Wednesday
Sep122012
Share Article | Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at 02:42PM Peru Tribune: Walorski visits Peru, gets Farm Bureau endorsement
By Sarah Stonestreet
Congressional candidate Jackie Walorski visited Peru Fire Department Tuesday
as well as receiving a PAC endorsement from Indiana Farm Bureau earlier in the week.
The Indiana Farm Bureau’s political action committee ELECT presented Walorski
with her endorsement during its monthly meeting Monday at McClure’s Orchard. She
spoke with bureau members from second district counties and spoke with them about
their priorities in agriculture.
“It is a privilege to be endorsed by Indiana’s farmers,” Walorski said in a press
release. “Agriculture is in the cornerstone of the Hoosier’s state’s economy and with all
92 counties recently declared primary natural disaster areas it is imperative that
Congress protect family farms at the federal level.”
The release also stated that candidates are selected based on viability and
electability as well as the candidates’ support and understanding for Farm Bureaus,
farmers, agriculture and rural issues. The candidate was chosen by the ELECT PAC
after they met and reviewed the candidates’ platforms and voted.
“We’ve had a long working relationship with (Walorski) when she was in the state
legislator,” Don Villwock, President of Farm Bureau, told the Tribune. “She is a great
listener, a good advocate for agricultural issues during her time in the State House and
she is very focused on agriculture in the district as she travels.” Villwock said he had
also known Walorski for a number of years and that she has worked with him on issues
at the Indianapolis Farm Bureau office.
“She has a passion for service and that came across very clearly when our
political action committee interviewed her, that she understands how important
agriculture is to Indiana’s economy and today’s world” he said. “I’ve come to know and
respect her and her talent and her passion for service.”
Walorski also visited the Peru Fire Department Tuesday, meeting and speaking
with members of the department as well as Fire Chief Chris Betzner and Mayor Jim
Walker. She has been touring different emergency response departments throughout
the district.
“She is a no-nonsense type of person, she does want to tray and help,” Walker
said. “She does want to make a difference in Indiana. I think it’s apropos to have her
here on the eleventh anniversary of Sept. 11”
Walorski gave a short speech where she mentioned her personal connection
with emergency response teams through her father who worked for the fire department
in her home town. She Answered questions and thanked those present not only for their
work Peru but as representatives of those who responded to the terrorist attack on the
World Trade Center towers eleven years ago.
“I honor and respect what you do,” She said. “I just think on the occasion we
have today... how appropriate it is to ask Americans to pause and remember those ewe
lost.”
She also commended city leaders for the creation of the fire territory as well as the
self-sufficiency the city has shown in making things happen.
“I have been talking about Peru and the district practically everywhere I go,” she
said. “I appreciate everything I’ve seen in Peru.”
After her speech Walorski toured the fires station on West Canal Street with
Betzner.
“I think it’s great she took time out of her day to talk to the firemen on duty and
listen to what their concerns are,” Betzner said.
