By Sheryl Prentice
The News Sun
LIGONIER, Ind. — Brad Chambers, a Republican gubernatorial candidate for the Indiana primary in May, made a whistle stop in Ligonier on Friday to listen to what community residents have on their minds.
Chambers and two staff members stopped in at Grounded Coffee in downtown Ligonier. Chambers said he had made about 300 stops all over Indiana, just like this one, since he declared his candidacy for governor on Aug. 17, 2023.
Chambers has been an entrepreneur since college at Indiana University, when he started a lawn care business to pay his way.
“I’m the only guy who started from zero,” he said.
Chambers said he was a political outsider, which he defined as a person who has not served in elective office. He has served at the state level, however. He was chairman of the Indiana State Fair for five years, with the new swine barn as one of his successful projects.
Gov. Eric Holcomb asked Chambers to serve a two-year term as state Secretary of Commerce, where the Indiana Economic Development Corporation charted nearly $51 billion in committed capital investments under his leadership. Chambers said he took the job for $1 a year and stepped away from his real estate business of 40 years in order to serve at the Department of Commerce.
Chambers said gratitude for his many opportunities is what motivated him to run for governor of Indiana.
“I’m grateful to access the American Dream in Indiana,” he said. “I’m grounded in gratitude.”
Chambers believes Indiana is a great state but is not optimizing its potential.
“It starts with lifting people up and growing the economy, and higher wages,” he said. That policy will fix education, support the police and first responders, and invest in health and child care.
Chambers said his definition of Hoosier values is hard work, faith, community, helping “the least of these,” optimism and respect for Indiana’s agricultural heritage.
If elected as governor in November, Chambers said he will set a bold vision an aspirations for the future of Indiana, then act on it. He believes that bold vision will attract and keep younger people in the state to live and work.
Career politicians can’t implement a bold vision because they make decisions for a three-year window, Chambers said, adding “You need fresh eyes.”