No excuse for bad behavior.
Randy Pace and Knox County Circuit Court Clerk Candidate Scott Smith and an unidentified man
Having attended the candidate forum recently hosted by the Knox County Republican Executive Committee, I am astonished by the lack of respect and understanding afforded the State Republican Party Chairman Mr. Scott Golden and members of the State Republican Executive Committee. A group of albeit well intended but misinformed elected officials and members of the public shouted vulgarities and distasteful rumors circulated on social media.
Some in a more respectful tone attempted to gain a better understanding but the information they sought was lost on a small group of ill-mannered malcontents. Rather than seek factual information readily available to anyone willing to look for it. Some in attendance demanded answers to questions designed to malign and disparage the true intentions of people that work daily to strengthen our party as well as improve government function.
We have written by-laws and elected representation in the Republican Party. The stated goals and objectives are clearly laid out. The Process of how they are changed is not a closely guarded secret. How to become part of this process may take some time and effort but it is well worth both your time and effort.
I have served my country full time for over twenty years in the US Navy. I have been forward deployed in combat zones in the Middle East and South America. I have never been denied the opportunity to vote. While on occasion I have had to create that opportunity amidst an environment that lacked the ease by which we get it done stateside.
As an American I not only felt as strongly about my service but equally as strong about my responsibility to exercise my voice at the ballot box. I have registered countless service members for absentee balloting and will continue to increase that awareness every chance I get. I was elected to the Office of Mayor and Councilman in a community on the brink of financial ruin and assisted in returning it back to fiscal sanity and prosperity. I spent a great deal of time preparing myself to serve in that capacity. Gaining a better understanding of the process and educating myself. “Don’t Expect, Inspect”.
As a result I ran four consecutive successful campaigns as a republican in the bluest state in the nation.
It is because of the hard work of average people doing more than their share of the heavy lifting required, through their time, effort and dedication to preserving liberty and freedom that the Republican Party has endured since our country’s founding. While disagreements occur, it is our ability to work through them that separate us from despot governments that exist all over the world. It must be our desire to commit to ideas and organization that go beyond individual wants. Without structure and representative organization we fall prey to the worst of the human condition.
The basis of our republic is predicated on an informed electorate. Those that choose not to seek the relevant information or choose to look at only what benefits their own interest are destined to create a government that serves no one. Today’s media is creating a six second society that preys on the healthy natural distrust of government. Snippets of carefully crafted misinformation are readily available for anyone who wishes the short cut. Being part of the solution takes time and effort. For any one that has taken the time to read this I thank you. I am committed to improving every ones understanding of the process by which we select and elect our representatives. I believe that we should all involve ourselves in the affairs of state. Less our representative republic should fail. “I’m here to volunteer”.
Respectfully,
Randy Pace
