Hamilton County Republican Party selects next chair
By DENISE MOE
On Saturday at 502 East Event Centre, 502 East Carmel Dr., Carmel, the Hamilton County Republican Party held a caucus to officially vote in its new party Chairman, Mario Massillamany.
Acting Chairman (and former Vice Chair) Will Riley started the morning off and announced that he will be stepping down in his role as Vice Chair. As the new chairman, Massillamany will appoint a replacement after a short transition period.
Riley then presented Outgoing Chairwoman Laura Campbell with an award for her six years of volunteer service as party chair. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Westfield Mayor Andy Cook. Outgoing Chairwoman Campbell then took a vote to suspend the rules, and 160 voting members of the caucus verbally voted in Mario Massillamany by acclamation. While Massillamany ran unopposed, the party still needed to hold the caucus to officially elect him as the new chairman.
All Precinct Committeemen and Vice Committeemen on the official Hamilton County Republican Precinct list were eligible to vote. Massillamany’s ex-wife and mother to his children and sitting Hamilton County Councilor Amy Fuson Massillamany introduced Mario, and then Mario addressed the crowd.
Mario Massillamany was joined by his parents, his sons Sullivan and Jackson, and his ex-wife, County Councilor Amy Massillamany. (Reporter photo by Denise Moe)
The following is a message from new County Republican Party Chairman Mario Massillamany.
“The year was 1984. Carl Lewis was golden in Los Angeles; the movie Red Dawn was showing a generation of young Americans how to beat communism, and Ronald Reagan was sailing to a 49-state victory in his reelection to the Presidency of the United States. America was indeed ‘a shining city on a hill,’ as our fortieth president described. For that reason and in that same year, my parents risked everything to bring me to this nation as a seven-year-old boy.
“Each day, I thank God for my parents’ decision to bring me and my sister to America. As I raise two sons of my own, I could not imagine living anywhere but right here at the crossroads of our great nation. My parents toiled night and day doing jobs too numerous to count, as they worked to raise our family and provide the quintessential American dream. They worked tirelessly to ensure we received a Catholic education because faith was primary in our home. Faith, along with hard work, achievement and treating people fairly were all paramount in our house. With these core values and a firsthand lesson on the power of freedom, there was no other place for me than the Republican Party.
“Upon graduating from Cathedral High School and Wabash College, I earned my law degree at the University of Denver College of Law. After moving back to the state, I labored tirelessly for countless city, state and political leaders who shared my values of faith, family, and personal responsibility.
“After years of hard work and some hard knocks, I am now proud to own and operate my own law firm right here in Hamilton County. I am also still proud to be involved with state and local Republican leaders to share a ‘Freedom First’ agenda with our friends and neighbors. As I look out at our state and nation, I can’t help but notice that America is a little less like the 1984 of my childhood and a little more like the Orwell 1984 novel. Restrictions on speech, government overreach and the growing disrespect for the rule of the law should concern every American. I, for one, will not stand by and watch while America is destroyed by the leftists and status quo politicians. That’s why I am running for Hamilton County Republican Party Chairman.
‘If we lose freedom here, there is no place to escape to. This is the last stand on earth.’ – President Ronald Reagan
“I look forward to working with each and every one of you.”
* * *
For more information about the Hamilton County Republican Party and to sign up for their newsletter and meeting notices, please visit hamiltoncountygop.org.