To The Telegram:
I have been hearing, and reading, quite a bit lately regarding assembly candidates membership within the Douglas County Democratic Party. Even though I have always been a Democrat, I too joined the party during my election bid in the summer of 2002. Since then, I have chosen not to renew my membership but still hold the vast majority of values and beliefs that follow along with the democratic ideals.
I do not believe that just because a candidate has been a "member" of a certain group for a period of time makes that person any more electable than another candidate. What it comes down to for me is a person's personal and professional life. How involved are they within the community, including going back to their youth? What have they done to better themselves? What have they done to better the community as an adult? What is their stance regarding law enforcement issues?
I have known Mary Tripp since high school, more than 25 years ago, she was a very involved and bright student then and it followed her into adulthood. Mary has furthered her education (bachelors and masters) to better herself. She has since taken that education to better other people's life's by teaching at WITC and UWS. Mary has been very active within the community by working with several non-profit organizations over the years, and continues to do so. Mary Tripp and Vern Johnson are the only two candidates that have contacted me to seek my input into what law enforcement issues are important to me and the Sheriff's Department. She has been a volunteer organizer for the youth delegation for Superior Days for the past few years. I have attended several Superior Days events and I do not remember seeing all of the other candidates at Superior Days volunteering or even attending, until this year. Does that make Mary the right choice for the Assembly because she has attended and/or volunteered at Superior Days for several years and the others haven't? No, and it shouldn't.
What it should come down to is this, who is the best person for the job?
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Who has a long established track record of civic and community involvement? Who has a history and commitment of bettering the young people in our community? Lastly, who is going to do what is right for Northwest Wisconsin by keeping our values and principles in mind?
My answer is Mary Tripp. I would ask everyone to support Mary in this election and, on election day, to cast your vote for her because she is the best candidate for all of us.
-- Thomas G. Dalbec,
Douglas County sheriff
