Walk really was for workers

I would like to respond to your Sept. 2 editorial regarding the 37.4 mile “Walk for Workers” I completed through my district this past Saturday. While I respect the editorial board’s opinion, I must strongly disagree with their take on my motives. After walking 37 miles in honor of the working men and women of my district affected by job loss, I can say with certitude that this was no “stunt.” I would also state that anyone there during the more than 12 hours I spent on my feet would say the same – especially those affected by these job cuts in recent months.

While I realize that my opponent is not single-handedly responsible for the job losses that have taken place, I believe he has failed as a leader in his community. That in part is why I decided to run for this office and also why I set out on foot this past Saturday to show the people in this community how serious I am when it comes to standing up with them. When I asked the head of the union at the recently closed Visteon Plant whether Brent Steele had ever once set foot in her office, she told me no. This was two days before the plant shut down forever and 600 people lost their jobs: I knew something had to change.

In your article, you list the nation’s unemployment rate at 5.7 percent. That might look like good news to the residents of Lawrence County in my district, whose unemployment rate for July 2008 according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development was a dismal 8.5 percent. Finally, the conclusion of your piece notes that candidates like me, running at the local and municipal level, are getting ahead of themselves by laying blame for the economy on incumbent officeholders. I want to clarify that the office for which I am a candidate is Indiana State Senator. This is a state office, not a local or municipal one, and my particular district is composed of portions of five counties. You are correct that our struggling economy cannot be repaired by one person. However, we need to use the opportunity the upcoming election provides to elect leaders, across the ticket and regardless of party affiliation, who are committed to working together to tackle immense challenges.

Sincerely,
Matthew S. Colglazier