SYRACUSE - Kosciusko County Democrats gathered Saturday at South Shore Golf Club, Syracuse, for the fourth annual Democratic Party Hall of Fame dinner.

Four Democrats were inducted into the Hall of Fame, including Jody Pearl, Dick Mitchell, Gerald Romine and Donna Custer-Ruch.

Dale Tucker, former Warsaw mayor, was guest speaker. Other speakers included Congressman Tim Roemer; James P. Perron, Elkhart, on behalf of Gov. Frank O'Bannon; and Kosciusko County commissioner candidate Joe Banks.

Tucker said that in the last election there was a low voter turnout. "I think that's pathetic ... that's only 6 percent of the population." He said many people lost their lives for this country to be free and we repay them by not voting.

He said people don't vote because there's no patriotism anymore.

It is thanks to the Democrats, Tucker said, that we have Social Security, Medicare and a surplus, but Gov. George W. Bush wants to take it back if he is elected.

Tucker said he is proud to be a liberal because liberals want to help and Republicans don't want to do a thing.

"Make me a promise that you're going to get out the vote," Tucker told the crowd. He said they should tell their friends and neighbors to vote, too, whether they're Democrats or Independents.

He concluded by saying, "It's the greatest thing to be a Democrat!"

Perron said he knows how tough it is to be a Democrat in this area, but every vote counts.

"It's very important we keep the Democrat margins as high as possible," Perron said. He said despite how far Democrats have come, it was important not to become complacent or we could return to the days of Ronald Reagan.

Saturday, Banks said, he walked around North Webster meeting residents.

"The freedoms that we have here are not cheap," Banks said. "They come at great costs. As Jay (Rigdon) has said, as Tim (Roemer) has said, don't take your vote for granted."

The business of running our government, Banks said, means that we get what we deserve. If 40 percent of the people stay home as is projected for Kosciusko County, then the county gets what it deserves.

Banks said several items motivated him to run for county commissioner.

First, Banks said, while the $19 million Justice Building expansion project is needed, if the county continues as it has, "we'll need another in a few years."

The county has few parks and places for recreation for the county's youth, he said.

"The question is, do we invest in children $20,000 to $30,000 a year, or $19 million every few years?" Banks asked.

Another item that bothers him, he said, is that the county's budget for 2001 is $12.7 million, but only $30,000 of it is earmarked for economic development. That's less than 1 percent of the entire budget.

"If you are considered minimally acceptable as a waitress or waiter, you get tipped 15 percent," he said. Investing only $30,000 of a $12 million budget is suicide for Kosciusko County, he said.

He concluded by saying that Republicans have told him he is the only Democrat they would consider voting for in the November election this year. [[In-content Ad]]