Thank you to the 28,115 voters who supported this campaign. It wasn't enough this time.
I'm not a quotes person, but this one seemed quite apt:
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." -Teddy Roosevelt
This campaign has exceeded all expectations. I am proud of the campaign that we ran. I am truly grateful to all the campaign staff and volunteers who believed in this great cause and gave all this and more to the campaign. Thank you to the 400+ individual contributors who gave generously to this campaign. We raised a very respectable amount of money and we did it without PACs, lobbyists, and other special interests.
I have been so fortunate to have met a lot of great people from all parts of the political spectrum and from all parts of District 2. Our next county commissioner for District 2 should always be mindful that she'll need to represent everyone in District 2.
Congratulations to Linda Higgins, who will be our next county commissioner in District 2. Hopefully our "debates" have challenged her to find some middle ground that is in the best interests of District 2 residents.
My campaign managers, Nhia, Yer, and Jay, were and will continue to be truly amazing. They brought this political nobody from the depths of obscurity into the light. It is truly incredible how far we've come. Thank you Nhia, Yer, and Jay.
The campaign has taken a toll on my family. I am ready to get back to being the husband and the father that I should be. Erica and Samantha have been great throughout this rough ride. They are young and they are resilient. Thank goodness. Mai Neng has been the heart and soul of this campaign. She has taken on too many roles to list here and she has done all of them well. She never gave up on this campaign or me. Hopefully I can be the person that she has been to me. I am truly blessed to have Mai Neng, Erica, and Samantha in my life.
I'm going to lick my wounds and then get on with my life. I believe that God has a plan.
Thanks again to each and everyone of you for everything.
Sincerely,