Local Demos Honored With Hall Of Fame Awards
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
SYRACUSE - Hall of Fame awards were presented to Jo Dierkes of Sidney and Joe Banks of Warsaw during the Kosciusko County Democratic party's dinner and awards ceremony held at South Shore Golf Club Saturday.
Dan and Mary Damron were named the H. Dale Tucker Democrats of the Year.
Dennis Troop, the Democrat Party's Third District Chairman, was introduced by county chairman Steve Haines.
Troop, from Whitley County, said there is new enthusiasm for this election, in which Social Security, prescription drugs and unemployment are issues.
"When it comes to patriotism, the Republicans, they're the only ones who love America," he said. "That just isn't so."
He advised candidates to meet people confident that things are going well for Democrats this fall.
Candidate for state treasurer, Day Smith, of Columbia City, said she learned the value of a dollar as a single mother living on a tiny budget.
Her passion for politics began when she was a college student volunteering on Sen. Jay Rockefeller's campaign for governor of West Virginia in 1972. She then earned her bachelor's degree in social work from West Virginia University a year later.
Moving to Indiana in 1975, she volunteered on former Congressman Frank McCloskey's successful bid for office and worked as his district casework coordinator.
Married to attorney Terry Smith, she said 150,000 unemployed people in the state is too many.
"We're concerned our retirement funds won't be there. We should talk about how we feel about that."
She maintains it's a shame people with an $800 per month income have to spend $500 a month for medication.
"Gov. O'Bannon has had to fight tooth and nail to get money shifted to help Hoosiers," she said.
Haines introduced Jay Rigdon, candidate for the Third District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Rigdon said he'd been golfing at South Shore since he first played with his grandfather at the age of 9.
During that first round of golf, Dr. Fosbrink, who also golfing that day, bragged he would sink a 50-foot chip.
"I didn't know any better at the time, I expected him to do what he said," Rigdon said of the difficult shot. "And there was no one more pleased and surprised than Dr. Fosbrink when he sank that shot.
"I'll be just as pleased, surprised and honored to be the next congressman from Kosciusko County."
Rigdon, from North Webster, said a recent poll showed 52 percent of voters will choose an acceptable candidate over Mark Souder of Grabill.
"So many people are disappointed with him. Souder has stood idly by and let jobs leave northeast Indiana," Rigdon said.
Democrats supported a bill to give seniors more insurance coverage as they need it and Medicare coverage for prescription drugs so they don't have to choose between food and medicine, the congressional-hopeful said.
"We said we've given veterans the best care available and cut services from Fort Wayne. Don't say we can't afford it. Souder just gave $12 million to a friend in Auburn to build a private museum," he said.
He also blasted Souder for threatening to cut federal funding from IPFW because of one issue, saying it is one of the finest universities in this district.
In the long run, Rigdon said, "we're right and they're wrong. We've worked harder, smarter and longer and are going to have something we never thought we'd see - the opportunity to elect a Democratic congressman from Kosciusko County." [[In-content Ad]]
SYRACUSE - Hall of Fame awards were presented to Jo Dierkes of Sidney and Joe Banks of Warsaw during the Kosciusko County Democratic party's dinner and awards ceremony held at South Shore Golf Club Saturday.
Dan and Mary Damron were named the H. Dale Tucker Democrats of the Year.
Dennis Troop, the Democrat Party's Third District Chairman, was introduced by county chairman Steve Haines.
Troop, from Whitley County, said there is new enthusiasm for this election, in which Social Security, prescription drugs and unemployment are issues.
"When it comes to patriotism, the Republicans, they're the only ones who love America," he said. "That just isn't so."
He advised candidates to meet people confident that things are going well for Democrats this fall.
Candidate for state treasurer, Day Smith, of Columbia City, said she learned the value of a dollar as a single mother living on a tiny budget.
Her passion for politics began when she was a college student volunteering on Sen. Jay Rockefeller's campaign for governor of West Virginia in 1972. She then earned her bachelor's degree in social work from West Virginia University a year later.
Moving to Indiana in 1975, she volunteered on former Congressman Frank McCloskey's successful bid for office and worked as his district casework coordinator.
Married to attorney Terry Smith, she said 150,000 unemployed people in the state is too many.
"We're concerned our retirement funds won't be there. We should talk about how we feel about that."
She maintains it's a shame people with an $800 per month income have to spend $500 a month for medication.
"Gov. O'Bannon has had to fight tooth and nail to get money shifted to help Hoosiers," she said.
Haines introduced Jay Rigdon, candidate for the Third District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Rigdon said he'd been golfing at South Shore since he first played with his grandfather at the age of 9.
During that first round of golf, Dr. Fosbrink, who also golfing that day, bragged he would sink a 50-foot chip.
"I didn't know any better at the time, I expected him to do what he said," Rigdon said of the difficult shot. "And there was no one more pleased and surprised than Dr. Fosbrink when he sank that shot.
"I'll be just as pleased, surprised and honored to be the next congressman from Kosciusko County."
Rigdon, from North Webster, said a recent poll showed 52 percent of voters will choose an acceptable candidate over Mark Souder of Grabill.
"So many people are disappointed with him. Souder has stood idly by and let jobs leave northeast Indiana," Rigdon said.
Democrats supported a bill to give seniors more insurance coverage as they need it and Medicare coverage for prescription drugs so they don't have to choose between food and medicine, the congressional-hopeful said.
"We said we've given veterans the best care available and cut services from Fort Wayne. Don't say we can't afford it. Souder just gave $12 million to a friend in Auburn to build a private museum," he said.
He also blasted Souder for threatening to cut federal funding from IPFW because of one issue, saying it is one of the finest universities in this district.
In the long run, Rigdon said, "we're right and they're wrong. We've worked harder, smarter and longer and are going to have something we never thought we'd see - the opportunity to elect a Democratic congressman from Kosciusko County." [[In-content Ad]]