The Hoosier Environmental Council hosted a lieutenant governor candidate conversation on the environment on Thursday, October 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the Indiana History Center, 450 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis.

Hoosier Environmental Council Executive Director Jesse Kharbanda says the November 2012 governor’s race will have far-reaching consequences for Indiana’s environmental future. The candidates for governor have so far expressed different views on tackling air & water pollution, and advancing new kinds of energy and transportation systems.

Kharbanda says, “The next Governor and Lieutenant Governor have a tremendous opportunity to position Indiana as a public policy innovator where we simultaneously grow job-generating sectors, like clean energy and green infrastructure, while reducing toxic pollutants that ultimately hurt our quality of life.”

Democratic candidate, Senator Vi Simpson, and Libertarian candidate, Brad Klopfenstein participated. While Representative Sue Ellspermann, the Republican lieutenant gubernatorial nominee, offered to meet with HEC individually, her campaign unfortunately declined to participate in this exchange. Ellspermann was not responsive to a personal, follow-up invitation, a half-ad placed in her hometown newspaper, or to social media engagement.

Marianne Holland, formerly Statehouse Bureau Chief for IPBS, moderated. The debate began with questions crafted by the Hoosier Environmental Council and its partners. Candidates then took questions from the audience.

The event was co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Indiana, the Indiana Public Health Association, the Indiana Citizens’ Alliance for Transit, and the Indiana Conservation Alliance.

About Hoosier Environmental Council

Founded in 1983, the Hoosier Environmental Council (HEC) is the largest, statewide environmental policy organization in Indiana. HEC aims to set a new path for Indiana, embracing practices and policies that dramatically reduce the footprint of transportation, industry, commerce, and agriculture on the environment.

Visit http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hoosier-environmental-council#/recorded/26078109 to view the conversation.