I would like to say thank you Ed for your service – we wish you all the best – you will be greatly missed. As well, I’d like to introduce my family. Here tonight is my mother, Vidy, and our three children – their spouses and friend, James, Melody, Jesse, Amy, Rusty and Cara.

Susan, my wife, and I are like a seamless fabric – it’s very difficult to distinguish where one starts and the other ends. We think alike; and this is important for you to know, because up until now, many of you have known Susan better than me because of her service on the board of education in Shawnee Mission for the past 7 years.

What I want you to understand is that our service runs congruently … we seek to serve from our heart with thoughtful common sense.

Like Mayor McConwell, I have lived in District 24 my whole life. This is home to me. The people of the district are like my family.

Recently, I retired. And I’m ready to serve … I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and give of myself 100% to District 24. I have no encumbrance and can pour myself into serving as your state representative for the 24th District. It would be a privilege and honor.

The last 7 days have been fabulous and rewarding as I have listened to your concerns. I have carefully taken notes so that I can begin to understand what you want and see your vision for District 24. I will use good judgment in decisions, and will develop competence in all areas.

I reiterate, I have no agenda … except to serve. And I desire to serve well. Service requires a good listener -- just as Ed has so effectively done in his town-hall meetings. In addition to the town hall meetings, I will listen in individual encounters as I walk the district talking to the people – Should you cast your vote electing me to this seat – I will begin this process immediately as I campaign … door to door … for re-election. You see, I don’t believe in being interesting … I want to be interested.

I do want you to know something about me. I do not believe that it is the national, state or local government’s job to usher in the Kingdom of God … and having said that, I want to underscore that I whole-heartedly support the constitution and understand the significant value of a representative government. As your representative, my solemn duty will be to thoughtfully and carefully listen to you. What I’m trying to say is that I want to serve the will of the people … ALL the people – apart from my own desires … and I will do so!

With thoughtful common sense I commit to work alongside you in keeping our public schools strong, keeping our area safe, protecting small business, keep taxes low and property values high, as well as, a myriad of other concerns that you and I face everyday as we work and live together in Northeast Johnson County.

In my conversations with you this week, one topic was continually brought up, and that topic was the lack of unity in the Republican Party. There is a great deal of concern about the disheartening behaviors which we have recently observed. If we do not correct this now, we will self destruct. In order to keep this district as a Republican district, we must come together in unity. I am a team player. I’ve been told that I am a bridge-builder … a man who helps find consensus – a thoughtful listener and thinker.

I simply consider myself a Republican, free of labels … a man who seeks to be a servant for all. I believe my leadership can make District 24 an example for the rest of the county in terms of Republican unity. I want to lead us, all of you, in a direction that will put aside the differences of the past and replace it with a new mindset...and that is simply this: we must hang together or we will hang separately.

When we partner – we join together and find solutions that benefit the people as a whole. We work together, play together, fail together, and have victories together. It’s a process -- not just a partnership for today … it’s an investment in tomorrow -- dividends in a community’s life that lasts for decades. William James said it best: “The great use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it.”

Therefore, with enthusiasm I look forward to the opportunity of wholeheartedly serving you and working alongside you for the greater good of District 24. With that being said, I humbly ask for your vote.