Special Thanks to Special People

Throughout this campaign I have been reminded of what wonderful friends and family I have been blessed to have. I must thank some really special people without whom I would never have been as successful as I was. First, my parents. Thank you for your support and your encouragement. Thanks for the good advice and the daily telephone conversations and hard work at getting my name out. Thanks for teaching me to work hard and play fair. Thanks for always standing behind every dream I have ever dreamed, no matter how big or daunting. I know that I am the person of character that I am today because of you.

Second, thank you to my friends who gave up so much of their time to help me with this endeavor. There are so many of you that I am sure to miss one or two when trying to list you all by name. But, let me try. I want to say thank you to Jill Hume. Jill, you have been such a good friend. You have walked, talked, and campaigned like a pro. You have addressed and stuffed envelopes and entered every email address that ever came along. I know I have a real friend in you and I appreciate you more than you know. Eli, thanks for putting up with me and Jill and all our obsessive campaigning. Thank you to Kyle Ayers, Michelle Watkins, and Jeff Smith. You all have criss-crossed this county putting up signs and any other crazy thing I needed you to do. Thanks for stuffing envelopes, coming out to events and helping with all those signs. I am so grateful for your help and support. You all make every day more fun and I know I am blessed to have you in my life. I also have to say thank you to Kim and Joe for the encouragement and help. Thank you to Roosevelt, Katey B., Travis, Josh, Sonny, Lindsey, Brendan, and all the others who have done so much to support me.

Thank you to my co-workers at the County Attorney's Domestic Violence, Sex Crimes, and Child Abuse Unit for taking up the slack while I ran in and out to go to campaign events. Thanks especially to Marlene, my wonderful Victim Advocate, for being so patient with my constantly distracted attitude.

Thank you to all the police and sheriffs who helped to spread the word and get my name out. You ladies and gentlemen are wonderful and I appreciate you all so much for what you do for me as a friend and for the community as a whole.

Thank you to Dea Riley, a smart, sassy woman I want to be just like. You have helped to calm me down and given me great advice. I am lucky to have you on my side.

Thank you to Jeff Klusmeier for all the beautiful print work and media. I appreciate the times you did it on credit until the funds could be raised and the way you kept an eye on me and helped me find the right places to go.

Thank you to everyone who voted for me and sent so many words of encouragement. I feel blessed to have your respect and trust.

Thank you to all my new friends who have been so supportive and enthusiastic, Bishop Lyons, Pastor Franklin, the Bargers, Bob Huegland, Dwight Witten and the rest.

Thank you to my cousin Brandy for keeping the accounts squared away. I am glad we learned this whole election finance thing together. You have always been like a sister to me and you made the maddening reporting process so much more fun. I am also thankful you always had all that candy on hand!

Thanks to the rest of my family, Uncle Ronnie, Aunt Joyce, my brother and treasurer, Mike Hawkins, Kelley Hawkins, and all the rest of you. Thanks for being patient and understanding while the people most important to me, you guys, were put on the back burner for these past few months.

I could go on and on. Again, I am sure there are several I haven't named here, but please know how much I appreciate you. I love you all and couldn't have done this without you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!