 |
Central Committee:
   Wayne Parke, Chairman
   Mary Jo Kaiser, Political Director
   Dottie Thomas, Vice Chairman
   Lon Walters, Secretary
   Farley Smith, Treasurer
   Kevin Harrison, Editor Â
|
|
News and Upcoming Events for March 3, 2020
|
|
Thank you for a Successful 2020 Lincoln Day Celebration
Last Friday evening, February 28, 2020, the Vanderburgh County Republican Party held its annual Lincoln Day Dinner at the Evansville Country Club. This year’s Keynote Speaker Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb was joined onstage by Indiana Republican Party Chairman Kyle Hupfer for an informal ‘fireside chat’. Among the topics discussed were the strength of the Indiana Republican Party, and how Republican leadership has made Indiana an economic success story and national leader in job creation. Prior to Governor Holcomb taking the stage, introductory speeches were given by guest speakers Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke and 8th District Congressman Dr. Larry Bucshon. Indiana State Representative Jim Tomes lead the gathering of approximately 180 in the Pledge of Allegiance and in the Invocation. Vanderburgh County GOP Chairman Wayne Parke presided over the event.
At the end of the Lincoln Day proceedings, Chairman Wayne Parke presented the 2020 Republican of the Year award to Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch for her lifetime of public service.
|
|
|
Indiana GOP Chairman Kyle Hupfer (L) and Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb at the 2020 VCRP Lincoln Day Dinner.
|
|
|
The Vanderburgh County Republican Party would like to thank everyone that helped make this year’s Lincoln Day Dinner a huge success!
Suzanne Crouch named 2020 Republican Of The YearÂ
Lt. Governor Suzanne Couch was named the 2020 recipient of the Republican of the Year Award at the conclusion of last Friday evening’s Vanderburgh County Lincoln Day Dinner. As has been the practice in past years, the introduction of the award winner is prefaced with facts about the individual’s life and accomplishments prior to revealing the name of the recipient.
The following remarks were made by VCRP Chairman Wayne Parke in announcing this year’s winner, Indiana Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch.
Five years ago, the Vanderburgh County Republican Party started giving a “Republican of the Year” Award. It is awarded to a person who has worked hard giving both time and money to make our City and County the best it can be. Past recipients of this award are Susie Kirk, Kevin Harrison, Frank Peterlin, Lloyd Winnecke and myself-all are here tonight.
Like those winners in the past, this year’s recipient has done an outstanding job supporting the Republican Party and the citizens of Vanderburgh County. Here are some hints as to who our Recipient is this year-can you guess who?
- Our 2020 Recipient’s birthday was yesterday-February 27.
- Our Recipient attended Mater Dei High School and got a BS Degree from Purdue University.
- Our Recipient served as Chairman of the Vanderburgh Republican Party from 1989 thru 1993.
- Our Recipient was elected Vanderburgh County Auditor in 1994 and served 8 years in that position. Our Recipient established a reputation of fighting for government efficiency, responsiveness, accountability and accessibility. For the first time in decades, the Office received a clean bill of health from the State Board of Accounts.
- In 2002, our Recipient was elected to be a County Commissioner and then became President of that group and led the charge to televise the weekly meetings. For the first time, the Commissioners applied for and received federal transportation money for a local road project.
- In 2005, our Recipient filled the State Representative position for HD 78 when Vaneta Becker move to the State Senate. This State Representative positon represents Vanderburgh, Spencer and Warrick Counties.
- In 2013, our Recipient was appointed to fill the vacant Indiana State Auditor position. In 2014, our Recipient ran for the State Auditor position and beat the Democrat opponent by a 23 percent margin.
- In 2016, when Mike Pence was selected to be Donald Trump’s running mate, Eric Holcomb became the Republican Governor candidate and our Recipient was selected to run for Lt Governor on the State Republican ticket.
- Our Recipient married Larry Downs shortly after graduating from Purdue and they have a daughter, Courtney.
Fellow Republicans, let us stand and give a warm round of applause for our 2020 Vanderburgh County Republican of the Year-Suzanne Crouch!
Presented by: Wayne Parke,Chairman VCRP
|
|
Â
Voter Registration for 2020 Primary Ends Monday, April 6, 2020
Voter Registration for the 2020 Primary Election ends Monday, April 6, 2020. Registration can be done online, by mail or in person.
