Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Jim Kittle Jr. asked a few things of local Republican party members Thursday.
Kittle, Indiana Republican Party chairman, was guest speaker, along with State Auditor Connie Nass, at the Kosciusko County Republican Party's Hall of Fame dinner at 2517 Restaurant, Warsaw.
Kittle said there are three opportunities in Indiana to hand President George W. Bush control of the House: the highly contested 2nd District race between Chris Chocola and Jill Long-Thompson, as well as races in the 7th District, between Brose McVey and Julia Carson, and in the 9th, with Mike Sodrel versus Barron Hill.
Kittle urged everyone to cast ballots this fall.
With redistricting, the Republican Party lost one House seat, going from six to five positions on the Hill.
"If we don't keep six for George W., we won't be able to support the goals of the party," Kittle said.
At the state level, the Senate is controlled by the Republicans and the Democrats control the House by a narrow 53-to-47 margin.
"We have an unbelievable shot at taking the House," he said. "If we get 33 seats the 'dems' walk out."
He urged the 100 or so Republican Party members to support the top three state candidates: Todd Rokita for Secretary of State, Connie Nass as auditor and Tim Berry as treasurer.
He advised the Democrats are putting everything behind their Secretary of State candidate.
Kittle has traveled the state as Republican chairman more than any other state GOP chairman in the last 30 years.
He's been to Kosciusko County five times and called this community an oasis of stability.
"We're No. 1 in job losses, first in personal bankruptcy filings and mortgage foreclosures," he said, speaking of Indiana in general and sounding sour notes in a generally light and humorous talk. "We're 50th in the state in job creation and last in retaining our college graduates.
"Our universities, which we pay for, are like manufacturing plants. Indiana and Purdue Universities and Ball State produce the best and the brightest, and then we ship them to our competition because we have no place to employ them!"
State Auditor Connie Nass said she wanted to tell the truth about the state finances.
She said there is more than $3.5 billion in more than 2,000 state accounts available to pay the bills.
"Why are we not using some of that to offset taxes?" she asked.
She said there is no reason for the governor's scare tactics - that if taxes aren't raised, teachers would lose jobs, the parks would close, school programs would be cut.
"Well, the teachers' jobs were saved, the parks and the schools are still open and I've become a target for telling the truth."
Nass, former mayor and councilwoman of Huntingburg, said it didn't matter how hard she worked if few people voted.
"It's still your responsibility to make sure the vote gets out."
She suggested 2002 Hall of Famer Doris Kesler be put on the state payroll so she can come to Indianapolis and teach people at the state level to fill out voter registration cards.
"She'll make sure people get to the polls to vote."
Kesler declined the offer, saying she is going to Florida in November instead of Indianapolis to teach Floridians how to vote.
Eleven former hall-of-famers were recognized as were 10 current candidates for county offices.
Mike Harstine was introduced as chairman of the newly established Young Republicans group. He said an introductory meeting will be held Oct. 21.
Kosciusko County's Republican Party chairman is Mike Gavin, who served as the evening's master of ceremonies.
