Monroe County Republicans celebrate Daniels victory

After working 14 hours and running on energy from an evening nap, Anna Ivey, who described herself as the chief gofer for the Monroe County Republican Headquarters, wove through the throng of people at the Monroe County Republican victory party Tuesday night.\n"We just have some fabulous candidates," Ivey said, explaining why Republicans would be good for Indiana. "We've got a lot of experienced leaders."\nThe election results were unknown when the party began, but Monroe County Republicans gathered at Elks Lodge No. 446 in hopeful, excited spirits ready for celebration. Two hours into the party, gubernatorial candidate Mitch Daniels gave them something to cheer about.\n"Oh, I want that Mitch Daniels to win bad," one woman said. \nShe stood and peered over the people in front of her to get a better view of the television screen. A news channel had just announced that Daniels pulled ahead of the Gov. Joe Kernan by 9 percent. \nA little more than an hour later, she got her wish. Daniels was declared the new governor of Indiana. \nClad in a green "My Man Mitch" shirt, Monroe County resident Mike Piskos said he came to the victory party because he helped with Daniels' campaign and wanted to mix with fellow Republicans. He said he was very excited for Indiana when he heard that Daniels beat Kernan.\n"I think he'll help the job situation in the state," Piskos said. "It's been a long time since we've had a Republican governor."\nDaniels' victory wasn't a surprise for Bloomington resident Robert M. Walker.\n"I'm glad he won, and I expected him to," Walker said. "My guess is Mitch left Washington to run for governor because he was asked to do so by someone in high power."\nAlthough some were eager about the governor's race, others anticipated the local elections.\nRandolph County resident Jan Chalfant drove to Bloomington because his son, Jeff Chalfant, was running for judge. After months of campaigning and weekend trips to help his son, Jan Chalfant was glad Election Day had come.\n"It's been a long, hard six months," Jan Chalfant said. "Jeff had tough competition in the primaries."\nRepublican Party Special Projects Coordinator Gary Darland was excited about the election and felt good about it before the results were in.\n"I know the Republican Party did their best," Darland said. "We crossed the finish line as one team pulling in one direction. Monroe County's Central Committee is probably the most educated central committee in the nation. It's unbelievable to see them come together."\nIvey said she didn't know the candidates very well before she began working with them three months ago but learned that they and their spouses are wonderful people.\n"If kudos goes to anybody, it's the spouses," Ivey said. "The spouses are the heroes."\n-- Contact staff writer Ashley Rhodebeck at arhodebe@indiana.edu.