As the election season kicks into high gear in September - CalCoDems are extending the OPEN hours of HQ, 812 Noble Street, Anniston, AL. Come visit us, talk about about upcoming events you may want to volunteer for. Make a donation to your candidates. Volunteer to 'canvass,' aka 'door knocking.' Candidates will be 'phone banking' at HQ soon - will you help?
Meet Lin Veasey.....
Love of Country: Love of our country forms the basis of some of my earliest memories, including the Bicentennial celebrations of 1976. One of my first 4H speaking contests included a demonstration on the proper way to fold the American flag. I am the third of four children. All my siblings are military vets, along with my dad, who served in Korea, and my late father-in-law, who served in WWII.
Family Life: I have been married for 32 years, to Dr. Lawson Veasey. We moved to Jacksonville when he took over the Department Head position for Political Science and Public Administration at Jacksonville State University in 2001. I am a mother of six adult children. They have brought so much joy to my life, and I daily give thanks for the ways they each contribute to help make our world a better place. My stepdaughter is a nurse and business owner in Arkansas. Our five children all graduated from Jacksonville High School and have gone on to a variety of careers in health care, medical research, sales, and construction, with my youngest just finishing her second year at JSU.
Education and Work: Education and professional life for me have been intertwined with an enriching faith journey in the Presbyterian Church USA. My undergrad degree is in Political Science from the University of Central Arkansas. I also have a Masters degree in Community Agency Counseling from Jacksonville State University. Since 2010, I have been a Commissioned Ruling Elder, also known as a lay pastor, for the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsely (I love to share the story of this unusual name, so please ask!). I have worked most extensively with two local churches, First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville and Church of the Covenant in north Anniston. While my life has been formed with the gift of being immersed in Bible study and worship each week I am also grateful for the connections in mission and justice work the PCUSA and our presbytery. For over 150 years Presbyterian churches in our area have had a commitment to the care of vulnerable children and families through the Presbyterian Home for Children in Talladega. We are part of a forty year ministry of housing through Westminster Apartments in Anniston which is a partnership with HUD. More recently Alabama Presbyterians have been involved with environmental education with Living River, a retreat on the Cahaba, medical debt relief, canned food drives, and anti-racism work. This commitment and connection to the betterment of our neighborhoods informs and guides me each day.
Why I am Running: This limited snapshot of my life is a framework for why I am seeking to be the US Congressional Representative for the 3rd District of Alabama. Each part of who I am adds to the urgency I feel to offer a choice on the ballot. For this beloved American democracy to continue to flourish and offer representation for each constituent, both major parties should be represented. For many reasons, it is difficult to find individuals willing to take on the overwhelming odds to run against long time incumbents. This is a reality all around our country but in Alabama there is even a higher degree of frustration since the formation of our congressional districts are not representative of our population. Alabama’s deadline for seeking to run in congressional races this year was delayed after a three-judge panel, made up of two Republican appointed judges and one Democratic appointed judge, decided that the congressional district lines should be redrawn with urgency. The US Supreme court did not agree to hear our case in a timely manner and so, yet, again the people of Alabama, especially black voters are not truly represented. I firmly believe that when we have politicians choosing voters rather than voters choosing politicians, we are not what we should be, a democracy by the people and for the people.
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