Republican Party

Sunday, Republican candidates from across the State gathered at City Park's pavilion to plead a final time for the locals' vote in the upcoming primary. I write today's piece in-the-blind not knowing Tuesday's results.

But I do know the statewide candidates were ready to have it all settled. I could tell they were weary. It's been a long haul. The passion was missing. The speech made one too many times.

Yet, there they were at the shelter roasting with us in a100 degree heat making the final case in hopes for one last conversion. And I'll tell you a little secret, I changed mine in the gubernatorial race based on what I saw this final day. So it did matter on at least one ballot.

I was touched by the number of locals who showed-up for the event. Ladies brought homemade baked goods. And oh my, those oatmeal cookies with nuts and cranberries were blue ribbon award winners. There was plenty of ice and liquids. And as the politicians spoke, longtime precinct committeewoman Della Wray Blythe with rosy red cheeks and beads of sweat on her brow walked around the gathering graciously filling glasses with cold tea. In this day's blistering heat it was a most poignant moment, and a picture of commitment that will not soon be lost on this writer.

And there was the 19 year old running for the House of Representatives - a K-State student from up in Clay Center chasing Rep. Kathe Decker's seat. One township in his district falls in Riley County, so here he was making his case as Manhattan simmered. He said his folks were proud of him. So was I. "Good effort," came to mind as he practiced the skills.

And so it went. The candidates came from hundreds of miles to make a final pitch. The locals were gracious and clapped and chatted and smiled and soon, mercifully, it was over. Yet once more, the process seemed to work. We came. We listened. And a voter changed his mind, hopefully, for the better.

First published in the Manhattan Free Press, April 13, 2006.