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Video Interview with Steve Bonney, by
Steven Higgs |
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Please make us aware of any Media source that is reporting on or talking about Steve Bonney's Campaign to be Indiana's next Governor, so that we may share it with everyone. You can email us the link (supporter@bonneyforgov.com) or snail mail the article (contact us). West Lafayette farmer optimistic about getting on ballot By
Dorothy Schneider •
dschneider@journalandcourier.com Steve Bonney has spent the past few months traveling the state to go "wherever people are" in hopes of getting their signatures. The West Lafayette organic farmer is fighting for a spot in the governor's race -- but has to collect the signatures of 32,742 registered voters by June 30 to get on Indiana's ballot as an independent candidate. Bonney said he's within 10,000 signatures of his goal. "We've got a full head of steam," he said. "There are people across the political spectrum helping us." Bonney, with running mate Lori Olivier of Indianapolis, hopes to face incumbent Gov. Mitch Daniels, a Republican, and Democratic challenger Jill Long Thompson in November's general election. Rae Schnapp of Lafayette considers herself an independent voter and is supporting Bonney largely because of his focus on small-business development. She likes ideas for keeping dollars in the community -- by encouraging local production and food supply. "People are fed up with politics as usual," Schnapp said. "I have run into a lot of people who are disgruntled with the party they've been affiliated with for years, whichever party that is." Greg Jones of Warren County, also a Bonney supporter, is excited about the candidate's focus on the environment and quality of life. Given how high fuel prices have impacted produce costs in supermarkets, Bonney said there's a perfect opportunity to encourage small Indiana farmers to provide locally grown food at similar prices. Bonney has cited a Forbes magazine study on the campaign trail that ranks Indiana 49th out of the 50 states in clean environments. He wants to change that status. Bonney also wants to repeal the property tax in favor of a progressive income tax. And he's pushing for economic development efforts that would provide more permanent local jobs. The candidate doesn't have a specific answer on how to stop companies from outsourcing, but Bonney said he would use some sort of incentives. "I like carrots and sticks," he said. Bonney is refusing to take money from special interest groups and is running a modest campaign, relying largely on his Web site and campaign cards he's passing out to voters. "They're 2 cents a piece, printed on both sides, full color," Bonney said of the cards. "It gets people to the Web site, has issues listed on the back. That's how we do low-budget stuff." In the first quarter of 2008, Bonney raised $1,226.86, according to state campaign finance filings. Schnapp believes the state makes it too tough for independents to get on the ballot. Democratic or Republican candidates seeking state or federal office need to gather only 4,500 signatures to get on Indiana's ballot. "It's ridiculously difficult," Schnapp said, referring to Bonney's 32,742 signature requirement. "It would be a wonderful thing to see an independent candidate on the ballot," she said. "That in itself would be a victory."
Indiana farmer hoping to become state’s governor
By LINDA McGURK WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — He calls himself a citizen activist and wants a “small-farm renaissance” in Indiana. Now Steve Bonney, an organic farmer from West Lafayette, is well on his way to joining the race for governor of Indiana. “I think (my chances) are good. First of all, people are fed up with the political system and they’re looking for new faces. Collectively, we’re not getting what we want out of our government,” Bonney said. “I want an open government and I think we’ve gotten away from that. I think we need to start refocusing our policy based on what people want.” Bonney’s campaign has already gathered more than half of the 32,742 signatures required to put him on the ballot as an Independent in November, and he plans to run on a platform that revolves around property tax reform, transparent government, community development and protecting the environment. “Politicians often tend to offer solutions in itty bitty pieces, but these things need solved simultaneously in one big package,” he said. Starting with homesteads and farmer-owned agricultural land, he’d like to repeal the property tax and instead fund local governments and schools with a graduated income tax. “It’s not a simple thing to solve the tax problem,” Bonney said. “I’m not a politician, so I don’t make promises, but this is an important issue to farmers and homeowners in the state.” Since 1991, Bonney has been the president of Sustainable Earth, a not-for profit organization that promotes family farming in Indiana. He’s also is the owner of an organic fruit farm in Greene County. If elected governor, he said supporting small farmers would be a priority. “There are about 60,000 farms in Indiana and two-thirds of them are small. I think their potential has been overlooked. They’re too small to participate in commodity agriculture, but they can participate in local food systems,” he said.
