GCDCC News

‘Us’ must mean all people to our leaders

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Devon Cheek; I’m the Democratic candidate for state representative for the 136th District.

Recently, I observed my opponent’s banners out advertising his re-election bid and one thing I noticed is that it said “From Here, For Us.” Now I get the “From Here” part of that statement. What I want to know is: Who is “us?” Is he talking about other Republicans, other individuals who think like him and agree with everything he does in lockstep with the Republican leadership in the Missouri House? Is “us” just talking about the higher-income families in the district? The middle-income families?

I want to let everyone know what I do for a living. I’m an overnight auditor for a hotel property in the city of Springfield. My opponent is a business analyst for the health care industry at one of the local hospitals. So is his “us” other health care professionals? Doctors? When health care or education issues come up for a vote on the floor of the Missouri House of Representatives, who is Mr. Burlison going to vote with and for? Will he vote for the people of his district, his constituents? Will he vote with other Republicans that are in the House? He’s done that before. Will he vote to protect his employers; his job?

I’m here to stand up and say I want to know who his “us” is. I can stand firm and say that my “us” are the people who vote me into office. My “us” are the people who both agree and disagree with my ideas. My “us” are the people who are fighting to hang on to their jobs. Because I’ve been there. I know exactly what it’s like to not have a job and to not know if you’ll have enough to cover next month’s rent, not to mention gas and groceries, and I’m just one guy. It astounds me how whole families are surviving.

I know exactly what it’s like to have a job, but not have health insurance and to be scared worrying that something will happen and sickness may set in to the point that you have to visit the hospital or the doctor’s office and wonder how you’re going to pay the medical bills.

My “us” are the lower-income families and individuals in my district. My “us” are the middle-income families and individuals in my district. My “us” are the higher-income families and individuals in my district. That’s everybody.

My “us” is the boss and the employee, the teacher and the student, the doctor and the patient, the parent and the child. My “us” is black, white, male, female, young, old, rich, poor, gay, straight, because that’s how we’re divided as Missourians … as Americans. And that’s who my “us” is.

You are not “us” to me …

You are the people — and you vote. and I will be a representative who will listen to, and stand up and fight for you the people. Thank you.

Devon Cheek is the Democratic candidate for state representative for the Missouri 136th District.