By Brian Howey
State Affairs Indiana (Pro)
WARSAW, Ind. — When Brad Chambers walked into Creighton’s Crazy Egg Coffee Bar Wednesday afternoon for a meet and greet, he found a room full of the Kosciusko County Republican elite. This is one of the most conservative party bastions in the state.
Republican Chairman Mike Ragan, Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer, longtime party stalwart Jean Northenor, state Rep. Craig Snow, Sheriff Jim Smith, county commissioners and councilmembers, as well as the business elite from Lake City Bank, Zimmer Biomet, the Bowen Center, Maple Leaf Farms and Grace College were there, almost 50 strong.
These Republicans weren’t there to endorse the latest Republican candidate for governor. They were there to listen and participate in a Q&A session. It was part of a statewide blitz the former commerce secretary is currently conducting, bringing him here, to Fort Wayne, Anderson and Evansville this week.