Columns

I was the sole candidate who challenged Mick Mulvaney in last year’s Republican primary. Sadly, fewer than 14 percent of eligible voters voted. This year I have six Republicans in opposition to my bid – not to mention three in the Democratic Party and some others.
Who will best represent all 660,000 citizens in 10-plus counties? I will. Here’s why. Principle: Much of leadership is clearing the clutter.

Recent events make me think back to my time in divinity school studying for my master’s degree.
The university it was attached to was well-known as a theologically conservative institution, but the divinity school gained a reputation for being liberal-minded because it insisted we learn both sides of the argument.

April 15 is a day most Americans dread. But for millions of hardworking taxpayers, the completion of tax returns is actually unnecessary.
The government maintains records showing how much tax has been withheld from their paychecks. Their income is on file. The amount of tax they owe or tax to be refunded is on file, too. Yet tens of millions of hours are wasted with millions of Americans filing their tax returns with information the government already has.

As we look around the world this Easter Sunday, we see the realities of violence, disease and famine, of graphic horrors in places like Syria and Egypt.
With all this suffering, it is a fitting moment to ask a well-worn question: Why do bad things happen to good people?
My attempt at an answer would be to examine the word “good.” It’s an extremely relative term. I can look around and find persons with whom I can compare myself, and I can reach the conclusion that compared to them, I am pretty good.