I have had the pleasure of meeting so many wonderful people during my campaign. That is a part of campaigning that is so interesting, you meet all types of people and hear all types of thoughts and ideas.

Today, I want to tell you about a extrodinary individual in our community. As most of you are aware, there were five candidates running in the 5th Commissioner District race, of course only two would emerge from the primary race to run in the general election: Mike Lee and me. The day after the primary, I called Mike Lee and congratulated him on the outcome, told him I looked forward to the campaign and general election.

I also sent out a letter to the other three candidates that did not get through the primary, in that letter I congratulated them also, just making the committment to run is a victory in itself. Shortly thereafter I received a phone call from Tony Pestorious, one of the candidates in the primary. In that phone conversation he congratulated me and offered his assistance in placing signs and encouraging support amoung his supporters for me. I thanked him graciously, warmed by this unselfish act. It was that same week on Saturday that he showed up at my house with his pickup and loaded up all the signs I had left to put out in the county. Now that is one extraordinary person. Very few people I know would be so gracious, and I am proud to be able to have met Tony through this process. My sincere thanks goes out to Tony and his family and hope that if he chooses to run for public office again he will indeed be a winner.

Linda Tuttle

Albert Lea