HOW DO WE UNIFY, BUT BY “CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED”

I truly believe you can’t have unity without community. It’s been hard to strike a balance between conviction and controversy. Many times I’ve had to pray about what position to take in the midst of it. I know I’ve challenged not just the board at times but some in our community.

Even still, Its not my goal to hide from that, and or create a platform to elevate contempt. I go to find solutions, though it is not easy. Nonetheless my decisions have always been consistent with the conviction that I carry, that the best government is the one closest to the people.

Therefore government should only do that which the people cannot do for themselves.

During my term I’ve listened and learned from many perspectives. I truly love my community, and consider my position as an honor tempered by duty. What I’ve learned from my community is problems are best solved by listening, learning, and engaging the community I serve.

That, by default, requires they have a voice, and that voice matters in my legislative process. Which as a slight mention strikes a disproportionate balance with mandating their personal medical decisions. I’ve said it before a human who can be robbed of their choice, can equally be robbed of their life.

Or as Dr. Larry Arnn – President of Hillsdale college put it, “If you centralize (control) the administration of things, you take the peoples lives out of their own hands, and that’s despotic”.

There’s a proverb I try hard to live by, “There is wisdom in the counsel of many”. It by nature lends itself to coalition building, and intentional listening. These last two years have been contrary to that sentiment. It has created an assumptive process which has put the lives of many in the hands of an elite few, contrary to that proverb and representative government itself.

There’s many things I’ve pushed hard for in my last 3 years in office. I’ve pushed hard for Business advocacy, creating opportunity, economic development, accountability, and what I’m truly proud of–protecting the people’s voice. Of that I have no regret.