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Third District Republican Congressman Jim Banks will face Democrat challenger Courtney Tritch in a TV debate on Nov. 2, four days before Election Day.
The one-hour event on WANE-TV will begin at 7 p.m. and will be moderated by NewsChannel 15's Dirk Rowley and Terra Brantley.
WANE.com will offer pre-debate and post-debate coverage.
Kosciusko County Democratic Party Chairman Brian Smith had mixed emotions on the single debate: “While this is good news, the second largest county (Kosciusko) in the district won’t get to see it as we’re largely outside of the Fort Wayne media market,” he said Friday on Facebook. “I agree with Courtney Tritch, there should have been at least two debates and one of them should have been in Warsaw, the second largest city in the district.”
As for the 2nd District congressional race, Democrat Mel Hall and incumbent U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski tentatively announced plans for three televised debates, but no progress has been reported on nailing down details.
HALL CAMPAIGN – In a visit Thursday, congressional candidate Mel Hall stressed that he is solely focused on his race and declined to delve into topics including the Brett Kavanaugh nomination for the Supreme Court or President Donald Trump’s antics.
Meanwhile, the first-time candidate, who has relied heavily on his own money to run against Walorski, sounded confident about the upcoming campaign fundraising report, due out after the end of the month.
“We’ve outraised her two of the last three quarters and we know we’re going to have a very, very good quarter again that ends in two or three weeks,” Hall said during a stop in Warsaw Thursday.
A full story on his visit appears on Page 1A of today’s edition.
KAVANAUGH IMPACT – A Fox New poll suggests that if U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly votes against Kavanaugh's nomination, 21 percent of likely voters would be more likely to vote for him, and 29 percent of likely voters would be less likely to vote for him.
According to a Fox News Poll, Republican challenger Mike Braun has a 45-42 lead over Donnelly; other polls have shown Donnelly with a lead.
BANKS INVOLVEMENT – Third District Congressman Jim Banks is serving as the chairman of the new House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, which will look at the $15.8 billion, 10-year electronic health record modernization program that will replace the department’s legacy EHR system.
The new EHR system, if implemented successfully, will ensure members of the armed forces have a seamless, lifetime medical record that follows them from their time in uniform through their transition into civilian life.
The subcommittee’s first meeting was Thursday. Banks serves on the House Armed Services and Veterans Affairs committees.
A spokesman for Banks’ office was asked about Banks’ role, and said House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Phil Roe, of Tennessee, asked Banks to lead this subcommittee and that Banks “felt it was his duty to take on this leadership role on behalf of our nation’s veterans.”
GOP EVENTS – Local Republicans have formed a new group for young folks. Participation in Young Republicans is for those ranging from high school to age 40. They’ll have their first meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Republican Headquarters, 123 W. Center St., Warsaw. For details, call Zach Potts at 574-210-0351.
The GOP’s Hall of Fame Dinner, set for Oct. 18, at the Owl's Nest in North Webster, will feature U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski and Maureen Braun, wife of U.S. Senate candidate Mike Braun.
The GOP fish fry will be Oct. 3 at the fairgrounds.
DEM EVENTS – Local Dems were able to attract two statewide candidates for the Salute To Service dinner, which is a week from tonight at Noa Noa in Warsaw.
Among those attending will be Secretary of state candidate Jim Harper, and John Aguilera, candidate for state treasurer.
BATTLING FLORENCE – Two firefighters from the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory – Nate Iden and Brent Fifer – have been deployed to North Carolina with a Swift Water Rescue Team comprising firefighters from six other Michiana departments.
The team will aid in rescue efforts from Hurricane Florence for the next couple of weeks, according to a statement on Warsaw’s Facebook page.
A spokesperson for KREMC said they have a crew ready and are prepared to assist if requested.
