INDIANAPOLIS ― Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has raised the possibility of an unusual split with his 2012 running mate, suggesting that Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann would be an “ideal” candidate to take over the embattled Ivy Tech Community College system.
The proposal has raised eyebrows among Indiana political observers who question why someone would leave a political position that has historically been a springboard to higher office. It also brought into focus positions Ellspermann has taken that aren’t in line with Pence, perhaps most notably on LGBT civil rights, though both say differences of opinion didn’t prompt the possible move.
Ivy Tech, which has drawn scrutiny for low graduation rates and declining enrollment, recently launched an effort to replace outgoing President Tom Snyder, who has overseen the system’s dozens of campuses since 2007. Ellspermann, who holds a doctorate in industrial engineering, ran her own consulting firm before she was elected to the Indiana House in 2010, and was tapped just two years later to join Pence’s gubernatorial ticket.
“I’m fully supportive of it. We talked about this over the last several weeks,” Pence said. “In many ways, I think she’s the ideal candidate to be the next president of Ivy Tech.”
Ellspermann wasn’’t available for an interview Tuesday, according to her spokesman, Dennis Rosebrough. He acknowledged that Ellspermann and the governor have had differing opinions, but said they have a good working relationship and that any suggestion she was being forced out was inaccurate.
“A senior elected official ending up in a university leadership role is not unusual,” said Rosebrough, who noted that Ellspermann was first approached about the job this summer.
