Kenn Gividen, former publisher of the American Review andpresident of Just Folks Publishing Company and Columbus MarketingGroup in Indiana said his campiagn for governer is going betterthan he expected.
The Libertarian candidate from Bartholomew County said he'scurrently winning about 14 percent of the vote in Indiana.
"We're pulling the undecided vote," Gividen said. "We've gotsome good things happening; another 20 percent, and we couldwin."
Gividen is in favor of changing the public education system inIndiana.
"I want to do away with school corporations and school boards,so that every school will be an entity unto itself," Gividen said."Parents will run the schools, and it will cut the cost ofeducation in Indiana to $4,500. "
With his plan, every student will have a voucher, and parentswill have the power to close schools that aren't performing well,Gividen said.
"Every school will be a charter school," Gividen said. "It willbe higher-quality education at a lower cost."
New Zealand has implemented this system of education, and theacademics are soaring while costs are down, Gividen said.
"I have yet to find any opposition," Gividen said. "Most peopleI've talked to have been in favor of it. The teacher's union willprobably be opposed."
Gividen said he plans to eliminate property taxes that areunfair to residents if he is elected.
Gividen is also an advcate of single-class basketball inIndiana.
"The fans want it, the taxpayers want it, the players want it,and the voters want it," Gividen said.
Many young voters are working with him on his campaign forgovernor, and he has noticed an increase in the number of youngpeople getting involved, Gividen said. His media director is acollege student.
Political science professor Ralph Baker said he'd be shocked ifGividen pulled 14 percent of the vote in Indiana.
"He doesn't have a shot," Baker said, "but you have to havehope, and you have to give him credit for being out there."
Joseph Losco, chair of the political science department, saidGividen probably doesn't have a chance at winning the gubernatorialrace.
"Libertarian candidates rarely get over one percent of the vote,especially in a year like this where everyone knows every vote fora major party candidate counts," Losco said.
Gividen said that over the summer he has made several publicappearances and has been traveling around the state doing radio andtelevision interviews. He said he plans to visit Delaware County onhis campaign trail sometime in the near future.
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