Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Former Bayh Advisor Sugar Considering Gubernatorial Bid

State of Indiana
/
http://www.in.gov/

A longtime adviser to former Governor Evan Bayh says he'll decide in a month or so whether to run for governor himself.

Former Bayh chief of staff Tom Sugar founded the nonprofit Lead or Leave to push for redistricting reform in Indiana.

He says several Democrats urged him to run as he traveled the state to promote that issue. Sugar says election reform will be the centerpiece of his campaign if he decides to run.

He's already part of a legislative study committee which will examine the issue this summer and next, but predicts it'll be difficult to persuade lawmakers to give up what he says has been a critical perk of drawing their own districts.

He says it may take a political campaign built on the issue to rally public support for changing what he calls a broken system. Sugar argues redistricting must be reformed before the state can hope to tackle other issues, from raising wages to improving education.

He contends the proliferation of safe seats makes it impossible to accomplish long-term change.

And Sugar charges GOP supermajorities built in part on how districts are drawn have removed the system's natural checks and balances.