This past Tuesday, election day, was the culmination of a long, tiresome and grueling campaign season for a number of people who cared enough about their respective communities to get off the sidelines and into the game. And with the impending runoffs, it's still not over for a lot of folks. As an elected official myself, my hat goes off all of the candidates for a job well done. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, but the important thing is that you gave of yourself to give back to your community, and we all should be thankful to you.

Unfortunately, not enough people care about their most valued and treasured right of all, that of the right to vote. About one in five registered Fayette County voters took the time to vote. I have my own views about what this means to our society, but I'm not going to devote this letter to that subject, other than to say it's a damn shame.

Rather, I wish to express my view about the challenger who had the most to lose, and is John Mrosek. Let me go on the record that John Mrosek is a dear friend of mine. I go to church with him, I socialize with him, I discuss important matters with him. But more than anything else, I admire him. Let me tell you why.

John Mrosek ran against an incumbent judge who was appointed by a Democratic politician and had never faced opposition in [a judge's] election. It is difficult enough to run against any incumbent in any office, but it became a lot more difficult when “someone” broke confidentiality and attempted to embarrass John just as he was about to qualify to run for judge.

That person (or persons) widely distributed a politically sensitive (albeit personal) e-mail throughout our entire region. Ironically, it is my view that the dirty trick backfired because John was afforded a great deal of publicity that he never would have received otherwise. I am proud to say that Mrosek ran a clean, positive campaign and never resorted to any similar tactics. Just another reason why I think John would make a good judge.

In any case, John lost the election. Although he won convincingly in Fayette County, John was virtually unknown in the other three counties, and it just turned out to be too much to overcome. But he came closer to defeating an incumbent judge than in any other race in the entire state of Georgia. Impressive, indeed.

Just think for a moment, however, what John has to look forward to. You see, if he ran for a county commission seat or the school board or similar post and lost, well, he just goes back to being an outstanding attorney. But losing to a sitting superior court judge means Mrosek has to deal with the potential of having his cases being heard by the guy who he dared to run against, let alone dealing with the other politics that a run for that office entails.

Oh yes, that was a risk John took, and I suppose one could argue that such a run goes with the territory. But how would you like to be in that territory?

John Mrosek is a folk hero to me. He had the guts to stand up and make a run for an office that put himself, his family, his friend, and his business through tremendous challenges. All because he thought he could make a difference.

Well, you made a difference to me, John. You showed that there are still great Americans out there willing to put public service and commitment to serve others above your own self interests, even if the risks are indeed great.

For all of us old fashioned folks who root for the underdog and like to see the good old boy network challenged, thanks, John. I suspect we have not heard the last of you.

Dan Tennant

Council Member

Peachtree City

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