Jill 2008: Jill Long Thompson for Governor

INDIANAPOLIS - Today Democratic Gubernatorial nominee Jill Long Thompson named 12 mayors from around the state as co-chairs of her campaign's newly created "Mayors for Jill Committee."

The committee will assist the Long Thompson campaign in developing policy, fundraising and voter outreach. The leadership team has also been charged with recruiting and engaging other Indiana mayors throughout the state in the campaign.

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RICHMOND, Ind. - Visiting counties with some of the state's highest unemployment rates, today Jill Long Thompson and Dennie Oxley continued their "Hoosier Hometown Tour" in East Central Indiana.

The Democratic nominees for Governor and Lieutenant Governor made stops in Henry, Wayne, Fayette, Shelby and Union Counties on Monday.

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INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana's struggling economy took another hit today as the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the state lost 17,900 more jobs in June.   

Indiana's unemployment rate jumped from 5.3 percent in May to 5.8 percent in June, the largest rate increase in the nation. The report also showed that Indiana had 43,800 fewer jobs compared to June of 2007. 

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INDIANAPOLIS- Residents of northern Indiana received more bad news today, as RV makerMonaco Coach Corporation announced it is eliminating 1,400 good-paying jobs atthree plants in Elkhart County. The company, which built Governor Mitch Daniels'RV1, is transferring some of those jobs to its facilities in Oregon.

"Myheart goes out to all of the workers and their families who will be impacted bythis latest string of plant closings," said Jill Long Thompson. "This isanother clear sign of why Indiana desperately needs a change in direction and achange in leadership."

"Indianais a world-recognized leader in the production of RV's. We have a strong,highly skilled workforce that knows how to produce them quickly andefficiently. The problem isn't our workforce - it's the economic climate thatthe Daniels administration has created.  Becauseof his leadership, Indiana is a less attractive state to do business in comparedto other states. That's why these jobs are going to Oregon as opposed tostaying here."

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INDIANAPOLIS- Today Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jill Long Thompson issued thefollowing statement in response to state's fiscal year close-out numbers, whichreport a projected $1.4 billion surplus.

"Today's news is furtherproof that Mitch Daniels can and should take immediate action to help the hardworking Hoosier families that his policies and failed leadership have hurt most.

This surplus was createdon the backs of working people - through the increases in property, sales,cigarette and local taxes that Mitch Daniels forced through - and he shouldgive it back.  All across Indiana,Hoosiers are struggling to cope with the skyrocketing costs of health care,food, fuel, taxes and even their mortgage payments while state government issitting on this windfall.

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LINTON,Ind. - Continuing to engage Hoosiers in often ignored small towns, Jill LongThompson and Dennie Oxley began the second leg of their "Hoosier Hometown Tour"in Southern Indiana today. 

This weekthe Democratic candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor plan to makestops in Linton, Washington, Tell City, Petersburg, Mount Vernon, Evansville,Boonville, Corydon, Salem, Scottsburg, Loogootee, Jasper, Clinton and Sullivan,among others.  The pair, which stopped in22 different communities last week, is visiting rural communities todemonstrate their commitment to representing all of Indiana as the state's next Governor and Lieutenant Governor.

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INDIANAPOLIS- Showing considerable financial strength, today the campaign of Democraticgubernatorial nominee Jill Long Thompson officially released its fundraisingtotals for the second quarter of 2008.

Thecampaign raised $1.6 million in the period compared to incumbent Governor MitchDaniels $1.8 million.

"Weare extremely happy with these figures," said Travis Lowe, Long Thompsoncampaign manager. "Not only are Jill's numbers on par with other nationallytargeted races, the fact that we nearly matched an incumbent  Governor'sfundraising says a great deal about the strength of this campaign and MitchDaniels' vulnerability."

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INDIANAPOLIS- Adding to the momentum of Jill Long Thompson and Dennie Oxley's campaign torestore Indiana's promise, today the International Brotherhood of ElectricalWorkers (IBEW) Construction Conference officially announced their support.   

 "I am so pleased that the InternationalBrotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Construction Conference has endorsedJill Long Thompson for Governor," said Jeff Lohman, IBEW's International VicePresident. "The working men and women of this state need someone in the Governor'soffice who is looking out for them - and that's exactly what Jill Long Thompsonand Dennie Oxley have done their entire careers."

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INDIANAPOLIS- In a sign of her strong commitment to public safety, today DemocraticGubernatorial nominee Jill Long Thompson named three prominent Indiana sheriffsto her campaign's leadership team.

MarionCounty Sheriff Frank Anderson, Lake County Sheriff Roy Dominguez and DuboisCounty Sheriff Terry Tanner will serve as co-chairs of her campaign's "LawEnforcement for Jill Committee."

"Locallaw enforcement officials need a partner in the Governor's office, and that isexactly what Jill Long Thompson will be," said Sheriff Anderson. "Jill has along record of supporting public safety and has shown a willingness to listento our needs and to work with us. 

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In another sign of their commitment toall citizens and communities, and in conjunction with the start ofIndiana Black Expo, today Jill Long Thompson and Dennie Oxley announceda series of initiatives designed to more fully engage all citizens inIndiana's economic future.

"Both Dennie and I strongly believe that every community and everycitizen matters - and that all Hoosiers should have the opportunity tofulfill their God-given potential," said Long Thompson. "The challengeswe face are too great to not maximize the diverse talents of all ourcitizens. However, today in Indiana too many people and places arebeing left out and left behind - and that must change."

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