When I first announced that I was running for State Representative people told me that politics is “a rich mans game.” They wondered why I would subject myself to the negativity that seems to dominate almost any campaign.

My life circumstances seem to run counter to entering the world of politics. I am far from wealthy; Jill and I live in a small home in working class neighborhood. We drive cars that have turned over 100,000 miles, but they’re paid for. I’ve experienced unemployment and I know what it is like to worry about whether the bills will get paid. In other words, I have none of the qualifications of typical politicians.

HOWEVER, what I do have is the life experience to represent the people who live in district 77. I truly believe what Lincoln said about “a government of the people, by the people and for the people.”

After serving as a community advocate for the past 30 years I have the knowledge and skills to represent the real people of district 77.

I have worked to serve the people of SW Indiana in a variety of ways. I’ve been involved in many great events and helped raise money for a lot of worthwhile organizations. Most of all, I have enjoyed meeting and talking to the kind and compassionate people that also call Evansville their home.

It is my love for this city that led me to run for State Representative. I believe that the years of listening to the hopes, dreams and needs of the people here give me an advantage in this race. For me it is all about relationships and taking care of the needs of the people. It’s all about respecting others and finding ways to work together.

Anyone running for office in SW Indiana knows that the I-69 Bridge is important. We all agree that we have to fix the schools, retain good teachers and find a better way to do standardized testing. Roads need to be fixed and we need to keep attracting new jobs to the state. We can all recite these things in our sleep.

The real job for a legislator is to use some good old-fashioned common sense to make this a better place to live. Using common sense means asking if each bill that gets introduced is really needed. Common sense calls for elimination of the red tape that makes it more difficult for small local charities to raise funds. Commonsense tells us that we need to create new ways to deal with the drug problem in our state.

The problems that exist in the state are going to require a lot more than partisan politics to resolve. It’s going to require all of us working together to bridge the gaps that are currently dividing us.

Evansville has a history of reconciliation. We were the site of a big event to bring together both northern and southern troops in 1887 with the blue and gray reunion. Our patriotism here was strong as a manufacturing center during World War II and as the home of the world’s largest flag in 1980.

Our city has a great history for business development as well. Downtown Evansville is where the first retail Sears store opened and the oldest, most respected revolving door manufacturer in the world is located in Evansville. We were once the refrigerator capital of the world and many cars rolled off of Evansville assembly lines.

Some people look at the past and say that Evansville’s best days are behind us, but I look to the future and believe that our best days are ahead.

If you would like to help with our campaign, visit us online at www.friendsofjohnnykincaid.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Friends-of-Johnny-Kincaid-1709150392675321

FOOTNOTE: This latter was posted without opinion, bias or editing.