Bonney is
opposed to the proposed Interstate 69 Extension, which would destroy 5,000
acres of forests and farmland, and said it’s time to get past “just paying
lip service to farmland preservation.” “I don’t see anybody talking about reducing the demand (for fossil fuels),” he said. “But we’ve got to start using less fuel and driving less.” Bonney doesn’t advocate a ban on CAFOs, but called for a moratorium on new facilities in order for communities to “get some breathing room and reach consensus.” He noted the establishment of CAFOs has divided many rural communities and created a great deal of animosity, especially against out-of-state operations setting up shop in Indiana. “Agricultural and rural development and urban sprawl are all going to continue, so we need to have a strong dialogue (about CAFOs),” he stated.
Preserving the
environment is another cornerstone of his campaign. Citing a Forbes story
that ranked
Indiana
49th of the 50 states when it comes to environmental quality, the
candidate vowed to address lax environmental regulations that causes
pollution and prevents Indiana from attracting clean and green businesses. For more information, visit Bonney’s website at www.bonneyforgov.com This farm news was published in the May 7, 2008 issue of the Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.
Independent Candidate for Governor Approaches Ballot Status The campaign of Independent candidate for Governor of Indiana, Steve Bonney, announces that it has surpassed the half way point in gathering the number of signatures of registered voters necessary for ballot access. The total number required by June 30 is 32,742. “We have more than a thousand people gathering signatures across the state,” says Bonney, of West Lafayette. “The pace has quickened now that the weather has warmed and people are gathering in public places. Although we always welcome more petitioners, we do not anticipate any difficulty in meeting the requirement for ballot access. Petitions are being circulated at farmers’ markets, union halls, clubs, churches, retail stores, public events, and through door to door canvassing. Bonney, an organic farmer, stands for open, transparent and Constitutional government which serves the citizens of Indiana rather than special interests. He advocates the repeal of property tax starting with homesteads and farmer-owned agricultural land. “It is the most regressive of taxes,” says Bonney. “We need tax reform, including a graduated income tax, to finance local governments and schools. However, the overall tax burden of Hoosiers should be reduced by cutting the spending of big government, without sacrificing essential services.” A week of Earth Day events in Indiana pointed out the need for a cleaner environment. Forbes magazine recently ranked the Indiana 49th in greenness or environmental quality. It said of the worst 5 states including Indiana, “All suffer from a mix of toxic waste, lots of pollution and consumption and no clear plans to do anything about it. Expect them to remain that way.” Creating a higher quality of life in Indiana will do more for economic development than TIFF districts and tax abatements, which only place a heavier tax burden on citizens. Only by attracting companies that pay good wages can we restore the economic vitality that our state once enjoyed. The complete range of issues supported by Bonney and his running mate, Lori Olivier, can be found at www.bonneyforgov.com, the campaign website.
WL farmer halfway to reaching signature goal A West Lafayette farmer running for governor as an independent candidate has collected more than half the necessary signatures to get on the November ballot. Steve Bonney needs the signatures of 32,742 registered voters by June 30 to be considered part of the general election, his campaign said in release Tuesday. Bonney wants to reduce state taxes by cutting the spending of big government, improve the state's environment, and build a state economy that can become sustainable. Part of his platform includes repealing the property tax starting with homesteads and farmer-owned agricultural land. He believes a graduated income tax could help finance local governments and schools. Lori Olivier of Indianapolis is Bonney's running mate for lieutenant governor. "Although we always welcome more petitioners, we do not anticipate any difficulty in meeting the requirement for ballot access," he said. Information on signing the candidate petition is at www.bonneyforgov.com.
Independent
Bonney joins race for governor
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