“Mom for Mayor!” was my campaign cry from afar as Jean Hoffmann ran for mayor of my hometown. There was one day during the campaign that Hubby & I were visiting, and I’m grateful there’s a photo of me supporting Mom. The people voted to #KeepMarionTheSame, and that’s their loss. But I focus on the success Mom had. She told me the story of a high school student and his mother who stopped in campaign headquarters one weekend. The young man was discouraged because he wanted to work and no one would give a teenager a chance. Mom was impressed by how he conducted himself and the effort his mother was making to provide opportunities for her son, so Mom made a phone call and the young man now has a job at a local fast-food restaurant. The day after the disappointing election results I encouraged Mom that if that is the only difference she made (and it isn’t) then the whole campaign was worth it. She showed interest and gave encouragement, and she helped to change that boy’s life for the better. So maybe the voters didn’t want to #ChangeMarion, but my Mom still will.
I love you, Mom, and I’m proud of you.