Letter: Barrett is man of ‘deep integrity’

TO THE EDITOR: My grandfather was a lifelong Republican. But there was one Democrat he always voted for, Tom Barrett from Milwaukee.

My grandpa knew Barrett and knew what kind of man he was, a man of incredible integrity and honor, a man who always had the best interests of Wisconsin and his fellow human beings in mind in every action, personal and political.

I lived in Milwaukee while he was mayor, and in my opinion he really did a great job as the city’s chief executive. However, it is Tom’s personal side that I want to talk about.

Maybe not everyone up here is aware of an incident that happened at the Wisconsin State Fair in August 2009. Tom was attending with his family when he came upon an older woman with a baby who was being accosted by a young man. She was crying for help and pleading for someone to call 911.

Tom came to her aid while his niece called 911. The thug began to attack Tom and threatened the niece. Tom fought back, but the thug was armed with a metal bar and beat Tom so badly he spent days in the hospital, suffering numerous abrasions, losing teeth and ending up with a badly damaged hand.

Barrett risked his life to protect a grandmother and baby, people he had never met who called for help when threatened by a thug. This is the kind of man Barrett is, and this is why my grandpa, a lifelong Republican, always voted for Barrett.

If you haven’t made up your mind about who to vote for in the governor’s race/ recall election yet, I hope that by providing this example of the deep integrity and concern for others Tom has shown, I might persuade you when you vote June 5.

Tags: opinion, letters, politics