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Former EDC director makes congressional bid
By Conner Hammett, chammett@acnpapers.com
Former Allen Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) executive director Robert Winningham has thrown his hat in the ring for a seat in the United States House of Representatives in Indiana's 9th congressional district.
Winningham resigned from the AEDC in October after a five-year run with the city, prior to which he worked as executive director of the Greenville Board of Development.
Before his municipal work, however, Winningham worked for six years starting in 1994 as a staffer for Lee Hamilton, who served in the 9th congressional district from 1965 to 1999.
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| Robert Winningham |
As a staffer for Hamilton, Winningham handled economic and community development projects for 21 counties in the 9th congressional district.
"When you say you worked for Lee Hamilton, people around here, they listen," Winningham said. "So it opens a lot of doors for you."
In August, Winningham said, he began to receive requests from friends in Indiana to run for the nomination in the May 2012 Democratic primary. Other Democrats running in the primary include Jonathan George and Jon Tilford.
If Winningham secures the nomination, he will face off against incumbent Todd Young (R) in November.
Winningham said his 12-year career in economic development makes him an attractive candidate in Southern Indiana, and he plans to run on a platform of job creation, research and development, job training and an educated workforce.
Winningham said a big part of job creation comes from a strong public education and community college system. The positive influence of Allen ISD, Collin College and Lovejoy ISD on Allen's economy, he said, is living proof of that.
"I think the primary reason we were able to create jobs [in Allen] is because we had a skilled workforce," he said. "You can talk incentives all you want, but if you don't have the skilled workforce to begin with, it doesn't matter what incentives you have. A company's not going to go there."
Meanwhile in Allen, Dan Bowman, interim director of the AEDC, said staff members haven't missed a beat at the AEDC offices.
PFS Web recently announced the relocation of their corporate headquarters to Allen, bringing along 300 jobs, and there are more projects in the works, Bowman said.
"We're working hard, and we have some exciting announcements coming soon," he said. "I wish Robert all the best in what he's doing."
Back in Indiana, Winningham said job creation and debt reduction must be done in a way that protects the middle class, meaning programs like social security and medicare should be preserved.
"There are a lot of issues out there, but I, for one, believe that we are the government, and my duty as an elected congressman would be to find ways for government to work better, cost less and work for ordinary Americans as much as any American," he said.
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