Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
It's customary for groups and organizations to honor members who have contributed much time and effort to the causes they advocate.
And the Kosciusko County Democratic Party is no different. Oct. 15 the county political organization honored Opal Miller of Syracuse, Cliff Ring of Silver Lake and Don Bixel of Warsaw for their decades of service.
Steven Haines, Kosciusko County Democratic chairman, praised the trio for their tireless dedication in working for the Democrats of the county, saying their commitment to the party in a county considered to be a Republican stronghold is inspiring to the other party members locally and around the state.
"It's an honor to be able to work with people like Opal, Cliff and Don," Haines said.
Following the induction, the audience was addressed by David Johnson, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, who will face off with Sen. Richard Lugar in November 2000.
Johnson said that despite the impression most people have of Indiana being firmly in the GOP camp when it comes to electoral politics, Democrats have worked hard to counter that image and have been very successful in doing so.
"I've heard that Indiana is a Republican state," Johnson said. "That is absolutely not true. Our Democratic governor is very popular. Our Democratic senator is very popular," Johnson said. "Starting Nov. 3, you're going to see a demoralized Republican party - a party lost in the wilderness.
"But you're going to see a party that will be angry - energized to take back the Statehouse," Johnson added. "That's why we need to start working now. We are in the best position because we know where the people of Indiana are."
Johnson said he made the decision to take on Lugar, an overwhelming favorite to retain his seat for an unprecedented fifth term because he believes he can better represent the views of Hoosiers than Lugar, and because the senior senator has concentrated on foreign policy and defense issues and not the issues important to the average worker in Indiana.
"There are moments in the life of an elected official when you have to stand up and be counted, for the people they represent," Johnson said. "I believe now is my time.
"When you think of me, think of two things," Johnson concluded. "Remember my name is David Johnson, the candidate for the U.S. Senate, not one of the many other David Johnsons you've come across in your life. And remember that I am putting my professional and personal life on hold for the next year, because I think it's worth it - for me and for the people of Indiana."
