To Your Readers:
Colleen Hinds, running to represent your district in the state legislature, became my friend in Sunday School at our small farm community church west of Minneapolis. Over the decades we’ve kept friendship alive on bare bones of occasional letters, e-notes and visits. Colleen became a Montanan while she was still a young nurse and I was putting down roots in Minnesota.
Political candidates’ positions on issues are make-or-break important. You can learn everything you need about Colleen’s stances on your concerns on her website, hindsforhd13.com, or from talking with her. But what I consider as important as a candidate’s positions on the issues is character. Moral integrity, values, these tend to stay the same as we mature.
Colleen IS a character. From the little I know of Montana, I think that’s a fit. An old friend said of Montanans, “You can land your spaceship on Main Street of any little town and pop out in a silver lame jumpsuit and somebody will say ‘Howdy stranger, c’mon in for a cold one.’” Y’all really do have a bigger sky than the rest of us; it seems to give you open minds. I visited Colleen during the birthing of her daughter in their family’s hardscrabble early years in Montana. Between contractions she’d get up and vigorously bang out hymns on an old piano. We were in stitches. With her usual elan, Colleen brought this process to its fruitful end.
And she HAS character. A great sense of humor is a survival tool, especially in these tumultuous times, but moral fiber should be among voters’ central concerns. Colleen’s ethics were nurtured in a big, tightly knit family. Hardworking, loving dad Kingsley was steady and quiet. Bernice was the livewire. Sunday appearances in church were usually in maternity clothes, flourished with fabulous hats. Their rambling old house was always convivial to guests. In gardening season, fresh produce was often in process on the big kitchen table. In this family, there is more than enough love for each other. It spills out for the rest of creation.
Colleen is running on a promise of compassionate, listening leadership and the rights of Montanans, not outsiders with big money, to decide the destiny of public lands. Her longtime co-workers at the hospital in Sandpoint can attest to her leadership skills. I’ve known this woman for 60+ years and am here to attest that you can take her compassion, caring and competence to the bank. Better still, take it to your precious ballot.
Cordially,
Marcia Baer,
Aitkin, Minnesota
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