By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

WARSAW – As we come to the conclusion of a crazy, unprecedented election, I would guess the only thing everyone agrees upon is that we’ll be glad once it is over. But hey, if you can’t get enough, here are some more tidbits.

FINAL ARGUMENTS – I asked the chairmen of both major parties to share their reasons behind supporting their presidential choices. The following are their thoughts in their entirety.

• GOP Chair Mike Ragan – Donald Trump has done everything he has promised, and more. His patriotism,  pro-life, pro- America and pro-business positions are a very short list of his positions that are completely aligned with mine. He is one of the three best Presidents in American history. Thank God for the last four years, and hopefully we will be blessed with another term. 
• Dem Chair Brian Smith – Due to the failed policies of this president, our economy is in crisis, our military alliances are in tatters and over 200,000 Americans have needlessly died from the coronavirus. Far from “Making America Great Again,” millions of Americans are out of work and dying. Joe Biden will restore America to the prosperity of 2009-2017.

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SIX ISSUES TO CONSIDER – A few things to toss around with three days remaining before the biggest election in our lifetime:

• Pandemic impact – If not for the virus, I’m guessing the economy would still be roaring and the Trump Train would be coasting on to victory.
• Expanded voting – Assuming there will not be any significant voter fraud, this election may well be remembered as the starting point to expanded mail-in balloting in many states. Voting should not be hard. People like absentee voting.
• A year of diversity – This local election will be remembered as the most diverse. Aside from a handful of women and minorities on the ballot, the county has also seen the emergence of two groups. One is a get-out-the-vote effort by Warsaw Area Voters, a community organization established to increase voter engagement in Kosciusko County and led by Maria Duenas Lopez, a first-generation Mexican-American who advocates for immigrants. The other is Nasty Women of Kosciusko County, which emerged in opposition to President Donald Trump.
• Rainwater Strength – It looks like Gov. Eric Holcomb has maintained his lead statewide for re-election, but I would not be shocked if Libertarian Donald Rainwater proves to be competitive against the incumbent in Kosciusko County.
• Most interesting Congressional race – The 5th Congressional District is getting national attention with four candidates seeking to replace the retiring Republican incumbent Susan Brooks. Among the four are front-runners Republican Victoria Sparks, Democrat Christina Hale, Libertarian Ken Tucker and Independent Ellen Kizik.
• Quiet Republicans  – Remember when some pundits suggested that quiet Trump supporters accounted for imperfect polling in 2016 and aided in his victory? I’m guessing there will be just as many quiet Republicans who will not support Trump this year.

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TWO OF FOUR – There are only four school referendums in the state this year and two of those are in our neck of the woods. Those include Wawasee Community School Corporation, Bremen Public Schools as well as  Southeast Dubois County School Corporation in southern Indiana and Gary Community School Corporation.

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CATES –  Kosciusko County Council At-Large member Kimberly Cates might have lost in the primary, but that doesn’t mean she still won’t be involved in local activities. She’s been busy for years at the township level in Syracuse and has been especially active with Kosciusko County Development Corporation, not to mention direct county council tasks.

“I don’t see myself pulling back from being involved, but I need to make sure whatever I do going forward makes a difference,” Cates said recently.

She said she’s not ruling out another run for local office down the road.

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BANKS PODCAST – Third District Congressman Jim Banks has launched a podcast, which is still relatively new for lawmakers. It’s called Grounded With Jim Banks, and you can find it through Spotify and Apple. In the “prologue” episode, Congressman Banks explains why he’s launched the podcast and interviews some members of his staff about working in a congressional office. He said he sees it as a growing platform for substantive conversations. 

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ELECTION FORECAST – The National Weather Service predicts sunny conditions and a high of 58 in Kosciusko County on Tuesday.

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Dan Spalding is the editor at InkFreeNews.com.
He covers city government and politics and always welcomes your input.
He can be reached at [email protected] or at (574) 855-7612.