Our New
Sheriff
Elect
From A
Wife’s
Point of
View….by
Jeanette
Wansley
When my
husband
mentioned
that he
was
seriously
thinking
about
running
in the
Republican
Primary
for
Sheriff
of Wood
County,
I was
not
surprised.
He has
been in
law
enforcement
ever
since I
have
known
him and
I know
that is
his
second
love,
only
because
he says
that I’m
his
first.
He would
not
consider
this
race
unless I
was in
agreement
with
him. I
did not
immediately
say I
was in
agreement
and
asked
that he
give me
a day or
so to
think
about
it. A
commitment
of this
nature
takes
total
agreement
between
a
husband
and wife
because
of time,
money,
and
energy
necessary
to go
the
distance.
After
giving
it much
thought,
and
prayer,
I agreed
and told
him that
I
thought
this was
not only
right
but that
it was
what he
needed
to do
for the
County
and
himself.
I told
him he
needed
to show
the
citizens
of Wood
County
that the
Sheriff’s
Department
can be
run in
an
efficient,
effective,
and
harmonious
way and
I was
willing
to help.
Shortly
after he
made his
announcement
and
filed as
a
candidate,
I was
diagnosed
with
breast
cancer.
He
immediately
wanted
to drop
out of
the
race,
but I
assured
him that
I did
not want
him to
make
that
decision
and I
wanted
him to
continue.
We were
in this
together
and
together
we would
handle
both,
the
cancer
and the
race. I
am now
cancer
free and
looking
forward
to a
long and
healthy
life.
A
political
race is
not a
one-man
show.
It takes
an
entire
family
along
with
those
friends
we
consider
our
“extended”
family.
For
those
that
know me
personally
know I
can
stand
before
an
audience
of many
and sing
without
hesitation.
However,
when it
comes to
one-on-one
with a
stranger
and
asking
them for
anything,
even
their
vote, it
is a
difficult
personal
task.
Because
of my
belief
in my
husband’s
ability,
honesty,
fairness,
and
ethics I
knew I
could do
it for
him. A
race of
this
nature
becomes
a very
personal
affair.
It takes
your
time,
your
money,
your
thoughts
and
every
ounce of
energy
you can
possibly
muster.
The wife
is the
encourager,
the
cheerleader,
the
secretary,
the
sounding-board,
the
errand
runner,
and oft
times
the
chauffer.
There
are so
many
things
that are
involved
in a
political
race.
There
are the
parades,
and you
must
have a
float, a
decorated
vehicle,
or at
least
one that
advertises
why you
are in
the
parade;
again,
the
wife’s
assistance
is
needed.
There
are
Chamber
of
Commerce
banquets
to
attend;
social
clubs to
visit,
forums
where
you
never
know
what
will be
asked,
and then
of
course,
the
personal
knocking
on
doors.
Not to
mention
you need
to try
to “look
your
best” at
all
times.
I am
tired
and
ready to
rest and
get our
lives
back to
some
normalcy;
however,
I’d do
it all
over
again.
It
brings a
husband
and wife
closer
and
stronger
together
knowing
that
although
tired,
we can
still
laugh,
love,
and look
forward
to the
future
together.
