The first event of my campaign was a small gathering at Coffee Rules, 1011 Elm, Hays. Jason and Valery Rule, owners, were very gracious to allow us the entire basement for the evening’s event. Our youngest daughter is getting married in April, so the majority of the family was in Hays for the weekend to honor her at a bridal shower. Three of our four children – Amber, home from No. Carolina, Chelsea and her fiancé Jesse, Hutchinson, and Jeremy, Bryna, and Landon, Moran, KS, were in attendance, as was my mother Betty Holloway, McPherson and my sister Julie Reddig, Salina. (Brandon, Marquette, and his family were unable to attend.) A number of our dearest friends and early supporters came to wish us well in this exciting endeavor. Matt Musgrove and my daughters took care of the “heavy lifting”, Mike Karl gave the formal introduction, and the race is on! We enjoyed the evening very much and look forward to many opportunities as I travel the 69 counties of the Big First District.