Vote Hayhurst!

(Editor's note: I have the good fortune of knowing Dr.Wright personally. I was pleased to see this effort from him in the Kendallville Sun, via Reverent & Free. Thanks, Craig!)

There are good reasons to vote for Hayhurst

To the editor:

This is an open letter to the voters of Noble and LaGrange counties. Many of you know me as an emergency physician at Parkview Noble (McCray) Hospital and the other hospitals of the Parkview system. Over the course of my 25 years of practice, I have had the pleasure of frequently working with Dr. Tom Hayhurst. I have gotten to know him well. Dr. Hayhurst is the Democratic candidate for 3rd District U.S. congressional representative.

There are a number of good reasons to vote for Tom Hayhurst. In Dr. Hayhurst's over 30 years of practice in pulmonary medicine in the Fort Wayne area, he has cared for patients from throughout the 3rd Congressional District. He has worked with patients and their families, shepherding them carefully through difficult, even critical medical, personal and family situations. He is not only intelligent, but he is compassionate and insightful. He knows the people of this region, and knows the needs and issues they care about as well.

As a physician, he is especially well versed on health care issues, which is a primary issue for many constituents. He will work to increase the availability of health care to those who now don't have it and add a great deal of cost to the system, as uninsured individuals.

He is a veteran, and led the battle to keep the Veterans Administration Hospital in Fort Wayne. No matter how you feel about the war in Iraq, because of their significant sacrifice, when our vets come home they should have our support. And they should have access to quality health care. Tom Hayhurst understands this.

Dr. Hayhurst believes in fiscal responsibility. He also believes in being responsible to generations to come. He will work to turn around the vast load of debt we are leaving our children. He is not a slave to big oil and will work toward energy independence in ways we have thus far failed to do.

He wants to return America to a position of strength and respect in the world, by collaborating with our allies through diplomacy, rather than alienating them through unilateralism. He will seek to keep our economy strong while improving the lives of those in need.

Some have asked about how Dr. Hayhurst will represent the 3rd District in Washington in the face of party-line pressure. Tom will not be lock-step with any party or any lobby. He is not desperate to be in the favor of any influential group in Washington, and therefore will represent the people of the 3rd District and vote his conscience rather than toe any party line or do the bidding of a rich lobbyist. He has shown, in his work as a city councilman in Fort Wayne, that collaborative efforts, across party lines, lead to better legislation.

Many of you who usually vote Republican have said, having an open mind, you would vote for a Democrat if the candidate is the most qualified for the job. Well, this is the time for you to take that step.

Tom Hayhurst is a man of integrity and experience. He is someone we can be proud to have represent us in Washington. He will not make embarrassing gaffs to the press. When he brings home funding, it will actually be in our district. When you see him in the press, it will be about an issue of substance, not about the naming of a road. His word is his bond: If he said that he would only stay in Congress for 12 years, after 12 years he would no longer be a candidate.

Tom Hayhurst knows the people of northeast Indiana. He will represent us well and is worthy of your vote.

Phillip Wright, M.D.

Fort Wayne