Sowers has passion and plan

I usually stay out of politics, but this year I'm speaking out in support of Tommy Sowers, a Green Beret who served our country for 11 years in Kosovo and Iraq and as a teacher of the Constitution at West Point. Mr. Sowers came home to run for Congress because he saw politicians in Washington getting it wrong. He saw that our district lagged behind in infrastructure, and that earmarks weren't fixing all our problems. He saw Republicans and Democrats running up the deficit and blaming each other. He saw young people moving away as jobs became harder to find.

I voted for Jo Ann Emerson many times, and I think she has done the best job she can do. But we've given her 14 years, and we're slipping behind. She's been influenced in Washington to vote against our interests, first with bad trade deals and now with bailouts. And she has disappointed me with her ads attacking Tommy. Instead of pretending he is Nancy Pelosi, she should join him in an honest discussion.

This November, I'm voting for Tommy Sowers, because I see a leader with passion and a plan to lead us to better days.

GRETCHEN THOMPSON, 12905 County Road 4010, Rolla, MO 65401