Register to Vote Online: Register to vote online by visiting indianavoters.com. Indiana residents with a valid Indiana driver’s license or Indiana state-issued identification card will be able to use this tool to submit a new voter registration application or to update an existing voter registration record.
Register to Vote by Mail or In-Person: To register to vote or update your current registration by mail or in person, you will need to complete and return the Voter Registration Form (VRG-7) on or before April 6, 2020. ONLY the version of the state voter registration form (VRG-7) published on the Indiana Secretary of State Election Division website will be accepted by the Vanderburgh County Voter Registration office. Return the completed form to the Vanderburgh County Voter Registration office or the Indiana Election Division by midnight, April 6, 2020.
Get a copy of form VRG-7: Voter Registration Application by visiting the Indiana Voter Portal HEREMail your completed VRG-7 form to : Vanderburgh County Voter Registration
Civic Center Complex, Room 214
1 NW M.L. King, Jr. Blvd
You can also apply in person at the Vanderburgh County Voter Registration office or the Vanderburgh County Clerk’s office (Civic Center Complex, Room 216). For more information visit the Vanderburgh County Voters Registration webpage, or call 812-435-5222. |
|
 
Early Voting (Absentee In-Person) begins at the Vanderburgh County Election Office on Tuesday, April 7, 2020
The first day that a voter may vote an absentee ballot for the 2020 Primary Election is Tuesday April 7, 2020. All registered voters in Indiana are eligible to vote in-person at the county election board office beginning 28 days before Election Day. Early voting at the Election Office will be 8:00 am – 4:00 pm weekdays starting Tuesday April 7 and conclude at Noon on Monday May 4, 2020.
To vote absentee by mail, complete the APPLICATION FOR ABSENTEE BALLOT found at the Vanderburgh County ClerkElections web page and mail it to:Â Â Â Â Vanderburgh County Election
P.O. Box 3343
Evansville, IN 47732-3343
Absentee ballot applications and forms can also be found on the Indiana Voters Portal . If you have any questions, please call the Election Office at 812-435-5122.  The Vanderburgh County Election Office is located at : 1 NW ML King Jr. BLVD ,Evansville, IN
|
 |
|
|
|
 2020 Republican Primary Candidates
FEDERAL
President of the United States   Donald J. Trump
 William Weld
U S Representative District 8Â Â Â Â Larry Bucshon
STATE
Governor        Eric Holcomb
 Lt. Governor        Suzanne Crouch
 State Senate District 50        Vaneta Becker
State Representative Dist. 64    Matt Hostettler
State Representative Dist. 76    Wendy McNamara
State Representative Dist. 77       OPEN
State Representative Dist. 78    Holli Sullivan
VANDERBURGH
Clerk of the Circuit Court       Carla Hayden
County Recorder              Debbie Stucki
County Treasurer             Dottie Thomas
County Coroner                  OPEN
County Surveyor             Linda Freeman
County Commissioner Dist. 1Â Â Â Zachary Rascher
County Commissioner Dist. 3Â Â Â Â Randall Chapman
(Vote for 1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Cheryl Musgrave (incumbent)
County Council At-Large      Billy D. Garrett
  (Vote for not more than 3)         Jill Hahn
    Joe Kiefer (incumbent)
    Angela Koehler Lindsey (incumbent)
|
|
   The VCRP is currently filling poll worker positions for the May 5, 2020 Primary Election. To be a poll workers you must be a registered voter residing in Vanderburgh County. Additionally, poll workers cannot be a close relative to a candidate whose name appears on the ballot, and cannot be the chairman or treasurer of the committee of the candidate whose name appears on the ballot.
Vote Center Poll Worker compensation is $275 for Inspectors, $195 for Republican Judges and$195 for Republican Clerks. Training is a requirement.  For more information or to volunteer to be a Republican poll worker contact the Vanderburgh County GOP at 812-425-8207 or Email VCRP Political Director Mary Jo Kaiser at beamerjo59@gmail.com
|
 Kiefer Fundraiser This Thursday, March 5, 2020:
|
 County Council Meeting-  Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2020
 Â
Â
        1 NW Martin Luther King Blvd, Evansville
|
 City Council Meeting-   Date: Monday, March 9, 2020
        1 NW Martin Luther King Blvd, Evansville
|
EVSC Board of School Trustees Meeting-
       Time: 5:30 PM
|
 County Commission Meeting-   Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2020
        1 NW Martin Luther King Blvd, Evansville
|
VCRP Central Committee Meeting-Â Â Â Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2020
  Location: GOP Headquarters
  815 John Street, Evansville
 Meetings are open to all Vanderburgh County Precinct Committeemen
|
Time: 9:15 AM (doors open at 9:00 AM)
200 SE ML King BLVD, Evansville
Local state legislators are invited to make themselves available to answer questions on the second Saturday of each month during each legislative session. This is the final meeting for 2020.
