A teenage landscaping business that mowed lawns and plowed snow-covered driveways made enough money to inspire young Brad Chambers to become an entrepreneur. He used the profits to buy his first rental property and launch his business venture as a sophomore in college.
Decades later, that company, Buckingham Companies, has grown into a large real estate portfolio that helped fuel Chambers’ 2024 gubernatorial bid after two years as the state’s secretary of commerce.
“Although I was a determined student, I was not a natural student…and I am an experiential learner. And that was the basis of my life’s journey,” Chambers said. said.
Mr. Crouch has the most money heading into the gubernatorial final race.
But the $8 million loan to his campaign has not translated into support in various polls, with Sen. Mike Braun consistently leading by double digits. However, many voters remain undecided, and the campaign is not yet over.
Chambers, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and Eric Dowden have narrowed down the frontrunners in the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Eric Holcomb, followed by former Attorney General Curtis Hill and Jamie Lightner.
Although described as a “moderate” candidate, Mr Chambers emphasized his conservative nature and said he had voted for the party all his life. While bipartisan groups are encouraging him to Democrats vote for Republicans He supported Chambers in the upcoming gubernatorial primary, but said his campaign would not change.
“I’m speaking to (Republican primary) voters in Indiana…and that’s exactly what our message is focused on,” Chambers said.
Entrepreneurship and gubernatorial campaigns
Mr Chambers said his family emphasized the value of hard work from an early age, saying this was part of a “strong agricultural heritage” inherited from his father and grandfather, who grew up on farms. Told.
That work ethic was further encouraged by professors at Indiana University who encouraged his entrepreneurial spirit.
But while his father and family friends introduced the young Chambers to entrepreneurship, he says the same thing isn’t happening today to inspire the next generation of small business owners. Told. He noted that Kaufman’s Entrepreneurship Index ranks Indiana 44th in the nation for the percentage of people employed by young businesses.
“We’re full of really smart, innovative (and) creative people, but we don’t talk about it. We don’t fertilize,” Chambers said. “We do not support it in any meaningful way.”
at fishers Technology “Internet of Things” Lab In March, Chambers further detailed plans to help Indiana businesses aimed at fostering innovation, including a proposal to create a new cabinet position for entrepreneurs.
“Eighty-five percent of our economy is made up of small businesses,” Chambers said, citing several notable Hoosier entrepreneurs: Eli Lilly, simon brothers and Gene Glick “We have great entrepreneurs in this state, and with a little bit of time and effort, we could have even more.”
One of the ongoing efforts overseen by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) is one that Chambers led for two years under Holcomb. Connect INDprovides a navigator to explore potential resources for entrepreneurs.
Another idea will be further strengthened Innovate with INa year-long program for high school students that culminates in a statewide pitch competition.
To learn more about Chambers’ positions on a variety of issues, read the Indiana Capital Chronicle’s Q+A with six Republican gubernatorial candidates on the economy, education, taxes, the environment, and more.
Economic growth, driven in part by entrepreneurship, will allow Indiana to invest in schools, reduce Medicaid costs and invest in law enforcement, he said.
Chambers has consistently said he believes Indiana is great, but it can be even better, and the difference comes down to economics and ways to benefit single mothers who work two jobs. He said the goal was to grow the economy.
“I cannot accept that our average wage is below the US average. I cannot accept that mothers have to work two jobs. It’s unacceptable to me that we’re below the U.S. average. We’re not an average state,” Chambers said.
South Korean company invests nearly $4 billion in West Lafayette chip packaging facility
He cited his “Play to Win” economic proposal, stressing the need to attract high-paying jobs to increase wages, and record wage increases during his time leading the quasi-public agency. He pointed out that the IEDC reported that there was a high rate of investment and private investment.
His opponents have frequently attacked IEDC and, by extension, Chambers, arguing that IEDC spends too much time and money pursuing top companies, including Boone County’s LEAP Innovation District.
But securing larger investments is revitalizing some of Indiana’s smaller municipalities, he observed. One of America’s three “Fastest Cities to Die” In 2008, according to Forbes magazine.
“Right now, with $11 billion in economic development investments under construction, our economy is thriving,” Chambers said. “2,000 new homes are being built. Dairy Queen is doing better, (and) dry cleaners are doing better… Kokomo is going through a transformation from 2008 to 2025 and into 2025. , and continues to transform.”
“In these scenarios, a rising tide lifts all boats,” he concluded.
Much of Kokomo’s growth is due to Total investment of $6.3 billion At a battery manufacturing factory for electric vehicles.
Regarding LEAP, Chambers said it is an example of a long-term plan to revitalize the entire state of Indiana. If Indiana had prepared with something like LEAP, it could have prevented Intel’s $20 billion investment going to Ohio, he said.
Race situation
despite having Approval rate 69%an April poll from Indiana State Affairs/Howie Politics found that nearly all of Holcomb’s potential successors, including his second-in-command, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, have frequently criticized his executive actions. There is.
But Mr. Chambers chose not to go that route and gave the leadership to Mr. Holcomb. “A” letter grade In a debate on March 26th.
Mr Chambers dismissed the criticism as the act of a “career politician” trying to “score political points”.
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“They’re talking the point. It’s not the real facts,” Chambers said. “I saw what he accomplished, and by the way, I did too. We broke records for economic development. In my two years, we achieved more than in all of history. We did it for the sake of entrepreneurship.”
He called the career politician’s actions – the insults he hurled at other candidates, especially Brown – a surprise in his first foray into politics.
“I don’t think they have any respect for voters. I’ve tried to develop what we’re going to do through policy and tell voters what we’re going to do. ” Chambers said. “It’s an interesting journey in politics, but I’m a businessman. I’m running because I believe in this state. For me, this is a service job. It’s not a career change.”
But Chambers is modeled after former Gov. Mitch Daniels, who left his term as Purdue University’s president at the end of 2022 to head the foundation. In the March ad, Mr. Chambers labeled himself and Mr. Daniels political “outsiders.”
“He has a business background and brought a business problem-solving approach. I’m not going to say I’m going to be Gov. Mitch Daniels, I’m going to be Gov. Brad Chambers. But , that’s the pattern,” Chambers said.
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