Dear Editor:
In the late 1970s it was an honor and pleasure for me to serve as the Director of the Agriculture Division of the Iowa Development Commission (IDC) under Governor Bob Ray and Jefferson’s own Del Van Horn who served as the Director of the IDC.
Governor Ray met frequently with IDC staff for updates and mission coordination. It was during one of these meetings that an IDC staff member mentioned the difficult and disagreeable nature of a key elected official within the state.
Upon hearing a negative personal view of the character of an elected office holder, Governor Ray offered the following: “Although you may not be able to respect the individual who holds the office, you must always hold utmost respect for the duties of that office. Any less means democracy becomes less effective.”
Those words of wisdom from Governor Ray have remained with me for almost 40 years and I believe they have never been more true than now.
Mike Coyne, Des Moines, formerly of Jefferson
