INDIANAPOLIS — Before focusing on what his legacy as Indiana's 51st governor will be, Gov. Eric Holcomb talked to 13News about the work still left to do.
"I always say, I have a multipage, small font to-do list and I'm not going to leave anything on the field, so we'll be working until the last hour," Holcomb said.
Some of that work will include the governor's 2024 agenda, which he released earlier this week. It included improving literacy for Hoosier third graders, looking at bail reform measures, and planning for the number of Hoosiers set to retire in 10 years.
Before he leaves office, Holcomb said he wants to make sure Hoosiers know when it comes to changing jobs or finding a better paying one, the state is there to help.
Earlier this week, Holcomb announced a statewide campaign to raise awareness about workforce training resources available to Hoosiers, all found on a website called "One Stop to Start."
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"It's your concierge and we take great pride. We're keeping score of how many people we're skilling up and getting moved on into a higher wage bracket so that they don't have to work two or three jobs. You can work one and you know some of these jobs start at 75,000 dollars a year and they don't require even a college degree. So you can come right out of high school if you're trained and skilled and move right into a career," Holcomb explained.
We also asked the governor about Senate Bill 24 that would increase the minimum age to buy a handgun from 18 to 21.
"That's a steep hill to climb, when you tell an adult they can go serve and defend our freedoms and go into harm's way at 18, but they can't legally as an adult, defend themselves at home," said Holcomb.
In this year's agenda, the governor has called for creating a task force to review bail reform efforts and how those efforts impact violent crime and violent criminals who might act out again.
While looking forward, Holcomb took time to look back on his past seven years and talk about what his legacy might be.
"I hope, in general, it's someone who listened, who played it kind of right down the middle, played it straight, was willing to take responsibility, be held accountable for come what may, little did I know, it would be a global pandemic, that certainly whether I like it or not, will be part of the legacy," Holcomb said.
Another part of that legacy could end up being Boone County's LEAP district. Earlier this year, the state came under criticism for a potential plan to pump billions of gallons of water from Tippecanoe County to the LEAP district so companies setting up shop there could use the water.
13News asked the governor if he had to do it over again, if there's anything he'd do differently.
"I would say, communicate more earlier and often and religiously, that we've not changed anything, that water is a utility. You have to have volume and sources, it has to be proven. And that's what we're doing," Holcomb responded.
Holcomb told 13News he wasn't ready to endorse a candidate to be Indiana's next governor. When the time does come, Holcomb said he's looking for specifics about what the next person plans to do.
"I don't care as much about their rhetoric. I care a lot more about the results. And that means show me your plan. And that's what I would endorse if I do," said Holcomb.
So what will life look like when he shuts off the lights and turns over the key to that next person and becomes "Eric Holcomb, private citizen?"
"I'll probably take my time and be a little picky. If I've earned anything, it's that," said Holcomb.