I would like to take this time to introduce myself to those of you who do not yet know me. Like many of you, I am not a life-long resident of Fayette County. After living in eight different states (including Hawaii) and living three years in Germany, I had the good fortune to make Fayetteville my home.

As a result of moving frequently, I got the opportunity to get a diverse education, both in and out of the classroom.

I have a RN degree from Texas, a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science from Chaminade University in Hawaii, a masters degree in Human Service/Adult Education from Boston University and a Comprehensive Skills Certificate from the National Association for the Deaf.

As a nurse I have cared for critically ill infants in the first neonatal ICU in Texas. I have interpreted for deaf individuals in classrooms, courts, weddings/funerals and even in an operating room for a deaf/blind man during surgery.

During the 10 years I worked as the director for the Fayette County Council on Domestic Violence, we were able to help thousands of frightened women. In that time, I became the county’s first legal advocate and helped establish a transitional house for battered women and children.

For the past five years, I have owned my own financial services business and I have served as one of your county commissioners for 12 years.

I ran for office because my life experiences have shown me that too often many of our citizens do not have a voice in their community. Maybe it is because they do not belong to the “right” group or know the “right” person or maybe they don’t know where to go to get the answers they need. I strive to be the voice of every citizen; to make sure that everyone is treated equitably.

I am married to Pat Brannon and together we have five sons and six grandchildren. We are members of St. Matthew’s Catholic Church.

Leo Rosten said it well, “...I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be compassionate. It is, above all to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.”

With your help, I stand ready to continue toward my goal of making a positive difference for Fayette County today and tomorrow.

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