It’s hand-shaking and baby-kissing season, and what better time to win over a voter? Of course, it’s always more fun when there’s deep-fried elephant ears and crispy tenderloins involved.
Local candidates from the Democratic and Republican parties are expected to be out in full force at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds when the 2019 4-H fair officially opens Friday.
Amid the “fun, frolic and food,” as Columbus City Councilman at-large Tom Dell, referred to the fair, city council candidates will stake their spots at the Republican and Democratic party tents throughout the week, all in an effort to gain votes when the fall election rolls around on Nov. 5.
“It’s more exposure,” said Laurie Booher, a Republican who is running for a second term in the council at-large position. “All of us realize that you get a mix of people who live out in the county and people who don’t live in this county, but you get the exposure of those who always go to the fair and the ones who make it a point to come on nights like family nights. I’ll definitely be there those nights when we draw more of a local crowd.”
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Booher is reusing T-shirts and postcards from her 2015 campaign as a method for getting her name known throughout the community. She said she hopes to get “Run with Laurie” campaign shirts on as many people as she can.
Several local candidates are taking their T-shirts and other swag to the fair this year, including Republican Jim Hartsook, who is running to represent District 2 on the city council, Republican Superior Court 2 judge candidate Dominic Glover and Democratic city council candidate Ross Thomas.
Thomas spent Wednesday morning prepping his promotional material at the Bartholomew County Democratic Headquarters. He’ll be passing out free T-shirts, flyers and bracelets with his name.
“The fair is an annual event for a lot of families,” Thomas said. “They all make at least one night to come to the fair. It’s a chance for people to come to us on their own terms as opposed to me knocking on their door at dinnertime.”
The Bartholomew County Republican Party will sponsor the fair’s opening day and Monday. Throughout those days, party chairwoman Barbara Hackman said candidates and representatives from local, state and federal levels of government are expected to make appearances at the fair.
Hackman said in addition to the Republican Party’s normal tent located along Veteran’s Parkway at the fairgrounds, a special tent will be located in front of the fair office along Young Farmers “Rural Youth” Street on Friday and Monday where the public can find candidates and elected officials.
“It’s a really good way for candidates to meet the public,” Hackman said. “It’s really the only function, other than our special events, for them to have an opportunity to see other people they might not be able to engage any other time and talk to them about what they’re wanting to do as an elected official.”
Dell, an Democratic incumbent running for one of two at-large seats on the city council, said the fair is the place where everyone sees everything they know, even those people that you don’t see often.
“For some reason, you always run into them at the fair,” Dell said.
He said it’s difficult to gauge just how many voters he intends to meet throughout the course of the nine-day-long fair, but he wants to make sure people understand he’s there to serve them.
“It’s never about us; it’s about them,” Dell said. “We’ve got to make sure we’re responsive enough to listen to them. Public person, people come talk to me. The fair gives you that same opportunity.”
Supporters of local Democratic candidates are encouraged to come out on each candidate’s designated day sporting campaign T-shirts. Friday is Michael Schoumacher Day; Saturday is Katea Ravega Day; Monday is Ross Thomas Day; Tuesday is Grace Kestler Day; Wednesday is Elaine Wagner Day; Thursday, July 11, is Tom Dell Day and Friday, July 12, is Jerone Wood Day.
Even the 2020 Bartholomew County Superior Court 2 judge candidates are proving that it’s never too early to earn a person’s vote.
Columbus Police Chief Jon Rohde, Magistrate Joe Meek and local attorneys Glover and Scott Andrews are all seeking the Republic nomination for the judge spot next year. They said they planned to set up shop at the Republican tent this week, despite having just under a year before the 2020 primary.
Glover said he plans to be at the fair almost every evening to meet voters.
Rohde, who just announced his candidacy last month, said he wants to make sure voters see his dedication at work. Rohde will also be stationed at the Republican party tent throughout the week.
As for special guests in the Republican party tent, Hackman said the public can expect visits from U.S. Sen. Todd Young and Rep. Greg Pence. R-Ind. A federal representative of Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., is also expected.
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Friday
7 to 11 a.m.: 4-H goat check-in
8:30 a.m.: Lil’ Wrangler Poultry Show – Pavilion
9 a.m.: 4-H Poultry Show – Pavilion
9-11 a.m.: Open Class Flower Show – Family Arts Building
Noon-4 p.m.: Antique Farm Display entries due
5 p.m.: Official opening of the fair
5 p.m.: Midway opens – $20 wristbands
5-10 p.m.: Lil’ Hands on the Farm – 4-H Community Building
6-7 p.m.: Dance by Design – David Boll Theatre
7 p.m.: Musical talents of 2016 Miss Bartholomew County 4-H Fair Bailey Meyer – David Boll Theatre
7 p.m.: Blacksmithing Demonstration – Heritage Building
7 p.m.: Ferguson Road – Farm Bureau Building
7 p.m.: Indiana Pulling Leading and Farm Stock Tractors – Grandstand
8 p.m.: 4-H Watermelon Relay – Horse Arena
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Bartholomew County Democratic Party
Local and county government candidates will greet voters at the Bartholomew County Democratic Party tent, located on Veteran’s Parkway.
Supporters of local Democratic candidates are encouraged to come out on each candidate’s designated day sporting campaign T-shirts.
Friday, July 5, is Michael Schoumacher Day; Saturday, July 6, is Katea Ravega Day; Monday, July 8, is Ross Thomas Day; Tuesday, July 9, is Grace Kestler Day; Wednesday, July 10, is Elaine Wagner Day; Thursday, July 11, is Tom Dell Day and Friday, July 12, is Jerone Wood Day.
Bartholomew County Republican Party
Candidates running for local and county government offices will stake their spots at the Bartholomew County Republican Party tent on Veteran’s Parkway from July 5 through July 13.
The party purchased fair sponsorships for Friday, July 5, and Monday, July 8. Local, state and federal elected officials and candidates will also make appearances at a special tent located in front of the fair office on Young Farmers "Rural Youth" Street.
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To learn more about the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair, visit bartholomewcountyfair.com.
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