John Gregg, Democratic gubernatorial candidate, took part in Thursday night’s Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner at the Donner Center in Columbus.

He says that there is a big difference between wanting to run for the position, versus wanting to serve…

Gregg had numerous criticisms of his opponent for November, Republican Gov. Mike Pence. Gregg says that the average Hoosier is

struggling. He believes that Indiana’s economy is not as good as Gov. Pence says, arguing that it’s not about the number of jobs created, rather it’s the quality of jobs that truly matters…

During Gregg’s speech to the party faithful, he received thunderous applause while touting the need for “a livable wage.”

Gregg says that Gov. Pence is more worried about pushing his personal views on social issues than taking care of the real problems facing Hoosiers. That proof, he says, was in the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and it’s subsequent legislative “fix”…

If elected, Gregg says that one of his first acts as Governor will be to sign an Executive Order expanding civil rights protection to members of the LGBT community employed by the state.

Gregg says that it is important that the Governor works for all Hoosiers. He says that he wants to make it clear that, should he be elected, Columbus and Bartholomew County have nothing to fear…

Bartholomew County Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy Ann Brown, a former Columbus Mayor, says that Thursday night’s gathering, along with the increased political activity, shows that the local Democratic party is “alive and well.” She added that this year’s event sold out in about two weeks.