Gubernatorial candidates focus on Indiana jobs - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Mike Pence and John Gregg each have their own ideas for creating jobs. But at least one unemployed Hoosier says their campaign promises don't mean anything to him.

John Bond doesn't realize the current race for governor is about he and hundreds of thousands of other Hoosiers just like him who are unemployed or under-employed.

"You just gotta get what you can now. If there is a job available, bills need to be paid. No sense sitting around," Bond said.

"I think we have to make job creation job one. Everywhere I go in the Hoosier State, our message has been very clear. It's time to take our state from reform to results," Pence said.

So Pence is proposing the creation of the Indiana Applied Research Enterprise to accelerate the path for innovations to get to the marketplace. He also wants to create the Executive Innovation Network to better partner business and capital with university-based innovation. Finally, he wants to create a jobs cabinet comprised of Indiana CEOs to serve as ambassadors for Indiana in this country and the world.

"We will make this the place to be for those who want to make the most of their discoveries," Pence said.

"We are going to bank on Indiana by banking in Indiana," said Gregg.

Gregg, the Democratic candidate for governor, is taking a different tack. He says Indiana's money should not always be invested in Wall Street. He wants to keep more state money in the state, to be able to make loans to Indiana's small families and small businesses. He is also calling for the end of what he calls the "no strings attached" gifts to out-of-state corporations.

"We are going to enact real claw back provisions and laws that ensure fairness and transparency and I think that is important for all the IEDC incentive packages," Gregg said.

But the question is - will those people directly affected by what the gubernatorial candidates are proposing think these ideas will actually help?

"I really don't think it matters. Personally, I think it is up to the individual. I actually have three jobs and I've just recently gotten out of the penitentiary, so I think it is up to the person. There are jobs out here," Bond said.