|
VCRP Monthly Breakfast - Date: March 21, 2020
Time: 7:30 AM doors open / 8:00 AM Program
  100 Walnut Street, Evansville, IN 47713
|
Are you looking for an opportunity to help your Indiana Republican Party and make a differencein the lives of Hoosiers? Then look no further! We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated Republicans to join our grassroots team as field organizers and political interns!
|
J oin Us at the 2020 Indiana Republican State Convention
The Indiana Republican State Convention will be June 19-20 in Indianapolis. We’ve updated our website with information you’ll need about state convention, so if you’re planning to attend, make sure to check it out. Get Convention information HERE. |
|
Ensuring elections are safe from cyber threats (from 2/28/20 News Update)
Our elections are increasingly reliant upon technology as a means of efficiency and convenience for Hoosiers. However, we have to be extra vigilant in defending our democratic process from cyber attacks. I sponsored a cybersecurity bill that would help further protect Indiana election and security systems statewide by requiring counties and the secretary of state to provide another layer of security for local election departments. Under this bill, new cybersecurity software would help monitor internet traffic accessing websites and databases to eliminate threats.
As we head into the 2020 elections, this extra measure could help increase voter confidence and ensure the integrity of the election system is not compromised. Indiana continues to be a leader in ensuring the security of its elections.The proposal has passed the Senate and is being deliberated upon in the House. Please let me know if you have any questions about this or any other legislation by contacting me at h78@iga.in.gov or 1-800-382-9841.
|
Saving lives through Indiana’s Safe Haven Laws
Indiana is now leading the nation in the number of baby boxes, with 21 installed throughout the state, and more communities are working to add them. If a Safe Haven Baby Box is not available, parents can still legally surrender their infant under the Safe Haven Law. This law allows people to anonymously leave infants younger than 30 days old with emergency service providers with no questions asked, as long as the child shows no signs of abuse.
|
Bill protecting seniors, minors from exploitation heads to governor
The House of Representatives voted in support of a bill sponsored by State Rep. Wendy McNamara that would help protect vulnerable Hoosiers from financial exploitation.
McNamara said exploitation is the fastest growing and most common type of elder abuse, and exploitation of minors is also a concern. Examples include foster children who have their Supplemental Security Income erroneously used by their parents, or senior citizens suffering from diseases like Alzheimer’s being preyed upon.
|
 
Follow Bills introduced during the 2020 General Assembly Legislative Session HERE
|
Stay in touch with GOP state legislators representing our area (click links below):
|
 
Young Calls for Passage of Two Pro-Life Bills to Protect Innocent Children: (from 02/25/20 News Release)
U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) today spoke about protecting the rights of unborn children and the need to pass two bills being voted on in the Senate today: the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act and the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. Senator Young is a cosponsor of both bills.
“Pro-life principles are supported by a majority of Americans and these bills are critical to protect all of our children,” said Senator Young. “Last year in Indiana, the horrific discovery of more than 2,000 aborted children was made in the basement of the late South Bend abortionist Dr. Klopfer. This sickening discovery underscores how important it is for our colleagues to join with us to protect innocent life. We need to come together and pass these bills for the sake of our children.”
|
 “The Johns Hopkins, – is a highly respected, great place – they did a study, comprehensive: The Countries Best and Worst Prepared for an Epidemic. And the United States is now – we’re rated number one. We’re rated number one for being prepared”  President Trump (February 26, 2020)
President Trump places Vice-President Mike Pence in charge of Coronavirus Task Force.
|
|
Â
Stay in touch with GOP members of Congress representing our area (click links below):
|
Visit the Vanderburgh GOPÂ
page for daily updates.
|
|
 Mark Your calendar        CLICK on event for more information
|
 Make sure you add vandygop@gmail.com to your address book so we’ll be sure to land in your inbox! |
If you have any questions, contact Mary Jo Kaiser, VCRP Political Director, at
for more info. Thank you.
|
|
|
|
