I want to thank everyone who has supported me during this campaign and election. The kindness and trust shown to me has truly been humbling. For those of you who were strangers to me and yet shared bits of your lives and concerns, I will remember you. I have been touched by so many during this process.

There have been good days and not-so-good days. But every time I was feeling the full weight of the campaign, God would send an "angel" into my life. Some of you know who you are. Some of you don't. I was blessed by so many.

After the Battle of Britain, Winston Churchill said, "Never have so many owed so much to so few." I am saying the opposite. Never has ONE owed so much to so many.

There have been many, many volunteers who have done a tremendous amount of work. The list of different tasks is long... walking parades, knocking on doors, compiling lists, stuffing envelopes, hosting Meet & Greet coffees, putting up signs (and putting them up again after they were vandalized), now taking down signs, telephoning, researching, and on and on. There were "ghost" campaigners -- those people who took extra cards and asked friends to vote for me. Their help was immeasurable! Many prayed faithfully for the campaign. You have no idea how much I depended on you. For those who believed in what we could all do together and made contributions, I thank you. We never went into debt. Minnesota should do so well. :)

My committee members are the best in the world! You kept me on track, you encouraged, you were an inspiration. My husband has been a prince through all this. And Ethel, what would I have done without you?!

God bless you all -- the people of Itasca and Aitkin Counties. I will look back on this summer/fall as one of the hardest and yet one of the best times of my life.

Carolyn