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They say that character is what you do when no one is looking…there is a powerful truth to that statement. That statement is a big part of why I am voting for Eddie Andrews for Governor.
Eddie Andrews earned my vote before I was even aware of other fine candidates like Brad Sherman, Adam Steen, and Zach Lahn. (I hope you note I leave Randy Feenstra out of this group.) Eddie Andrews got to me first and I have not looked back as I have learned about his positions on easy issues AND more controversial issues; he just doesn’t tackle easy issues, he is willing to be more controversial and at times “think outside the box”…and he loves and respects our Constitution!
I met Eddie Andrews at the Camp Dodge send-off of those from the Iowa Army National Guard late last spring. These young people were taking buses to Louisiana and from there, depending on the their specialty and quotas, they were deployed overseas…as we all know now, several Iowa soldiers did not return. My 1st Lt. nephew was among those who left for Louisiana that day, he would come back to Iowa with others who specialties were not needed at this time, but we didn’t know that when he departed.
After the departure ceremony, which Eddie Andrews attended, we went outside to wait for the buses to depart. The departure was delayed for a couple of hours. Being the “good aunt”, I stayed to wave my flag and show support for my nephew until the bus was out of sight, in spite of the long delay…so did Eddie Andrews! You begin to think, seeing them all running around in their uniforms and with their duffle bags, what if they do not return?…you want them to know you were there for them…we also knew some from Iowa would be deployed overseas. “Good Aunts” stay til the buses are out of sight…so did Eddie Andrews!
Eddie Andrews could have easily left after the departure ceremony, and it still would have been awesome that he showed up…but he stayed until the buses were gone! He waited through a 2-hour delay. (It is what you do when folks aren’t watching that demonstrates character.) He was not in front of the crowd sending our young men and women off anymore, he was with the crowd waiting til the buses were out of sight. Waiting to wave a small flag of support as they left, as a means of showing that he/we cared for those leaving in duty to this country. That is the character I want in a Governor…one who is fully aware of the costs of the young lives of those the state deploys, and that they matter to each and every loved one…a Governor willing to stay in spite of a long delay when deploying our young men and women…when no one is really watching. I can only assume that those who did not return, their families realized that Eddie Andrews did not take their loss lightly…he stayed to wave them goodbye through a long delay because he valued them. I know it was a little thing, and to be fair to the other really good candidates, Camp Dodge is literally in Eddie Andrews’ backyard, making it more practical to be there, but Eddie Andrews did this small important act while folks weren’t watching…only a few like me probably even noticed…and it meant a lot to me as I prayed for my nephew after he left. Eddie Andrews earned my vote that day…he was, in my opinion, “Governor material,” and I will never doubt his character. The photo below is of Eddie Andrews and me with our little flags we waved as the fine men and women from the Iowa Army National Guard deployed and left on the buses for Louisiana that day.
You are truly fortunate if you have a “reason” for voting for a candidate that is more than just they are in your party, and I do with Eddie Andrews. As I have said, there are other candidates running who are good conservative candidates, of whom I cannot speak ill of as they campaign….get out and meet them all and make an informed decision on who you want for Governor, as well as who you absolutely do NOT want for Governor…I could in good conscience vote for Sherman, Steen, or Lahn in the general election if they were successful…but my preference is personal and my choice is Eddie Andrews for Governor of Iowa.
He is definitely “Governor material”! He proved it to me that day my nephew got on a bus for possible deployment overseas.
