Vote Laura Conover for a safer future

When my 10-year-old son told me his mother was running for office again, he was confused and asked, “Why?” It’s a legitimate question. This is the most rewarding job our family has ever had and it’s truly a family job.

We have been able to shield our son from most of the harsh criticism and attacks from the Republican Party and the previous administration, yet he sees his mother working long hours, nights, and weekends. We have been able to shield him from emergency police meetings and the need for bulletproof vests, yet he sees danger everywhere his mother goes. He is acutely aware of the time and energy this role takes and the toll it has taken on our family. So the question “why” is not easy to answer. We explain that to make real change in this world, we must give of ourselves. It is easy to sign a petition or donate $5, but it also takes people to organize petitions, run for office, and take a stand for worthy, risky causes.

We are at a critical time in our nation’s history. Rights that have been protected for decades are slowly being eroded. We need people to stand up now. As County Attorney, Laura has done just that. Under relentless attack, she stuck to her guns. She abolished the death penalty, stood up and fought for reproductive rights, and kept kids in juvenile detention for as long as legally possible. Working with law enforcement, we drove historic annual declines in violent crime. And for the first time in decades, she earned pay raises across the office. And she continues to get out there and meet with residents and hear their stories.

So what about her opponent? We know that he filed to run as a Republican in 2012, that he switched parties to run as a Democrat just before he ran, that he has received tens of thousands of dollars from hardline conservatives, and that his campaign is full of people from the previous administration. But what kind of leader is he? Well, we still don’t know. The choice is simple: step back with the candidate Barbara LaWall supports, or keep moving forward.

As the election approaches, many of us feel anxious about the state of our country and the challenges facing our communities. But I know that together we will get through this. So when I have to answer my son’s question “why,” I can answer, “To make this community better for everyone.” Are you going to stand up? Laura Conover certainly is!