Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Rob Parker, left, listens as former Indiana Commerce Secretary and GOP gubernatorial candidate Brad Chambers speaks during a forum on Monday, April 15, at the Zimmer Biomet Center Lake Pavilion. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Former Indiana Commerce Secretary Brad Chambers shared his views on the drug epidemic, economic development and more while in Warsaw on Monday, April 15.

Chambers, who is running as a Republican for governor, answered questions posed by Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Rob Parker during a public forum at the Zimmer Biomet Center Lake Pavilion. Parker quizzed Chambers on the same topics that three other Republican gubernatorial candidates answered during a chamber forum on March 25.

The first question Parker asked regarded Chambers introducing himself and why he wanted to be governor.

“I’m passionate about Indiana, and I believe there’s a better future out there for us,” said Chambers. “(As) an outside business guy, I believe fresh eyes are needed this time in our state history to go bring that future to keep our kids and our grandkids here. To grow our economy, to shrink government and to fix problems, I think it takes a real serious problem-solver and business person (and) CEO, not a career politician.”

“It took every ounce of faith and courage for (my wife) Carol and I to answer this call,” he said. “I never had on my to-do list in my 59 years running for political office, let alone the governor’s office, but here I am, and I’m passionate about it.”

Chambers referenced his time spent as commerce secretary and noted he’d traveled across the state meeting with voters.

He compared Hoosiers to the “customers” he’s had during his 40 years in business.

“You guys are the customers: the voters and taxpayers are the customers, so I think it’s critically important to be a good listener, and that has formulated our policies as we’ve been rolling around (the state),” said Chambers.

Parker also asked Chambers about fentanyl and how he would “curb this epidemic.”

“It’s a tragedy of epic proportions, and it’s because of failed border (policies),” said Chambers. “Failed border policies have now become a state problem because of fentanyl, because of illegal immigration that’s ending up in our state.”

He said he wanted to create a “multidisciplinary task force with many different jurisdictions statewide to give support to smaller communities to make sure they (have resources to fight fentanyl).”

Chambers also said he wanted to ensure bail was being used properly so those accused of committing more serious offenses were “not back on the street the very next day.”

He also said he wanted to “create behavioral health centers to … help this increase in mental health challenges.”

Parker also asked Chambers about economic development and helping “stimulate” it throughout the state and “in rural areas that are really struggling.”

Chambers said as commerce secretary he focused on “higher wages” more than jobs.

He also noted the work he’d done to attract industry to the state, including helping a semiconductor plant come to Tipton County.

“It’s about keeping our kids and our grandkids here to grow our economy into the future,” said Chambers.

He said more than half of the investment which came about when he was commerce secretary was in more rural or “mixed rural areas.”

“It’s super important to push that industry growth into the rural communities,” Chambers said.