Scott Clay Kicks Off Election Campaign Built On Relationships
November 12, 2021 at 12:20 a.m.
Scott Clay Kicks Off Election Campaign Built On Relationships
By David [email protected]
There were co-workers, family members, representatives from organizations he volunteers with, Republican Party officials and county employees.
Josh Witt, president of NAPA Auto Parts, introduced Scott at the kickoff.
“I’d like to tell you guys about a young man I’ve known for some time. This man is a go-getter and has the ability to create, cause and make some change. I’ve had the opportunity to witness this first hand,” Witt told the crowd.
He hired Scott about 18 months ago to be his regional marketing manager, basically making Scott, 24, the face of NAPA.
Witt said, “During the last 18 months, the world has endured a pandemic. We’ve had an extreme mask shortage. And in March of 2020, this individual was able to obtain and secure some N95 masks.”
Instead of making some money by selling the masks to the general public, he said Scott used them to help fulfill some orders at a local nursing home. With all the proceeds he made, Scott decided to give a mask to everyone in the community who needed one at no cost.
“Anymore it’s hard to find individuals with the drive this man possesses. He is proud to shake the hands and support so many leaders and so many people in our community ... whether it’s a new ribbon-cutting or an award someone receives. Scott is there and is there encouraging the community, supporting them, having their back when they need it the most,” Witt said.
He pointed out that Scott has served on the Beaman Home Board of Directors, Breakfast Optimist Club Board, a Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce ambassador and, two weeks ago, was a recipient of the Kosciusko County Rising Leader Award.
“Involved today, impacting tomorrow,” Witt concluded in his introduction of Scott.
“There’s so many people in here today that I know from so many different places. We’ve got the NAPA crowd. We’ve got some realtors. Some people from nonprofits are in here. Lots of people, all from different places,” Scott said.
He said Kosciusko County is very “near and dear” to him and he has a passion for the community that runs deep. He then talked about his family’s history to explain how deep the passion goes.
In 1939, Scott’s great-grandfather, Doc Lowery, opened the first self-service grocery store, Chief Supermarket in Warsaw. It was located on the west side of the courthouse square.
In 1950, Lowery moved Chief Supermarket to Lowery Shopping Center on Market Street. It was the first shopping center in Warsaw, Scott said. Lowery sold the store to Marsh Foodliners in 1955. Scott’s grandmother, Sharon Clay, worked at Marsh for 29 years. Marsh also was Scott’s first job.
The Clay family, Scott said, goes back 125 years. In 1896, Elmer and Orpha Clay, lived south of Warsaw.
“Elmer, he was a stout Republican, and he petitioned to have his road paved and he was successful. That became Clay Road. And that lead into Clay Township. And continued to Claypool Road. And that road is known as County Farm Road,” Scott said.
From 1940 to 1957, Scott said, his great-grandparents, Wallace and Dorothy Clay, were involved in the Republican party, with Dorothy serving as a precinct committeewoman. His grandfather, John Clay, was vice president at First National Bank in Warsaw, working at the Milford and Claypool branches for 30 years.
Scott’s parents, Mike and Kristi Clay, live in Warsaw. Mike sold essential products for deploying units at Fort Bragg and Camp LeJeune. Kristi is a nurse at Paddock Springs.
“Now we’ve looked behind, let’s look forward,” Scott said, beginning with his “leadership in action.”
During the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said he was fortunate enough to be able to access some PPE (personal protection equipment).
“We started a fundraiser and we raised $1,995. We went ahead and rounded it up at $2 per mask that paid for 1,000 masks. I was able to distribute these through Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice, Retired Tigers apartment complex, the Beaman Home, the Bowen Center, Cardinal Services, Kosciusko County Senior Services, and also, when we had masks left over, I stood on the corner of Center Street and handed them out to the general public and promoted online saying, ‘If you feel you need a mask, come on out, we’ll take care of you,’” Scott said.
As a leader, he also said he was a Chamber ambassador, inducted into the Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club Board of Directors in April 2019 and is on the steering committee for Young Adult Professionals. He also has joined the Kosciusko County Senior Services Board of Directors.
“Recently, I was really proud to receive such an award. I had no idea that it was even an award – the 2021 KEDCO Rising Leader Award,” he said, noting it was a pretty big moment for him.
As to why he’s running for the District 3 Council seat, Scott said, “My goals for running are simple: Fostering business growth. It’s very important to me that we continue to grow our businesses here in Kosciusko County. Advancing our community connections as well. ... And increasing revenue to lower taxes for our general public.”
After recognizing the veterans at the kickoff for Veterans Day, he thanked his campaign committee.
“Thank you, guys, for coming. Of course, everybody in here I seem to have a pretty personal relationship with and that means a lot to me. I’m a relationship-based person, so thank you guys for coming out. It’s huge for me. And thank you for voting for me, too,” Scott concluded.
Ernie Wiggins is the current Councilman representing District 3. He said in early October he did not plan to seek re-election. One other Republican – county coroner Tony Ciriello, 61 – has announced his intention to seek the District 3 seat in the May Republican primary.
