YATES COUNTY, N.Y. — For folks like Yates County Republicans Jack Prendergast and Sandy King, there was no doubt in their minds that Donald Trump was the guy.
“We were (supporting him) day 1,” said Prendergast, supervisor for the town of Benton, speaking from the nation’s capital Thursday afternoon. He is in Washington with his wife, Kathy, and other local Republicans attending Trump’s inauguration.
Also on hand for the events is King, who chairs the Yates County Republican Committee. She is an avid supporter of the nation’s next president, who bested a huge Republican field in the primaries and went on to upset Democrat Hillary Clinton in November.
Yates County Republicans got to know Trump personally in 2013 when they urged him to run against Andrew Cuomo in the 2014 election for governor. Trump ultimately decided against the run, in part because the GOP refused to clear a path for his nomination, according to a New York Times story.
While Trump passed on the gubernatorial run, ties between Yates Republicans and the new president remained, Prendergast noted.
King exchanged phone numbers with Trump, and the two have spoken several times since then, Prendergast said.
“This is a pivotal point in history,” said Prendergast, who, along with others in the New York delegation, are staying at the Loews Madison Hotel.
It was there Thursday morning that the New Yorkers heard from Republican leaders such as Newt Gingrich and Ed Rollins. Thursday afternoon, the delegation hosted a reception for Rep. Tom Reed, R-23 of Corning. And Thursday night the group was to hear from Ben Carson, Trump’s nominee to lead HUD, Gingrich once more, as well as former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and actor Jon Voight.
“We’ve got a nice contingent from the local area attending,” noted Prendergast, who also leads the Yates County Chapter of SCOPE (Shooters Committee on Political Education).
He is excited to see what Trump can accomplish.
“He’s going to be a man of change,” he said, noting a number of priorities the president has on his to-do list — from selecting a new Supreme Court judge to taking steps to improve the economy, including lowering taxes and reducing regulations. And yes, building that wall on the southern border.
“It’s imperative that he start right off the bat (getting things done),” said Prendergast.
He added that House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, whose support of Trump was in question during the campaign, need to work with Trump to ensure the goals he outlined in his campaign are achieved. If they don’t cooperate, Prendergast said, they can expect to be replaced.
As for Friday’s inauguration, he hears that rain is in the forecast for the early morning, with possible clearing by the 3 p.m. ceremony.
Rain or shine, it will be a great day, he said.
“We’re going to be thrilled,” said Prendergast.
