Dean Swihart Age, Job, Wife Rep. Jackie Walorski, Accident
Who is Dean Swihart?
Dean Swihart is a music teacher at Hums Elementary School and Twin Branch Elementary in Indiana. He is the husband of the late Rep. Jackie Walorski who died on August 3, 2022, in a car crash alongside her two staffers. Dean and Rep Jackie Walorski have been married for 27 years since 1995.
What Does Dean Swihart Do?
Swihart is a music and school teacher in Mishawaka. He taught music at Twin Branch Elementary and Hums Elementary School in Indiana. Not much is known about him publicly due to his secretive nature.
Dean Swihart Wife Rep Jackie Walorski
Dean’s wife Rep. Jackie Walorski was a U.S. representative for Indiana’s 2nd congressional district in 2013. She represented Indiana’s 21st district, from 2005 to 2010 as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives.
During her time in the Indiana House, Walorski was a supporter of the state’s Voter ID law, which requires voters to show government-issued identity while voting in person.
Many challenges were filed against the Voter ID statute, which was upheld by the Supreme Court in Crawford v. Marion County Election Board, and is credited for aiding the proliferation of Voter ID laws in other jurisdictions.
Walorski launched her campaign to challenge incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative Joe Donnelly in Indiana’s 2nd congressional district on January 31, 2009.
On May 4, 2010, she won the Republican primary with 61 percent of the vote, defeating Martin Dolan, Jack Jordan, and Tony Zirkle. She was defeated in the general election on November 2 by a margin of 48 percent to 47 percent.
Walorski announced her intention to run for Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District again on March 22, 2011. Walorski won the 2nd Congressional District primary election with 73 percent of the vote on May 8, 2012.
Walorski beat Mullen 49 percent to 48 percent, which was most likely aided by Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney winning her district with 56 percent of the vote. On January 3, 2013, she entered the office. Donnelly was also elected to the Senate at the same time.
Rep Jackie Walorski Fatal Accident
Rep Jackie Walorski was killed on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, in a car crash in Elkhart County, Indiana. The Elkhart County Sheriff’s office announced of Jackie’s passing and informed her family including her husband.
Their statement on Facebook read;
On August 3, 2022, at approximately 12:32 PM the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office responded to a two-vehicle crash on SR 19 south of SR 119. A northbound passenger car traveled left of center and collided head-on with a southbound sports utility vehicle.
All three occupants in the southbound vehicle died as a result of their injuries:
Jackie Walorski, 58, Elkhart, Indiana
Zachery Potts, 27, Mishawaka, Indiana
Emma Thomson, 28, Washington, DC
The sole occupant of the northbound vehicle, Edith Schmucker, 56, Nappanee, Indiana was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Elkhart County Coroner’s Office and the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office are conducting the investigation. No additional information will be released at this time.
Jackie died along with her staff Emma Thomson and Zach Potts, chairman of the St. Joseph County Republican Party. Walorski’s vehicle was traveling on a state route in Elkhart County when a car traveling in the opposite direction crossed the center line, colliding head-on with the vehicle.
After learning of the terrible news, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., tweeted “Devastated to hear the horrible news of the passing of Jackie Walorski and her two staffers. She was a dear friend who loved serving the people of Indiana in Congress.”
Pelosi who is traveling in Asia said through her spokesperson that;
“A lifelong Hoosier, Congresswoman Walorski lived a life of service: whether caring for impoverished children in Romania, representing her community in the Indiana Statehouse or serving nearly a decade in the House,”
“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.”