For more information about Scott Clay, visit his website at scottmclay.com or on Facebook.
There were co-workers, family members, representatives from organizations he volunteers with, Republican Party officials and county employees.
Josh Witt, president of NAPA Auto Parts, introduced Scott at the kickoff.
“I’d like to tell you guys about a young man I’ve known for some time. This man is a go-getter and has the ability to create, cause and make some change. I’ve had the opportunity to witness this first hand,” Witt told the crowd.
He hired Scott about 18 months ago to be his regional marketing manager, basically making Scott, 24, the face of NAPA.
Witt said, “During the last 18 months, the world has endured a pandemic. We’ve had an extreme mask shortage. And in March of 2020, this individual was able to obtain and secure some N95 masks.”
Instead of making some money by selling the masks to the general public, he said Scott used them to help fulfill some orders at a local nursing home. With all the proceeds he made, Scott decided to give a mask to everyone in the community who needed one at no cost.
“Anymore it’s hard to find individuals with the drive this man possesses. He is proud to shake the hands and support so many leaders and so many people in our community ... whether it’s a new ribbon-cutting or an award someone receives. Scott is there and is there encouraging the community, supporting them, having their back when they need it the most,” Witt said.
He pointed out that Scott has served on the Beaman Home Board of Directors, Breakfast Optimist Club Board, a Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce ambassador and, two weeks ago, was a recipient of the Kosciusko County Rising Leader Award.
“Involved today, impacting tomorrow,” Witt concluded in his introduction of Scott.
“There’s so many people in here today that I know from so many different places. We’ve got the NAPA crowd. We’ve got some realtors. Some people from nonprofits are in here. Lots of people, all from different places,” Scott said.
He said Kosciusko County is very “near and dear” to him and he has a passion for the community that runs deep. He then talked about his family’s history to explain how deep the passion goes.
In 1939, Scott’s great-grandfather, Doc Lowery, opened the first self-service grocery store, Chief Supermarket in Warsaw. It was located on the west side of the courthouse square.
In 1950, Lowery moved Chief Supermarket to Lowery Shopping Center on Market Street. It was the first shopping center in Warsaw, Scott said. Lowery sold the store to Marsh Foodliners in 1955. Scott’s grandmother, Sharon Clay, worked at Marsh for 29 years. Marsh also was Scott’s first job.
The Clay family, Scott said, goes back 125 years. In 1896, Elmer and Orpha Clay, lived south of Warsaw.
“Elmer, he was a stout Republican, and he petitioned to have his road paved and he was successful. That became Clay Road. And that lead into Clay Township. And continued to Claypool Road. And that road is known as County Farm Road,” Scott said.
From 1940 to 1957, Scott said, his great-grandparents, Wallace and Dorothy Clay, were involved in the Republican party, with Dorothy serving as a precinct committeewoman. His grandfather, John Clay, was vice president at First National Bank in Warsaw, working at the Milford and Claypool branches for 30 years.
Scott’s parents, Mike and Kristi Clay, live in Warsaw. Mike sold essential products for deploying units at Fort Bragg and Camp LeJeune. Kristi is a nurse at Paddock Springs.
“Now we’ve looked behind, let’s look forward,” Scott said, beginning with his “leadership in action.”
During the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said he was fortunate enough to be able to access some PPE (personal protection equipment).
“We started a fundraiser and we raised $1,995. We went ahead and rounded it up at $2 per mask that paid for 1,000 masks. I was able to distribute these through Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice, Retired Tigers apartment complex, the Beaman Home, the Bowen Center, Cardinal Services, Kosciusko County Senior Services, and also, when we had masks left over, I stood on the corner of Center Street and handed them out to the general public and promoted online saying, ‘If you feel you need a mask, come on out, we’ll take care of you,’” Scott said.
As a leader, he also said he was a Chamber ambassador, inducted into the Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club Board of Directors in April 2019 and is on the steering committee for Young Adult Professionals. He also has joined the Kosciusko County Senior Services Board of Directors.
“Recently, I was really proud to receive such an award. I had no idea that it was even an award – the 2021 KEDCO Rising Leader Award,” he said, noting it was a pretty big moment for him.
As to why he’s running for the District 3 Council seat, Scott said, “My goals for running are simple: Fostering business growth. It’s very important to me that we continue to grow our businesses here in Kosciusko County. Advancing our community connections as well. ... And increasing revenue to lower taxes for our general public.”
After recognizing the veterans at the kickoff for Veterans Day, he thanked his campaign committee.
“Thank you, guys, for coming. Of course, everybody in here I seem to have a pretty personal relationship with and that means a lot to me. I’m a relationship-based person, so thank you guys for coming out. It’s huge for me. And thank you for voting for me, too,” Scott concluded.
Ernie Wiggins is the current Councilman representing District 3. He said in early October he did not plan to seek re-election. One other Republican – county coroner Tony Ciriello, 61 – has announced his intention to seek the District 3 seat in the May Republican primary.
For more information about Scott Clay, visit his website at scottmclay.com or on Facebook.
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