My wife Chris owns a second-hand clothing store in Momence. Today she had a couple little girls around 5th grade age come in the store and play dress up. She says they are regulars. Difference being today one of the little girls asked my mom who at the time was holding my 5 month old daughter McKenna if she has a daddy? It’s now been about 8 hours since I was told of what the little girl asked and it’s still bringing tears to my eyes.

Would the millions of dollars spent on a jail have eliminated every single parent home? Certainly not, but I can guarantee you the millions of dollars spent on jails and prisons won’t eliminate even one. Millions poured in to good education and the creation of jobs with fair wages will most certainly make for stronger families.

I keep myself up at night worrying about issues just like this one. Many issues I have little to no control over. My wife says I carry the weight of the world on my shoulders. Maybe this is true. This is serving as both an email and a blog post. Those of you I’m emailing this to are either office holders, candidates for office or another of those like me worrying about what we can do to right the wrongs and make this world a better place for our children and future generations.

I must admit to worrying about what kind of County Board member I will make. I’ve never held public office of any kind. Having served just one year as co-president of our local youth sports association is the extent of my board involvement. Then I remind myself that being a great leader the kind that truly help people, can truly affect change is the person that doesn’t necessarily have the answers, but the one not afraid to ask the questions.

Robert Kennedy often said, “Some men see things that are and say why, I dream things that never were and say why not?”

On November 7th, please vote Democrat.