Bret Richards is the mayor of Irwin. He’s also one of three Republicans challenging Congressman Steve King in the Fourth District. Richards spoke mostly about the life issue Saturday night at the Faith & Freedom Coalition event.
“Two of the reasons I am running — to make sure there is more common sense and more accountability in D.C.,” he said.
Richards said one of his favorite Bible verses is 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
“Many candidates will boast about their achievements,” Richards said. “What they really need to do is show their heart and their character to the voters.”
He launched into his pro-life portion of his speech.
“One of my priorities will always be ending the barbaric practice that liberal elites call a healthcare choice,” he said. “How have we got to a place, a place where it’s acceptable to kill a baby after he or she is born? It really does tie your stomach in knots when you even say it outloud.”
Richards said he’s also intent on defunding Planned Parenthood.
“My tax dollars, your tax dollars, our money should never be used for something so immoral,” he said. “Unfortunately we know our system is so broken, so devolved that this decision will ultimately be decided by nine Harvard Law graduates. This is a battle for our nation’s soul. With that in mind, maybe we need to rethink our approach.”
He suggested giving scholarships to young law students of faith.
“More lawyers with faith and belief will mean a bigger pool to select judges from,” Richards said. “Another way is to start to mentor young people at an earlier age.”
