August 26, 2026

Potential for a lengthy post, hang with me 😊.

I took a drive this morning to Scio/Jefferson to check out a small shop I’d heard about. First of all - love driving thru Ankeny, it’s been awhile. Secondly, I was inspired by what I saw at my destination - American flags, farmland & people who are bold in their beliefs, kind and smiling. I was refreshed. I’m a country girl at heart - was raised in a small southern town that currently has a population of about 800.

I spent some time at the shop, got a tour, heard their story, we talked about our faith & conservative values. We talked love & hope.

She recommended I stop at the local feed store, as they sell some of her stuff. I love feed stores! So off I went.

Couple guys in there - one an older gentleman, one younger. They pointed me to what I was looking for & said warm cinnamon rolls had just been dropped off, I should get one. (Not a hard sell!)

Good music was playing, I took my time browsing & then told the guys I was running for Mayor in Monmouth (they could see that on my t-shirt too). They nodded, said ok. Younger guy asked if I’d been in politics before, I replied I hadn’t, he groaned. I said I just thought it was time for folks to stop sitting on their hands & speak up.

We chatted & he noted that he sells Charlie Kirk shirts - I had seen that & gave him a thumb’s up. He said someone came in recently & couldn’t believe he was doing that, had a few things to say - he politely showed them the door. He told me to ‘give ‘em hell & ruffle some feathers!’ I laughed & said I’d try. (And yea, I bought a cinnamon roll.)

I thought about this all the way home. Something I’ve wrestled with since deciding to run for Mayor is how to ‘not offend anyone.’ I think it’s impossible these days.

So - I’ll be just putting myself out there - if you like what I’m saying, thinking, changes I’d like to influence - please vote for me.

If I’m not your cup of tea - then just don’t.

In the meantime, save your time on trying to get me to fight with you, it won’t work. I’ll discuss, debate, talk - we need more of that - but I’m not going to argue & I’m not going to hate.

We need more light, more smiles, more reminders that we have more in common than we do differences and we need to remember that inclusiveness means everyone, not just the few with the loudest voices.

Thanks for making it to the end! 😊🩷