By ROD KING

For the Northwest News

National GOP figure Chris Christie told Allen County Republicans that the much-anticipated Red Wave did not materialize in 2022 because the GOP had the wrong candidates.

“They were bad all around,” the former New Jersey governor and keynote speaker told an audience of more than 300 at the April 19 Lincoln Day Dinner at Ceruti’s on Innovation Boulevard.

“I’ve always been a big fan of the Olympics and I particularly like the way the event winners stand on the podium to receive their medals,” Christie said. “My picks for the worst candidates in the 2022 elections were Herschel Walker of Georgia for the Bronze Medal, Kari Lake of Arizona for the Silver and Dr. Oz of Pennsylvania for the Gold. He was actually from New Jersey. They were all endorsed by Donald Trump and they were all election deniers.

“The Democrats want Trump to be the Republican nominee again because he has done nothing but lose since he became president. I don’t want a president who says he’s our ‘redemption.’ He undercut American values. I can’t support him. If we want to stop the liberal politicians from getting a stranglehold on the government for another four years we need good candidates.”

“Fearlessness is not the way our democracy was built, ” Christie continued. “So once we regain control we need to make good decisions, take responsibility and tell the truth. When we get our candidates in office we need to focus on taking our children’s education back, stopping runaway federal spending and return the money to the people.

“Roe v Wade was just plain wrong. It has been a 50-year fight to strike it down and now we need to keep abortion out of the court and the government. I’m pro-life and to me abortion is unthinkable.”

Christie authored The New York Times best-seller “Let Me Finish” in 2019, with thoughts on his life and career in New Jersey and as a candidate for president. In 2021 he wrote “Republican Rescue” about his interactions with President Trump in 2019 and 2020 as well as his prescription for the future of the national GOP.

In addition to the keynote address, the Lincoln Day audience heard from Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, who gave a thumbnail sketch of her vision for Indiana if she wins the race for governor. She started with the subject of schools, saying that “parents and nobody else should be in charge of what’s being taught their children.” She added that the state needs to invest in the early childhood program she helped launch so that every Indiana child gets the start they deserve.

In addition, Crouch said she would ensure that Indiana funds and supports the police and enforces crime laws to the fullest. Lowering taxes, protecting Indiana jobs, investing in worker training, protecting the most vulnerable and the unborn are also among her top priorities. “I will never compromise where protecting faith, families and freedoms are concerned,” she said.

Fort Wayne resident Eric Doden, who is running for governor, spoke briefly about the three themes of his candidacy. First is to implement proactive programs so that every county and community has the opportunity to prosper, grow and be able to keep their children and grandchildren in the community. Next is to protect the vulnerable. “That’s why I’m pro-life,” he emphasized. He maintains hiring executives to head 30 government agencies and holding them accountable is the best way to make state government work.

Prior to the keynote speaker, Allen County Republican Party Chairman Steve Shine introduced the local and area candidates for office. Video presentations by U.S. Rep. Jim Banks, U.S. Senator Mike Braun and U.S. Senator Todd Young were shown throughout the room.

Chairman Shine was given a cake in honor of his 30 years as head of the Allen County Republican Party. His response was, “I love this job!”

Mark Deister was the recipient of the Leadership Award.

“Mark has been both a business and community leader in Fort Wayne for decades,” Shine said in an email. “His company, Deister Machine Company, has added to the economic health of our community, by employing hundreds of individuals, while at the same time, his local and international charitable and philanthropic generosity has made Fort Wayne and the world a better place.”