Democratic candidate for governor Jennifer McCormick told voters in Gary Thursday that the area students deserve better state support.
As former state superintendent, McCormick said she often visited Gary schools and would leave with the feeling that “your kids deserve better than what’s happening.” This school year marked the first year back under local control after a seven-year state takeover.
In 2017, Gary became the first district in Indiana taken over by the state. A convergence of events, from declining enrollment to the impact of property tax caps led to a $23 million annual deficit and more than $100 million in long-term debt.
Gary fell under state control when its cratering finances caught the eye of state lawmakers who crafted a bill vesting governing authority of the urban school district to the state Distressed Unit Appeal Board, a state agency that monitors the financial health of districts.
The DUAB hired MGT Consulting, a Florida-based education management company, to govern the district without input from an elected school board, which was stripped of authority.
MGT experienced a rocky seven-year reign, but under former emergency manager Paige McNulty, voters backed a $72.1 million referendum in 2020 that kept the district afloat and convinced state officials that residents wanted their district back.
“You know what Indianapolis’ answer was? We’ll just take over and control everything,” McCormick said. “We have to have local control to make local betterment. But, you have to have support from the top that will support and guide, not control and command.”
McCormick said it’s time Indiana had a governor who will stand up for the students and academic freedom.
“And not making this nonsense up where we can talk about history but we gotta pretend like slavery didn’t happen or we can read books but we can’t read this set of books,” McCormick said. “When people are controlling what we learn they want to control our minds, and that’s not good.”
McCormick and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Valerie McCray met with voters Thursday at the Northwest Indiana Kamala Harris Headquarters in Gary. About 25 people sat in the backroom of the headquarters to learn about the candidates.
As governor, McCormick said she would fight for health care access, good paying jobs and lowering the costs of everyday goods, housing and healthcare. Specific to Northwest Indiana, McCormick said she’d address how the area has been “carved out” of healthcare access, school funding and affordable housing, among other things.
“You can’t do it alone,” McCormick said. “You are a powerful entity in the state of Indiana and you deserve better than being ignored. Get me in there, and it’ll be a new day for you. I promise I will not forget Northwest Indiana and I certainly will not forget Gary, Indiana.”
McCormick said she’s confident that she will become the state’s next governor because “we deserve better.” McCormick said she’s heard from voters that they want change, and her response to them is to vote.
“We cannot settle for extremism to take over the state of Indiana,” McCormick said. “You cannot expect a party who has led for 20 years under a supermajority to change their minds. They’re never going to change their minds. We have to change the people, get more Democrats in, to bring back common sense and balance.”
McCormick said she’s been working to get the word out about her campaign through commercials, which are “real and not made up,” referencing Republican Senator Mike Braun’s campaign releasing altered campaign commercials claiming McCormick is against gas stoves.
“All of that is fabricated. I am not anti-gas stoves. I haven’t used a stove in 18 months because I’ve been a little busy. But I don’t care what kind of stove you use, we have bigger issues to solve,” McCormick said.
Voters have to make a voting plan, make sure their family and friends have a voting plan and then follow through on that plan, McCormick said. If Democrats turn out, the country will see its first woman president and Indiana will see its first woman governor, she said.
In 2008, Indiana voted for Barack Obama, so it is possible for the state to flip Democratic in November, McCormick said.
“We gotta remember, it can be done,” McCormick said.
McCray said when each of the voters in the room head to the polls, they should make sure they bring other registered voters with them to cast their ballots as well.
“When we vote, we win,” McCray said. “We have to turn out in droves.”
State Senator Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago, said the decision for the country’s future is in voters’ hands.
“We don’t want to be in the position of saying I would’ve, should’ve, could’ve. We want to be in the position where we’re going to have someone that’s going to look for our best interests,” Randolph said.
Helen Lipscomb, of East Chicago, said she enjoyed hearing from McCormick because she spoke well about the issues facing Hoosiers. Lipscomb said McCormick secured her vote and could very likely win the election.
“I feel strongly that she will. She has the confidence,” Lipscomb said.
Mary Bonnema, of Griffith, said Vice President Kamala Harris at the top of the Democratic ticket will help all Democratic candidates on the ballot.
“I do think the chances are decent. I think Harris at the top will bring people in,” Bonnema said.
