Indiana Debating Politics of Time Change

The governor has given his position on the issue. So have the other two candidates seeking the state’s highest office.

While it isn’t as pressing as other election-year topics like jobs and schools, the question of whether all of Indiana should observe daylight saving time has the candidates trying to devise a solution for the state’s complex clock-setting situation.

For more than three decades, people in some parts of Indiana set their clocks ahead one hour during daylight saving time, but most do not. It is an issue debated each year in the Legislature, in bars and on talk radio.

Some say the existing system hurts the state’s image and stunts commerce. Others, like former Indiana House Speaker John Gregg, scoff at such claims.

“It’s still 24 hours,” said Gregg. “If you want more daylight, get up earlier.”

It’s not just whether all of Indiana should be on daylight time. Should it be on New York time or Chicago time?

The candidates for governor have touched on the issue, with some waffling.

Former White House Budget Director Mitch Daniels, considered the leading Republican candidate, favors statewide observance of daylight saving time, with “as much of the state as possible” in the Central zone.

Democratic Gov. Joe Kernan backs daylight saving time, but he has not specified a time zone. However, Lt. Gov. Kathy Davis -- his running mate -- says Central time is probably the best fit.

Republican Eric Miller wants to put the question to a vote of the people, but the state constitution does not include a mechanism for such ballot initiatives.

Indiana is among three states that do not observe daylight saving time -- at least not completely. The others are Arizona and Hawaii.

Of Indiana’s 92 counties, five in the northwest corner near Chicago and five in the southwest corner in the Evansville area are in the Central time zone and observe daylight time. They are always on Chicago time.

The remaining 82 counties are in the Eastern time zone. Five in southeastern Indiana -- three by Louisville, Ky., and two by Cincinnati -- observe daylight time to stay in sync with their big-city neighbors, which will be on Eastern Daylight Time.

The rest of the 77 counties stay on Eastern Standard Time all year. So when daylight saving time is in effect, it is noon EDT in New York, but it is an hour earlier -- 11 a.m. EST -- in those 77 counties, including the state capital of Indianapolis. The clocks in Chicago will read the same, but it will be 11 a.m. CDT.

In October, when daylight saving time ends, the 77 counties will be back on New York time and one hour ahead of Chicago.