Hoosiers want change at Statehouse

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - Education seems to be the theme and what's on the mind of most Hoosiers during this year's election.

"The next governor, I want education to be the No. 1 priority for the teachers and public schools," Lafayette resident Susie Newett said. "I want testing and evaluation of the teachers to be changed."

"Having money for education and making sure public schools have all the funding they need to have all of their programs," Lafayette resident Jenny Blackburn said.

Wednesday night, all three candidates for Indiana's next governor, Republican Mike Pence, Democrat John Gregg and Libertarian Rupert Boneham, faced off in their first of three debates.

Before the debate started Wednesday, some Hoosier voters said they'd tune in and other said they didn't have any interest.

But those who said they'll keep a close eye on the debate said they would use the opportunity to learn more about each individual candidate.

"I want to watch them because I really know very little about any of the candidates other than their ads on TV," Lafayette resident Trish Peterson said.

"I will watch just to listen to them and see what they have to offer," Newett said.

While all three candidates have promised to cut taxes, and support job creation and education if elected governor next month, residents said they just hope to see the next governor stick to his words and bring some change to the State House.

"I think the next governor needs to keep our spending down, keep our budgets balanced and hopefully keep my taxes low," Kentland resident Dan Voglund said.