Candidates Distance Selves From 'Extremism' At Democrat Dinner
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Jordan Fouts-
If voter turnout in November is anything like the May primaries, state and local representatives will be picked by just a fraction of the population, Democratic congressional candidate Justin Kuhnle said Saturday. Kuhnle, who is challenging Marlin Stutzman for Indiana’s 3rd District, spoke at the Jefferson Jackson Dinner hosted by the Kosciusko County Democratic Party. He was joined by Democratic candidates David Kolbe, seeking the Indiana House District 22 seat, and county-level hopefuls Dan Damron and Gale Owens. Voter turnout for the primaries ranged from 5 to 20 percent, with some precincts seeing none at all, Kuhnle said. It’s disheartening to see an electorate choosing to let a small percentage speak for them, he said. “If we sit at home on election day and let just 12 percent speak for us, you’ve got to ask yourself, who will that 12 percent be?” he said. Both he and Kolbe presented themselves as the alternative to the extremism they see in their opponents. Kolbe is going against tea party candidate Curt Nisly as well as independent Michael Stinfer. “To my opponent, you call a debate a distraction – that’s offensive to the public,” Kolbe said. “I think it’s fair to say I’m an experienced and competent person – and on the other side, a basically not competent, fringe extremist.” “When I was teaching in the Ukraine, I heard someone say that everybody gets the leader they deserve,” he later said. Damron, running for county council District 4, said during his speech he could bring to bear his experience with both budgets and highway work. He said focusing on infrastructure is necessary to keep businesses in the county. Owens, a former Silver Lake town councilman seeking the county commissioners Southern district seat, said he doesn’t feel current elected officials are doing enough for the poor and middle class, and that there isn’t enough cooperation. “FDR was a great president because he reached across the aisle,” he said. “They worked together for the good of the country. We don’t have that in the state of Indiana.” Also Saturday, county party members Merlin and Ruth Yoder were recognized as Kosciusko County Democrats of the Year, though they were not able to make it to the event. “They attend meetings every month, they’ve been around a long time and they’re always helping the county,” county party Chair John Bonitati said.
