Congresswoman Jackie Walorski has a “key” to the White House and she brought it with her to the Kosciusko Republican Party Hall of Fame Dinner Thursday.
Walorski was the keynote speaker at the annual event, where Kristi Ormsby and Craig Nayrocker were named 2020 Woman and Man of the Year, respectively, and State Rep. Dave Wolkins was honored for his 32 years of service to the Statehouse.
“This federal election for president is everything that we are on the line, everything is on the table. Nothing is off the table. We are all, as a nation, on the table. It’s never been more consequential,” Walorski said.
She said President Trump’s numbers in Indiana are moving, like they are all across the country, and “we need every single vote.”
Walorski said she won her 2nd District seat, anchored between St. Joe and Elkhart counties because of Kosciusko County Republican voters. “You guys have a machine unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” she said, noting that it’s the only place in her district where she’s heard of candidates without opponents. “Only in Kosciusko County do you guys not have opponents on every single race.”
She said her battle up north in St. Joe and Elkhart counties is the most intense it’s ever been. Walorski is running against Democrat Pat Hackett in Tuesday’s general election.
“It is really nasty. Most nasty it’s ever been. And they are very engaged. If the Democrats have one thing going for them, that is consistent around the country, including this district, is they are at it. They’ve got everything, they’ve doubled-down, tripled-down. The Democrats, across this country and in the state of Indiana, have raised more money and broken records nationally, regionally and by state and by district. Where the money is coming from, I have no idea. But, boy, I hope Trump wins so we can investigate where the billions of dollars is coming from that these Democrats are bringing in for these races. It’s unheard of,” Walorski said.
She then spoke about the last time she saw Trump, which was about six to eight weeks ago. Walorski was among 40 people who Trump had invited to dinner. He came into the dinner after a press conference at about 8:30 p.m. He then told his invited guests that he wanted to give them a gift.
He comes in with boxes. On the front of the wooden box is a laser-engraved presidential seal. When you open the box, there’s a drawing of the White House and a “key” to the White House is inside. On one side of the key, it says “Key to the White House,” and on the other side it says, “President Donald J. Trump.”
“The reason I wanted to show you this tonight is because this is for all of you because I represent you. This isn’t just me. You sent me there to do the things that I do, to fight for the values that we believe in and the things that are important to use in this manufacturing district,” Walorski told the Republicans as she displayed the box and key.
When Trump handed Walorski the box, she said she told him, “Mr. President, I just want to tell you one thing, because I think it really matters and there’s nothing else I can say that will have more significance than to tell you that we are praying for you. We have doubled-down and we are praying for you.”
She told him “We have your back” and Indiana’s 2nd District was open to all members of the Trump family if they ever need refuge.
“He just kind of laughed, he was grateful. He’s very humble when you talk to him about things like ‘we are praying for you’ because he really does believe that,” Walorski said. “I’ll tell you, he said, ‘You know what? If the rest of this country was like Indiana, we wouldn’t be sweating and toiling this next election.’ He said, ‘I’m so grateful for the state of Indiana.’”
She said the only way the U.S. brings its economy back and restores the nation is to restore “our way of life, to defeat coronavirus. That’s what we have to do. Not matter how we have to do it, we have to do it. We can’t just keep limping along like we were.”
Walorski said Indiana “was one of the first states that broke out … when we reopened the states. I think we were one of the top 10 states that popped out. Gov. Holcomb had a vision. We’re going to make all the manufacturing positions essential … I think it’s just a great decision and we got it out there and look at what’s happening in our district. Manufacturers are manufacturing.”
She said the 2nd District is playing an important role as the rest of the nation is limping along.
“And some states, with Democratic governors, are having a hard time even reopening,” Walorski said. “But I think we’ve got to defeat coronavirus. I think we will. We’ve got to rebuild our economy.”
She said the economy needs the Enhanced PPE Program, but it’s being held up by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat. Walorski also talked about how Democrats want to continue to raise taxes so they have more money to spend.
Earlier in the dinner, Winona Lake Clerk-Treasurer Kent Adams recognized Dave and his wife, Candice Wolkins, with a plaque.
“The thing I most remember about Dave is that, 9, 10 o’clock in the evening, he’d be in his office on the second floor of the Statehouse and be making telephone calls back to the people that he represented back home. He never forgot those folks. I think that had a lot to do with the 32-plus years as a representative,” Adams said.
He noted that Wolkins only has five days left in office because the state legislature positions take office at “midnight the day of the general election.” Republican Craig Snow is seeking Wolkins’ District 18 seat against Democrat Chad Harris.
Wolkins said he had no idea about the honor and was one of the luckiest guys ever.
“I’ve had tremendous joy representing the people of Kosciusko County. I’ve made so many friends, and was able to accomplish quite a few things. Not as many as Joe Biden has, obviously, but it is absolutely amazing that I’ve had the opportunities that I’ve had. People I’ve got to meet, people I know and so forth,” Wolkins said, thanking all the Republicans at their dinner for their long support.
Kosciusko County Republican Central Committee Chairman Mike Ragan and the rest of the Committee presented the Woman of the Year award to Ormsby. She said she was not expecting the award and, “I have been really lucky to get to know a lot of people here, and so generous in welcoming me. There’s so much to learn. I’ve been so lucky to work for Dave and for Ryan. Thank you.”
The Committee later presented Nayrocker with his Man of the Year award.
“Our 2020 Man of the Year is someone who has probably – I don’t think I know of anybody that is a harder worker. I’ve seen this person go door to door. I’ve seen him make hundreds, maybe thousands, of phone calls for candidates around the state. He is constantly asking what he can do to help,” Ragan said.
“This is unusual,” Nayrocker said of receiving the plaque.
