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Dear Editor:
We are now less than 50 days away from the election. Candidates are working hard to connect with voters. Voters are working hard to truly learn about candidates and the issues. It’s at this time that we begin the unfortunate routine of trying to navigate through the nonsense.
That is why the most-recent mailer sent out by Senator John Ruckelshaus’ campaign attacking his opponent, Senate District 30 candidate Fady Qaddoura, upsets me. It’s effort to discredit Mr. Qaddoura due to a tragic accident in his past is distasteful and the people are tired of these kinds of attacks.
Earlier in the year, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Qaddoura at a local Democratic club meeting. I did not know him before but instantly thought he was kind and good-spirited. Moreover, I felt that he was an authentic person. His campaign has been an impressive one. I believe that he genuinely cares for the people within his district and beyond, which is proven by his years of public service. He has some of the kindest people on his campaign staff and his volunteers are the everyday Hoosiers that we both are fighting to represent in the Capitol Building.
To be attacked because of misfortune brought on by a catastrophic storm is disgusting. For those who don’t know, Fady and his family survived the wrath and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which had left them temporarily homeless. To pull yourself up and out of being in that situation is no easy feat.
I’m acutely aware of how difficult that is because I personally spent a portion of 2013 without a permanent address. Between August and December of that year, I relied on the generosity of friends, sleeping on people’s couches or in my little Ford Focus. The elimination of a job and the financial struggle that ensued catapulted me into nearly six months of nomadic living. It was tiring, frustrating, and embarrassing to say the least.
Not having the security and stability of a home base to safely rest your head is deeply unnerving and truly challenges your mental and emotional strength. For that to be used against anyone, for any reason, is simply appalling.
By the way, when did it become okay to make fun of the homeless?! As a decent human being, I believe the success of our society is measured by how we treat the least of us, knowing that we too, could be one medical diagnosis, one missed paycheck away from a major life change.
This pandemic has highlighted the fact that many Hoosiers are in this boat. Disparaging someone who is homeless or who has experienced homelessness in the past is shameful. I’d also argue that having someone who’s experienced this perspective is someone we should all hope to have fighting for us day to day.
The public deserves better than this type of low attack from their representatives. People are tired of dirty politics and mudslinging. It does not play to the sensible voter. Taking one’s misfortune and trying to cash in politically is sophomoric and denigrates campaigning. Trying to manipulate the voters with this tactic is insulting and shows how little this candidate thinks of the voters’ ability to receive and digest the truth. This is disappointing and disheartening.
We are better than this, and the citizens of Districts 20, 30 and all of Indiana deserve better.
Ronnie Saunders
Candidate, Indiana Senate District 20
Westfield