Editor,

After many years of public peace and justice advocacy, I know one of the most important qualities of effective elected leadership is to trust that a candidate will support the common good. Political decision making is complicated with competing points of view and interests. The challenge for a politician, then, is to balance out the various positions and support what best serves the overall public, especially those most in need of community protection and support.

Clyde Shavers has a broad background through the challenges of his personal life, military service, legal training and community voluntary service to be able to evaluate the varying needs of our community, and the needs of our whole state when he serves in the state legislature, and to vote to support those projects and laws that best serve us all. We are privileged to have such a capable candidate for elected office, and I support his election.

Tom Ewell

Clinton