Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE – Aboard the S.S. Lillypad in Syracuse Thursday night, former Kosciusko County Commissioner Avis Gunter and Republican Party Central Committee Treasurer Steve Foster were announced as the GOP’s Woman and Man of the Year.
Before the award recipients were announced at the annual Hall of Fame dinner, GOP Chairman Mike Ragan said every year it is difficult to select a Man and Woman of the Year because there are so many people that help the party and go the extra mile.
“We are so grateful for all of you. This year’s selection was as difficult as every other year,” he said.
Former GOP Chairwoman Jean Northenor announced Gunter as the Woman of the Year.
“I was very pleased when Mike asked me to do this this year,” Northenor said, citing a list of Republican women who have served as the party’s foundation. “Those are some of our foundations who have made us what we are because, I swear to God, they would come back from the grave if we didn’t do it right because they were pretty adamant about how things were to be done.”
Speaking of Gunter, Northenor said she was someone “that I’ve known a long time. I can’t remember just exactly when, but I know she was in the courthouse a long time. Probably could still be there today if she wanted to be. ... She’s done everything there is to do for this party. She was a worker in the courthouse, she was an elected official in the courthouse. Mike tells me she volunteers and helps him in anything he needs done. All he has to do is make a phone call and there she is. ... I don’t know of anybody more deserving than our own Avis Gunter.”
After accepting her plaque, Gunter said, “I just enjoy being a Republican and working for the party.”
Ragan announced the Man of the Year, saying Foster has become a “very good friend of mine.”
“He has helped with everything I have asked for, even more. He has made trips hundreds of miles on behalf of headquarters when we needed signs and stuff like that. It is really my honor and pleasure to announce Steve Foster as this year’s Man of the Year,” Ragan said.
In his comments, Foster said, “There’s no speech, just simply say thank you. I’ve had a great time. I’ve enjoyed the company of most everyone here.”
He said he appreciated Ragan for what he’s done.
Earlier in the meeting, Ragan announced all the office holders and candidates in attendance at the dinner.
Six men across the state have announced their candidacy for U.S. Senate against incumbent and Democrat Sen. Joe Donnelly, Ragan said. One of those candidates, Andrew Takami, attended the Hall of Fame dinner and spoke briefly.
“We are running for the right reasons, we are running to win,” Takami said, adding he’s “running for United States Senate because we have to change the course of our country, and I have been taught, just like all of you, by my parents, that one person can make a different. We know that’s true.”
He said one thing that he would bring to the Senate is the awareness of the philanthropic areas that “are a part of the Republican way.”
“So often, people look at Republicans as the party that doesn’t care. That’s not true. We give so much philanthropically, but we don’t really tell that.”
Takami said his candidacy was about changing the conversation in Washington as well as what he can do in Indiana.
In other bits of business, Kosciusko County Councilwoman Joni Truex said the Kosciusko Republicans Women’s Club will meet at 9 a.m. Sept. 23 at the Red Apple Pancake House in Warsaw. She said it’s not just for women, men can join, and it just generally supports the GOP.
Josh Finch announced the Bob Sanders Memorial Golf Scramble is Sept. 19 at Stonehenge Golf Course, Warsaw. Entry fee is $300 per team and includes 18 holes of golf with cart and lunch.
A buffet-style lunch only is $25, and registration and lunch begin at 11:30 a.m. There will be a cash bar.
Golfing begins at 1 p.m. There will be prizes for first, second and third place, longest drive and closest to pin.
The event is limited to 25 teams.
For more information about the golf outing, contact Finch at 260-827-8347. RSVP to event coordinators Josh Spangle at jspangle4327@gmail.com or Finch at jkfinch14@gmail.com.
