Indianapolis, In. — The theme at the 28th Annual Lugar Series Luncheon on Monday was encouraging women to get involved in public service.
“Run. Run, run, run. We absolutely need women at all levels of government to step up,” said Republican Indiana Congresswoman from District 5 Susan Brooks. “We don’t have enough women in the Statehouse. We don’t have enough women as mayors. We don’t have enough women leading at other levels of government.”
Brooks along with Republican Indiana Congresswoman from District 2 Jackie Walorski highlighted this year’s Lugar Series Luncheon, taking part in a congressional roundtable discussion moderated by Teresa Lubbers, the Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education and one of the program’s founders, before a crowd of over 500 at the Marriott Downtown.
The annual luncheon put on by the Lugar Series recognizes the current Lugar Series class and draws a large crowd by bringing in top-name female, Republican officials as keynote speakers.
“Both, Congresswomen Brooks and Walorski are in a minority of just 21 Republican women serving in Congress,” said Anne Hathaway, executive director of the Lugar Series. “These women are leaders in Congress and members of key committees with significant impact on Indiana, additionally they are terrific role models for all candidates, men or women. My hope is by hearing from them today more women are inspired and motivated to run for office or get involved in public service.”
Indiana GOP Chair Kyle Hupfer, the only male to speak at the luncheon, echoed the reoccurring theme by saying, “We not only put women on the ballot in Indiana, we elect them!”
Hupfer’s remarks are referring to Secretary of State Connie Lawson, State Treasurer Kelly Mitchell and State Auditor Tera Klutz all Republican incumbents running for re-election in 2018.
The Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series is a nonprofit organization inspired by former Indiana Senator Richard G. Lugar. The Series is a women’s leadership development program designed to increase the number of Republican women in local, state and national elective and appointive offices.
For more information about the Lugar Series, contact Anne Hathaway at [email protected] or visit the website.
