~Mumpower for Congress Committee~

Press Release

Monday, May 12, 2008

When you first walk in our offices, hanging on the wall is a letter that dates back from the first part of the year. It came during a particularly uncertain time, when my initial enthusiasm had been overcome by the sobering reality of a campaign both crippled by a lack of money and what seemed a constant barrage of criticism from every naysayer quick to offer advice on how everything we were doing was wrong.

Carl came into my office one morning to show me the handwritten letter.  By the time I was done reading, we were both pretty choked up, and in short order the letter took its framed place of honor high above our campaign clutter. This is what it says:

Dear Dr. Mumpower:

You may remember me; I asked for and received some bumper stickers, which I display proudly on my old 15 year-old car. I'm sorry I cannot do more, but I am barely making it and not sure when the temp job I have now will end. I did have a great job in an electronics factory, but lost it after 6 years and have been bounced from one temp job to the next. I don't know that anyone around here is hiring, especially with my age and weight --- no one wants to take the risk on their insurance going up. I'm not asking that you change things, Dr. Mumpower, I know you will do your very best to turn around the trends that have caused these dire straights to come about for me as well as all the working poor in this area. The poor have gotten to a place where they don't really expect much, but I do believe in your integrity and fine character, and I know that you, above all the others, will try his best to bring back hope and confidence and a sense of decency --- and will do away with the greed and corruption that have robbed the working people of these beloved mountains.

Sincerely, Mary T. Miller"


Enclosed with the piece of lined notebook paper was a check for fifty dollars --- not the largest check we received in the last six months, but in my opinion, the most valuable. Mary's framed note and uncashed check served as a gentle reminder of why we were all here in the first place (and, frankly, why some days I remained, through what would prove to be even some darker times.)

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Mary for her gracious letter, which sort of magically appeared on a day when we needed it the most.

It wasn't the only such moment. Looking back, there were dozens and dozens of such times. You know the ones --- when the improbable becomes reality, when the shivers go down your spine because you're convinced that someone up there is watching over you. Carl called it "God opening doors."

Mostly, those magic moments were about people; the many people along the way who made it all possible last Tuesday. Sometimes, the interactions involved nothing more than words of kindness and encouragement (they were more appreciated than you might know); but more often than not, it was these caring, concerned folks that in one way or another did the thankless, heavy lifting that a campaign requires.

The list is essentially off the top of my head and by no means complete. In my haste, I've undoubtedly but unintentionally forgotten some names, so please forgive me in advance. In alphabetical order, special thanks goes out to:

Dorothea Alderfer, Jim Allred (J& S Cafeterias), Dodie Allen, Gerald Anderson, Raymond Annen, Rachel Archer, Kermit Banks, Dixie Barkdoll, Claire Barkley, John & Claudia Batson, Mike Belleme (Mike Belleme Photography), Adam Bennett (Cube Creative Design), Katy Benningfield, Richard & Maria Bernier, David Bonyun, Don Boone, Betty Budd, Victor Burgess, Sheila Byers, Bernard Carman, Kyle Carver, Fisher Caudle, Vance Caudle, Dwayne Clevenger, Bobby Coggins, Max Cooper (Max Cooper Photography), Mark Crawford, Micah Crosson (On-Demand Printing) Mark Delk, Steve Bledsoe, Joe Dunn, Chuck Durand, Greenwood Edney, Jeff Edwards, George Erwin, Neil Farnam, Wesley Farnam, Bill Fishburne, Ray Freeman, Brenda & Mike Fryar, Tim Glance, Eric Gorny, Mike Hager, Irv Hendricks, Pat Herrin, Terry Hicks, Jeff Hill, Jeff Hoch, Mirium Hoch, Elizabeth Holsomback, Linda Humphries, Sean Humphries, Weston Humphries, Tim Johnson, Bobby Johnston, Darrel Jorgensen, Dennis Justice, Tony Kruse, Dave Katterman, Diana Kantor, Alice & George Keller, Ed Krause, Bill Lack, Danny Lack, Kathie Lack, Jerry Lemonds, Tom Lennon, Kristen Lewis, Addison Lewis, Tom Lockhart, Keith Maddox, Debra Mattison, Greg Mayer (Charlotte Street Computers), Robert & Lucille McCarthy, Laura McCue, Crystal McDonald, Jon Menick (StoryPoint Media), Rich Mills, Henry Mitchell, Angela Moore, Lisa Mumpower, Matt Mumpower, Nancy & Chad Nesbitt, Steve Odom, Justice Bob Orr, Jerry Orr, Tim Peck, Jerry Peters, Tom Pethel, Justin Powlison, Robin & Nathan Ramsey, Brandon Randolph, Kathy Rhodarmer, Dennis Rhodes, Richard Rhodes, Thomas Rightmyer, Danny Roberts, Norm Roberts, Ralph Roberts, Alison & Bill Russell, Mike Sease, Gary Shoemaker, Mike Scruggs, Waynette Scruggs, Matt Shaw, Gene & Fern Shipley, Philip Stanley, Don Swaby, Mike Smith, Ernie Thurston, Jeanette Urbanic, Mike West, and Clyde Williamson.


With respect, affection and many thanks. Now, the fun begins!

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