Governor Candidate Discusses Appointment Proposal

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(STATEHOUSE) - The state Senate would confirm or reject the appointments of agency heads if Democrat Jill Long Thompson is elected governor.

Some senators suggested a confirmation process after Governor Daniels' first BMV Commissioner, Joel Silverman, angered legislators with his handling of license-branch closures.

Thompson insists she doesn't have any specific Daniels appointments in mind, but says the need to fully air a candidate's background in a confirmation process would produce more qualified nominees

Thompson says she'd voluntarily submit her nominees to the Senate even before there's a law on the books. For one office, inspector general, she'd require Senate and House confirmation, and give the IG a six-year term to give him independence from the governor's office. Daniels created the office of Inspector General in 2001, appointing then-Clay County prosecutor David Thomas to the post.

Thompson is also calling for changes to campaign finance laws. She wants to ban companies doing business with the state from making campaign contributions until two years after their contracts expire. Officers of those companies couldn't donate either.

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