Returning the Office Back to You

Dear Maria Supporter,

From the 1960’s until the year 2000, Missouri’s 1st U.S. Congressional District was represented by William (Bill) Clay. Bill Clay was a man who earned his credibility from his involvement in St. Louis City government and on the streets of the city during the Civil Rights struggle. He spent time in jail for the protests at Jefferson Bank that forced the bank to offer white-collar jobs to African-American citizens of St. Louis. He knew first-hand the problems, because he was born here, raised here, and he was personally involved.

I thought the tremendous progress in individual and group civil rights achieved by the heroic actions of people like Mr. Clay would endure as part of our nation’s core principles. Now, these hard-won successes are under attack and in jeopardy from many directions – including from within local, state and national government. The issues are many: Voting rights; Discrimination based on skin color, religion, national origin and gender; Financial misdealing; Pollution of our land, air and water; Wars that do not make our country or the world safer.

It’s time for our District to be represented again by someone who knows first-hand about today’s important problems that we all face. Someone who has served in local government and state government. Someone who can speak forcefully to get attention to our problems, but can also work with others in government to formulate policy and fight against the wrongs proposed by opposing individuals and their party.

We need a Representative who communicates with us frequently, and meets with us to discuss problems and solutions. We need someone of a new generation who understands what happened in the past and has the knowledge, skill and energy to work against laws that would take us backward, while deliberately acting for a better future. Our Congressional Representative needs to be someone who is honest and willing to talk to us as individuals.

Maria Chappelle-Nadal has worked with schools, both in her home community of University City, and in schools in her state House district and in her current Senate district. In the Missouri House and Senate, she has fought to stop proposals that are wrong and partnered with the opposition to achieve success when possible. She constantly communicates with us by email, Twitter, Facebook, mail and, most importantly, in person.

I first met Maria when I traveled to Jefferson City with the University City Public Library Director to lobby our representatives about issues that could effect our local library. I thought then that we are fortunate to have her in state government. Maria even reads periodically to children in the library (and at local schools) to show the children she thinks reading is important. She’s the best Representative and Senator our districts have had over the 40 years I’ve lived in University City.

I support and will vote for Maria to represent us in the U.S. Congress, knowing that she will continue the same energetic leadership on the issues that are so important to all of us. As our new Congressional Representative, you can be sure that Maria Chappelle-Nadal will continue to listen to and talk with us. YOUR interests, rather than special interests, will guide her as she returns YOUR Congressional office back to YOU.

Larry Nolan