Welcome
Dear Friend,
Saying goodbye is always tough to do, but alas the dance has ended and it is time to rest and dream and think of new possibilities. Entering the political arena has been one of the hardest and yet one of the most rewarding things I have ever undertaken.
I am so very thankful to all that have helped along the path. From sign holders to wordsmiths, from those that helped deliver literature, from campaign managers to door knocking partners, from picture takers to data entry specialist, to those that showed political courage when it was not popular to do so, from our wonderful graphic artist to those that helped organize the parties, from those that gathered children to a kitchen table to those that helped with signs, from those that hosted coffee hours to those that kept me going when it looked as though life was being unkind, my heart is eternally grateful.
The greatest part of the experience was meeting so many new people and learning from them. If my estimates are correct, we knocked at over 8000 doors and talked to over 4000 people.
Life goes on hold when you are campaigning and you miss out on the simple things such as weekend trips away with your family or impromptu boating expeditions with your friends. What you get in return is a lifetime of memories, some will haunt me, such as talking to cancer patients about health care and some will uplift my heart, such as interacting with so many children.
The person I need to thank the most is my wife; she has allowed me to pursue my adventures and has never lost faith in me. When I started my business 23 years ago, Tina encouraged me as much then as she has now. She is truly my rock and greatest friend and I am blessed to have her in my life.
Another wonderful memory was knocking on doors with my son by my side. I never felt prouder watching him campaign and overhearing him say how much his father meant to him and why he was the right person for the job.
Ultimately, the right person always wins and I wish Tackey all the best as he pursues his new life. Tackey will undoubtedly do a great job as he is a gifted and talented politician who has learned well from those that he worked for. To Karl Roos, I also wish you the best and hopefully you will not be discouraged to try and run again. Karl also has many talents and is a person with great passion; I wish you all the best Karl and keep at it because you have a lot to offer.
As to whether I will run or not in the future depends upon the circumstances at the time. Many things figure into this decision and only time will tell. I encourage those that might be thinking about running for office to give it a try; you really never lose and you grow by more than you can ever imagine.
So for now, it is time to rest and dream of new possibilities. From the bottom of my heart thank you.
Sincerely,
John Iredale
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