Kernan looks to next 15 months

While the state is mourning the death of Gov. Frank O'Bannon, the business of the state must go on.\nAnd while O'Bannon is no longer governor, local legislators say his ideals and agenda will live on through Joe Kernan's administration.\nRep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, said Indiana business will not greatly change because Kernan will continue the policies O'Bannon laid out. Pierce said Kernan, like O'Bannon, will focus on education and economic development in Indiana.\nJeff Harris, a spokesman for Sen. Vi Simpson, said while this is a sad time, Simpson believes the state is in good hands with Kernan and she expects the services in the state to continue "without a hitch."\nMost legislators agree that politics should not be the state's focus right now, out of respect for Gov. O'Bannon. \nHarris said Simpson, who is running for governor in 2004, has halted campaign activity. He said her staff is uncertain when her campaign will be restarted, and they are taking it day-by-day.\nHarris said it's too early to tell if Simpson will run her campaign differently due to the governor's death. He said Simpson and O'Bannon were good friends, and she is grieving from a great loss.\nRep. Peggy Welch said while Kernan does not have any intention right now of running for governor in 2004, he might feel differently once he has served in office for the remaining 15 months. \n"Joe (Kernan) is a man of principle, integrity and character," Welch said. "He had his own reasons, whatever they were, that he wasn't going to run."\nHowever, Welch said if Kernan decides to run, she believes Indiana Democrats would choose to rally around his decision.\nAnd while politics is not the front-running issue right now, Pierce and Welch agree the next step to take in the state's affairs is for Gov. Kernan to appoint a new lieutenant governor.\nWelch said it is imperative to the state to fill the office as soon as possible. \n"That office is responsible for many things and it is a person who helps represent the state," she said. "It's got to be a person qualified for, as we have learned, being just a heart-beat away from the governorship."\nRep. Pierce said only Gov. Kernan can call the Indiana General Assembly into a special session in order to receive approval for a new Lt. Gov. appointment. Pierce said the session should only last a matter of hours and cannot speculate when the governor will call it.\nWelch said because the General Assembly has a Republican-controlled senate and a Democrat-controlled house, Kernan will probably take into consideration both parties even though President Pro Tempore Robert Garton said the General Assembly would be as accommodating as possible. \n"It must be someone who will be able to step in with experience," she said. "I have total confidence in Joe Kernan."\nThough some people have speculated former first lady Judy O'Bannon as a possible candidate for Lt. Gov., Pierce said he has no knowledge of her plans.\n"I think she is a very accomplished woman," he said. "I think people will always be interested in what she has to say. It will be up to her to stay in public affairs or retreat to a private life."\nWelch said Judy O'Bannon is still involved in many state projects, though out of consideration for her, she will be accommodated and welcomed in whatever her decision will be. \n"I think she would be encouraged to continue to be involved," she said. "Right now she just needs to grieve."\n-- Contact staff writer Christina Galoozis at cgaloozi@indiana.edu.