Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
AKRON - When the Republican candidate for governor walked into her place of employment, Mary Hurlock knew exactly who he was.
"He said, 'Hello, I'm ...' and I said, 'I know exactly who you are from your shows, Mr. Daniels.' And he said, 'My first name is Mitch.'"
And so began the first of two visits to Sloane's Fine Food and Spirits in downtown Akron, one of three establishments owned by Steve and Mary Sloane. Hurlock has been a waitress or bartender for the Sloanes for two years. She's been a customer who always helped out. Mary Sloane isn't sorry she offered her the job.
Hurlock of Beaver Dam, and Dr. John Davis of Warsaw both received invitations to Sunday's pre-inaugural events and Monday's inaugural ceremony as Daniel's "Friends from the Road." (Davis will not be in the state for the inaugural, according to associates.)
The governor-elect also will host a special breakfast in their honor prior to taking the oath of office in the Blue Ribbon Pavilion on the Indiana State Fairgrounds. More than 350 "friends" opened their homes and lives to Daniels during the 16-month campaign.
"You know, before I even came in here, I was impressed with him. He's so likable," Hurlock said. "We had two customers who are Democrats who said they just might vote for him."
The arrival of the signature-covered RV-1 created quite a stir in town. People flocked to the big recreational vehicle, signing its sides and receiving the grass green T-shirts with the slogan "My Man Mitch."
RV-1 carried Daniels and a small staff more than 50,000 miles during the campaign. The bus stopped at Sloane's in April and September. Each time Daniels ordered the tenderloin, a massive offering better served on two buns.
Hurlock and her husband moved to Kosciusko County from Marion nine years ago. A widow for five years, Hurlock hadn't bothered to register to vote in Kosciusko County until she met Daniels.
The Sloanes were invited to the Daniels-sponsored tenderloin cook-off in October, where their "sample" was judged first runner-up out of a dozen competitors. All the Buzz from Seymour took first place honors.
"We were told to expect to serve 300 people," said Mary Sloane. "More than 1,000 came. Thankfully, Steve is always overprepared when it comes to feeding people.
"Mitch made us feel special that day and on another when we attended a bike rally in southern Indiana. He came in riding his own Harley-Davison. He remembered at the rally, too. That makes you feel good."
An 8- by 10-inch photograph of Daniels pointing to a help-wanted poster in the restaurant's front window, with a smiling Hurlock beside him, is a running joke around Sloanes. Daniels asked for the dishwashing job, and received verbal approval, "if the governor thing didn't work out." The picture is posted on the mymanmitch.com Web site and incorporated on campaign postcards.
"He's quiet and busy," Mary Sloane said. "He would have made a good dishwasher, but I prefer him as governor."
Neither Hurlock nor Sloane pressed the candidate for specific legislation; they mostly discussed personal things. Hurlock thought some of the customers may have made recommendations to the candidate about running the state.
Another photograph of Daniels and Steve and Mary Sloane is signed, "We never pass by a Sloanes." The couple also own restaurants in Argos and Peru.
One day a couple from Indianapolis arrived on a Harley. They ordered the tenderloin. Of course the governor's race came up and the restaurant staff advised the big city folks they were Daniels supporters. It turns out the couple are the Daniels' neighbors at Geist Reservoir.
The Sloanes doubt they can attend the inaugural because a cook quit and Steve will have to man the kitchen Monday.
"I think he is different and will make a difference for the state," Mary Sloane said of Daniels.
Does Hurlock feel like she has a friend in Indianapolis?
"I sure do."
