A fighter has fallen
Rep. Jackie Walorski killed in auto accident Aug. 3; friends, leaders express their condolences
Indiana has lost a fighter, a listener, and a person of faith. That is how U.S. Congresswoman Jackie Walorski was described by one of her closest friends in the Kokomo area.
Kenlyn Watson, owner of Mane Attraction Styling Salon and close friend of Walorski, first met the legislator in 2009 at a candidate forum in Kokomo, and the two hit it off from the start. She was devastated by the news that the legislator was killed in a traffic accident on Aug. 3 along with two staffers, Zach Potts and Emma Thomson.
“She was one of a kind,” said Watson. “Most importantly, she was a follower of Jesus Christ, and she was proud of it. Every decision she made was based on biblical principles. She fought for that, which didn’t always make her popular.
“I don’t know how this will work without her. To see how she operated and know that she was always going to do the right thing … I know she’s in a good place and I’ll see her again. I’m just crushed. She’s gone. I don’t know how anyone fills her shoes.”
Watson said she was impressed by Walorski on many fronts: her love for military veterans; her humility; her desire to learn; and her tenacity in front of the most powerful people in the nation’s capitol. But it was her willingness to listen and the respect she gave to others that set her apart, Watson claimed.
“When she got to Washington D.C. she fought for Hoosiers,” said Watson. “One of the things I loved about her was, when she entered a room, it came alive. But she was very humble, in her own way. She always wanted to learn, and she was a great listener.
“I have worked with a lot of politicians over the past 12-13 years, and none of them listened like Jackie did. Now, she may not have agreed with you. We even went toe-to-toe on a lot of things, but she at least respected what other people had to say. It is a huge loss for the district and the whole country. In the cesspool up there in Washington, she was one of the bright spots. She cared. To find somebody with that heart who never got too big for her britches … she was just flippin’ fearless.”
Most of the state and nation learned of Walorski’s untimely passing via a release from the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department. At approximately 12:32 p.m. on Aug. 3, the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office responded to a two-vehicle crash on State Road 19 south of State Road 119. A northbound passenger car traveled left of center and collided head on with a southbound sports utility vehicle containing Walorski, 58, and her staffers Potts, 27, and Thomson 28. The other motorist in the collision, Edith Schmucker, 56, of Nappanee, also lost her life.
Hours later, Walorski’s husband, Dean Swihart, and her chief of staff, Tim Cummings, confirmed the tragedy.
“Dean Swihart, Jackie’s husband, was just informed by the Elkhart County Sheriff’s office that Jackie was killed in a car accident this afternoon,” wrote Cummings. “She has returned home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers.
“In addition to the devastating loss of Congresswoman Walorski, it is with a broken heart that I announce the passing of two dedicated members of her staff, Zach Potts and Emma Thomson. They were the epitome of public servants who cared deeply about the work they performed on behalf of the constituents of Indiana’s Second Congressional District.”
Since then, friends and colleagues have expressed their condolences, including several local leaders. Following are some of the statements made in Walorski’s memory.
Jim Buck, Indiana Senator, Dist. 21, of Kokomo:
“Jackie Walorski and I were in leadership together in the Indiana House. You could always count on Jackie to say what needed to be said to keep the conservative rudder steering our caucus in the right direction. She had a tremendous passion for the people she represented. The people of Indiana have lost a tremendous advocate, and personally I have lost a friend.”
Kokomo Mayor Tyler Moore:
“I was as shocked as the rest of the State and Nation to hear of Jackie Walorski’s tragic passing. Rep. Walorski was a great champion for Indiana in D.C. and a great leader within the Republican Party. The few times I had the pleasure to meet with her, I was impressed and inspired by her passion for public service and high-spirited personality. She will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and to the families of Zachery Potts and Emma Thomson.”
Jennifer Jack, Chairwoman, Howard County Republican Party:
"I am extremely shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic car accident that took the life of Congresswoman Jackie Walorski along with staffer and St. Joseph County GOP Chairman, Zach Potts, and staffer Emma Thomson.
“Congresswoman Walorski led a committed life of public service with great integrity. She has served Indiana well since her days in the Indiana General Assembly and through her time with the U.S. House of Representatives. I think I speak for all Republicans in Howard County when I say her public service presence will be deeply missed. I remain in prayer for the family, friends, and colleagues of all four lives lost during this difficult time. May they find strength in their memories."
U.S. President Joseph Biden:
"We may have represented different parties and disagreed on many issues, but she was respected by members of both parties for her work on the House Ways and Means Committee on which she served. She also served as co-chair of the House Hunger Caucus, and my team and I appreciated her partnership as we plan for a historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health this fall that will be marked by her deep care for the needs of rural America."
U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy:
"This news is absolutely devastating. Jackie was a dear friend, trusted advisor, and the embodiment of integrity who achieved the admiration and respect of all her colleagues in the House."
U.S. Transportation Secretary and former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg:
“Though we came from very different places politically, she was always prepared to work together where there was common ground, always decent and straightforward, and she cared deeply about her work and her constituents.”
U.S. Senator Todd Young, of Indiana:
“Jackie loved Hoosiers and devoted her life to fighting for them. I’ll never forget her spirit, her positive attitude, and most importantly her friendship. All of Indiana mourns her passing, along with the tragic deaths of her staff Emma Thomson and Zach Potts.”
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi:
“She passionately brought the voices of her north Indiana constituents to the Congress, and she was admired by colleagues on both sides of the aisle for her personal kindness.”
Pelosi ordered the flags at the U.S. Capitol to be flown at half-staff in Walorski’s honor until her funeral. The White House said its flags would be lowered Aug. 4-5. Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb also directed flags to be flown at half-staff for the entire state of Indiana over those two days.