Former Governor Otis Bowen sends warm letter of endorsement to Jim Banks
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
It is debatable to many whether political endorsements are meaningful in the eyes of voters, but yesterday, Whitley County resident and Senate District 17 candidate Jim Banks received a letter of endorsement in the mail that was extra special even if only for the sentiment and historical significance.
Banks received a letter from a once widely-known political figure in the State of Indiana, former Governor Otis. R. Bowen. Now 92-years-old, Dr. Bowen has been retired for many years and out of the public spotlight -- but he still keeps his eyes and ears on Indiana politics.
“I have known Jim Banks for many years and I’m confident he would be a superb legislator," Dr. Bowen wrote. "Jim would be dedicated to doing whatever would be required providing it were right.”
Bowen was the Governor of Indiana from 1973 until 1981. From 1985 until 1989, he served as the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
"I first met Governor Bowen almost ten years ago as a student at Indiana University," said Banks. "I discovered after reading his biography, 'Doc: Memories from a Life in Public Service,' that we were members of the same college fraternity and I wrote him a letter asking him if he’d speak to the College Republicans at IU and have dinner at our fraternity the same evening."
"A few days later I received a kind response and we welcomed him back to Bloomington a few weeks after that," continued Banks.
"Since then I have carried on a unique friendship with him and have collected dozens of hand written notes from him as he encouraged me in my career and through my efforts to serve in political office," Banks shared. "He is one of Indiana’s finest leaders and one of my political heroes. I’m very proud to have his support and appreciate his friendship."
It is debatable to many whether political endorsements are meaningful in the eyes of voters, but yesterday, Whitley County resident and Senate District 17 candidate Jim Banks received a letter of endorsement in the mail that was extra special even if only for the sentiment and historical significance.
Banks received a letter from a once widely-known political figure in the State of Indiana, former Governor Otis. R. Bowen. Now 92-years-old, Dr. Bowen has been retired for many years and out of the public spotlight -- but he still keeps his eyes and ears on Indiana politics.
“I have known Jim Banks for many years and I’m confident he would be a superb legislator," Dr. Bowen wrote. "Jim would be dedicated to doing whatever would be required providing it were right.”
Bowen was the Governor of Indiana from 1973 until 1981. From 1985 until 1989, he served as the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
"I first met Governor Bowen almost ten years ago as a student at Indiana University," said Banks. "I discovered after reading his biography, 'Doc: Memories from a Life in Public Service,' that we were members of the same college fraternity and I wrote him a letter asking him if he’d speak to the College Republicans at IU and have dinner at our fraternity the same evening."
"A few days later I received a kind response and we welcomed him back to Bloomington a few weeks after that," continued Banks.
"Since then I have carried on a unique friendship with him and have collected dozens of hand written notes from him as he encouraged me in my career and through my efforts to serve in political office," Banks shared. "He is one of Indiana’s finest leaders and one of my political heroes. I’m very proud to have his support and appreciate his friendship."