M. Pence	S. Ellspermann	J. Gregg	V. Simpson

Here are the announcements released by both campaigns:

Pence chooses Sue Ellspermann as Lieutenant Governor candidate 

FERDINAND - Republican nominee for governor Mike Pence introduced Sue Ellspermann as his running mate at a rally in her hometown of Ferdinand today (May 21).

"Sue Ellspermann has the integrity, business background and experience in state government that will make her a great Lt. Governor," said Pence.  "She will be a tremendous asset as we work to bring more jobs to Indiana."

Ellspermann has had a very successful career in engineering and management. She holds a bachelor's degree and a PhD in industrial engineering from Purdue and the University of Louisville. Ellspermann founded her own consulting business, which she ran for 20 years before joining the University of Southern Indiana in 2006 as the Director of the Center for Applied Research and Economic Development.

In 2010, Ellspermann decided to run for the Indiana House of Representatives to help tackle the multitude of challenges facing rural Indiana. She was elected to represent Dubois, Perry, Spencer and Warrick counties. Ellspermann served as vice chair of Employment, Labor and Pensions Committee and was a member of the Small Business, Commerce and Economic Development Committee and Election and Apportionment Committee.

"Mike Pence's top priority is job creation," said Ellspermann.  "As an engineer, I understand the importance of technical skills development in our workforce to attract high wage, high tech jobs to Indiana."

Ellspermann and her husband, Jim, live in Ferdinand. They have four adult daughters.

For more information on Mike Pence and Sue Ellspermann, visit www.mikepence.com.

Gregg introduces State Senator Vi Simpson as choice for Lieutenant Governor

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Gregg today (May 22) introduced State Senator Vi Simpson (D-Ellettsville) as his running mate for the 2012 election.

“I am honored and humbled that my friend, an outstanding Hoosier, has agreed to join me in this race – a race where we’re focused on growing good-paying jobs and boosting Indiana’s economy,” Gregg said on the south steps of the Indiana Statehouse.  “Vi has served her community and her state so well, and there is no doubt she is the best person for this job.  She is prepared and ready to take on leadership at the highest level of state government.”

“Vi’s experience in the legislature, in business advocacy and in local government, make her the perfect fit for our team,” Gregg continued. “She has a vast knowledge of the state’s budget, tax structure and economic development programs, and she has been a leader in forcing the current administration to own up to their numerous financial gaffes.”

As state senator, Simpson has worked to make health care more affordable and accessible for all Hoosiers. She has been a tireless advocate for improving Indiana's public schools and universities.  In addition, she has led the fight to restructure the state's economy so businesses and workers can more effectively compete in the global marketplace.

“The time is right for a governor like John Gregg,” Simpson said. “He wants to get things done for Hoosiers, and he wants to do it in a bipartisan way.  He not only understands the value of providing high-quality education to our young people, he knows that education is crucially important to our children’s and our state’s future success.

“I can assure you we will be talking about what matters most here:  growing and attracting companies that will lead to new jobs for Hoosiers,” Simpson added. “Unlike our opponents, we know that social issues should be on the back burner for this election. There’s too much at stake to focus on anything other than getting our state back on track and back to work.”

First elected to the Senate in 1984, Simpson was elected Democrat Leader by the Senate Democrat Caucus in 2008. She previously served two years as Assistant Democrat Leader from 2006 to 2008. Among her many legislative accomplishments: authoring legislation that created Indiana's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which has become a national model for delivering cost-effective health services to uninsured children; creating nationally-recognized legislation that addresses voluntary environmental cleanups; initiating the debate on tax restructuring and property tax reform that led to the passage of historic legislation that revamped the state's entire tax code.

Simpson, who served as Monroe County Auditor before joining the Indiana General Assembly, received her law degree from Indiana University School of Law. She has two adult children and four grandchildren. She resides in Ellettsville with her husband, former state senator Bill McCarty.

For more information on Senator Vi Simpson, vist www.greggforgovernor.com/vi-simpson.html. For more information on the Gregg for Governor campaign, please go to www.greggforgovernor.com. You can also learn about the campaign through Facebook at www.facebook.com/greggforgovernor and Twitter at www.twitter.com/greggforgov.