The Clinton County Republican Party, also known as the GOP, hosted a dinner prior to the upcoming 2023 Municipal General Election on Nov. 7 with special guest Randy Head, current District 4 Chairman of the Indiana GOP.
Head was the District 18 Indiana Senator from 2008 until 2019 when he resigned to become the Chief Deputy Prosecutor of Pulaski County before being appointed as the District 4 Chairman of the Indiana GOP. During the evening at Arborwood, Head was tasked with delivering a speech to ignite the crowd, and he focused upon the words of Abraham Lincoln as the center of his words.
“While this is not a bonafide Lincoln Day, it’s a fall rally, and I appreciate every one of you candidates that put your names on the ballot, I’m going to give a speech about Abraham Lincoln, because I think he has as much to teach us now as he did during his life,” Head said. “What amazes me about Abraham Lincoln is I think he would win today, but people would be skeptical about him at first.”
Head stated that he attempted to find three descriptive words to capture Lincoln and his actions as President, but he expressed that settling on three words would not suffice, describing Lincoln as kind, patient, gentle, forgiving and persuasive while highlighting his ability to talk to his enemies, communicate well and never claim credit to rather honor others. Head encouraged every politician to follow in Lincoln’s footsteps and harness the characteristics that he exhibited.
“That doesn’t mean Lincoln wasn’t fierce,” Head said. “He was fierce every time he had to be fierce, whenever he had to be fierce. That man had a well of resolve that inspires everyone who knows anything about him and how he operated. For him, that was just one tool in the toolbox.”
Head continued to link Lincoln’s preparations for taking over as the Commander in Chief to his perceptions of modern politicians, stating that Lincoln invited those who disagreed with him into his cabinet, allowing their opinions to be heard and allow for him to perfect his actions in the face of adversity and the upcoming war.
“Today, our politicians say ‘we’re not going to deal with our rivals, we’re not going to deal with people who disagree with us, that’s compromising and that’s weak,’” Head said. “I think that’s not true … he took all those people who ran against him for president and invited them into his cabinet.”
Head commented that through Lincoln’s characteristics and his dedication to the country, the American people began to rally around him, which he mentioned was a lesson that the politicians ranging from local to federal could learn and follow to better the country.
“It wasn’t very long after he got to Washington D.C. that people assembled there realized they had the leader they needed,” Head said. “The soldiers wanted to fight for Mr. Lincoln. The war had been going so badly in the East.”
Head commented that Lincoln utilized his bravery and personable approach to running the country to encourage the American people to continue pursuing justice for all, but Head stressed that Lincoln never took credit for perpetuating that message. Rather, Lincoln thanked the soldiers and the families that survived without their loved ones for their bravery and their sacrifices, never mentioning himself. Head encouraged every person to live bravely without the need to draw attention to themselves.
“The letter ‘I’ doesn’t seem to appear in many of Lincoln’s letters or speeches,” Head said. “It wasn’t about Lincoln. It was about the future of this great country, always, always. That wasn’t a front. That wasn’t an image. That wasn’t a brand. I think Lincoln would laugh if we talked about the idea of branding today. Candidates talk about that from both sides.”
Head concluded by reading numerous quotes from historical documents detailing the life and history of Lincoln’s speeches and letters. Head highlighted letters in which Lincoln walked into Confederate areas, invited the families and soldiers of the Confederate army into his chambers for conversations and celebrated the lives of those lost throughout the war without mentioning his ambitions and his successes. Head stated that above all, Lincoln always held the United States of America to the highest degree.
“Sometimes I think that I’m having a bad day, I go back to some of these quotes and realize I don’t know what a bad day is–I’ve never had one in my life,” Head said. “Oftentimes when I have a bad day, I feel sorry for myself. Why can’t things be better for me? Then I’m ashamed when I read that.”
Jim Moyer, Clinton County GOP Chairman, announced during the dinner that the Frankfort Council District 3 seat will be filled by Michael Brite due to the lack of an opponent from the Democratic Party. Brite has filed his resignation as a result of his plans to relocate out of Frankfort, and the Clinton County Republican Party expects to host a caucus to find a candidate to fill the District 3 position beginning in 2024.
The 2023 Municipal General Election early voting has kicked off. Community members can cast their ballot early From Oct. 11 through Nov. 3 at the Clinton County Courthouse from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Community members may also vote early at the Clinton County Courthouse on Saturday, Oct. 28 or Saturday, Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. as well as Monday, Nov. 6 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Edward Jones Community Center will open for early voting ballots on Saturday, Oct. 28 and Saturday, Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Election Day will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 7 this year with five locations open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Locations include the Community Schools of Frankfort Education and Administration Center at 2400 E. Wabash St., Adrian Marks Terminal at the Airport at 3009 State Road 28 W., the Edward Jones 4-H Community Center at 1701 S. Jackson St., the Mulberry Park Pavillion in Mulberry and the Rossville Town Pavilion at 2 Catron Lane in Rossville.
