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National, state and Kosciusko County Democrats converged at the Center Lake Pavilion Monday for the Kosciusko County Democrats' annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner.
Indiana Attorney General Karen Freeman-Wilson, along with Fifth District U.S. Congress candidate Greg Goodnight, were guest speakers. Also present was Mark Meissner, representing U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh.
Steve Haines, Kosciusko County Democrat Party chairman, presented two awards. The Democrat of the Year award was presented to Bob Espinoza Jr. The Area Labor Person of the Year award was presented to Alfredo Lozano. This was the first year for the labor award and the recipient is chosen by the Warsaw Area Labor Education Advisory Committee.
After receiving the award, Lozano said, "It's an honor to receive such a thing, but I could never have fought the fight that I did without the guys who stuck up with me and did not let me be forgotten."
Lozano was presented the award for his efforts to form a union at Royalite and for working for the union to be recognized, Haines said. He also said Lozano was fired for his union activities, but Lozano "hung in there" for three years before finally receiving his job back.
Goodnight opened his remarks with a brief biography of himself and said he was running for Congress because "I feel like our current representative (Steve Buyer) does not represent the people in the district."
He said Buyer voted against the Patient Bill of Rights, against the Family Medical Leave Act and consistently voted against increases in the minimum wage.
Goodnight told the crowd to tell people it's very important to elect a Democrat in the Fifth District.
"Every time Tim Roemer votes in Congress, there's a man in the south (Buyer) who votes against Roemer's vote, basically cancelling his vote out," Goodnight said.
He said he believes people will vote Democrat if they're comfortable with the candidate and that he can be that candidate in the Fifth District. He said he is fiscally conservative but socially responsible.
"I didn't get in this to get my face before the public," he said. "I got in this to win."
Freeman-Wilson said that on her way to Kosciusko County, she stopped to speak to the Anderson mayor. He told her they don't have any Democrats in Kosciusko County. But, she replied, whether it's two or 20, she wanted to come because "if you're a Democrat in Kosciusko County, I know you're a serious Democrat."
While she's been attorney general only for approximately 60 days, she said, she is having a great time at her job.
She joked, "I am so glad (that I decided to accept the job). ... If I knew it was this fun, I would have encouraged (former attorney general) Jeff (Modisette) to leave a long time ago."
The staff for her office, she said, is second to none. One of her greatest opportunities is meeting Indiana citizens, who have been very kind to her, she said. The appeal of her new job is that she works to protect the legal interests of the citizens in Indiana.
Freeman-Wilson said she learned from her parents about hard work, doing her best, the importance of education, treating people as she wants to be treated and "to whom much is given, much is required."
She spoke on the nobility of service to the community and how current Democrats in office, including Gov. Frank O'Bannon, each have a desire to "serve you and serve you well."
Before the auction to raise money for the Democrat party, Meissner gave a few words on Bayh.
He said, "(Bayh) is definitely a person on the move. There's a good chance you may see him on the national scene. If not this year, then soon."
Meissner said that running as a Democrat in Kosciusko County is tough, but hopefully, "we can turn the tide."
