By Richard Herman

Well, Thanksgiving is almost here, and I would like to say a few words reflecting on this year. So, as we all are gathering, friends and family, to give thanks as our forefathers did so long ago, it is important to reflect on our blessings. This yearly tradition is one of my favorites because it brings us all together, makes us stop our daily lives to spend time with one another over some good food, nice conversation and lots of good company!

It is hard to realize we have come through a year that was filled with both significant challenges, and victories. How reassuring it has been to know that we can count on one another regardless of what faces us. Every single one of you are valuable for the well being of our community. This year as we faced unknown viruses, lockdowns, unjustified tax increases, outlandish propositions on the ballots and a chance in hell to win congressional race, each of you have risen to the occasion. Now because each of you was disciplined, we were united and each of you was determined to work through all the chaos and corruption, we had great victories. We can all be thankful that as a community we defeated Proposition A, and Proposition B, but my favorite win this year was when we came together to defeat a lobbyist and gained one outstanding man, Ronny Jackson, to represent us in Washington, D.C.

The world is funny because if you had told me back in November of 2019 when I first met Ronny Jackson at the Amarillo VFW that I would spend late nights and long hours trying to support his campaign after he kicked my butt in a congressional race, then I wouldn’t have believed it. But as most of you know that have ever met Ronny, he kind of just grows on you and you feel his sincerity and goodness. Heck, I even remember gathering Ronny, Vance Snider, and myself in Luby’s Cafeteria over in Wichita Falls and pledging to support one another if any of us made it to the runoff, which he did. I can tell you right now we chose well, and Ronny Jackson will do great over in the swamp because he is a dedicated man who loves the people he represents.

Well, these are just a few of the things that we can all be grateful for this year as a community and thankful we have made it this far despite all the challenges we have faced. So as you gather together over the Turkey Day weekend let’s all be thankful for the blessings of one another, and still being able to come together. Let’s take a moment and remember those who are up in heaven, those that are away from family, and all those in need. So, from my family to yours, I would like to say Happy Thanksgiving and each of you are a blessing!

Richard Herman is the former Potter County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace and was a Republican hopeful for U.S. House District 13 in 2020.