D-Munster

Jill Long Thompson, a former congresswoman and former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development, faces Indianapolis architect Jim Schellinger in the May 6th Democrat primary. The winner of that primary will face Republican incumbent Mitch Daniels in November.

Long Thompson has also been endorsed by five Indiana Teamsters locals, the United Steelworkers, the Service Employee International Union, Communication Workers of America, the American Federation of Government Employees, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, the United Transportation Union and Local #446 of Association of Federal, State, County and Municipal Employees.

Even though Schellinger has raised more money than Long Thompson and, early on, received the blessing of some of the higher ups in the state Democratic Party, he has failed to convert those assets to his benefit. He is a CEO and, frankly, I think Hoosiers have become leary of business leaders who attempt to convert themselves to politicians – a la Daniels.

By Schellinger’s own admission he is “new” at this. Do we really want someone who is inexperienced in the realm of politics taking the helm of our state? The answer is no. Come May 6th, Hoosier voters will have the opportunity to select Jill Long Thompson, a Hoosier with strong rural and working class ties who was educated in Indiana, knows Indiana, loves Indiana, and will bring Indiana “back on track” from the destructive and exploitative course set by Daniels.

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