I have known Dan Bratka for more than 20 years, serving with Dan in the United States Air Force Reserves from peace time through times of peril during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

I first met Dan when he was a young lieutenant leading a squadron of security forces men and women as their squadron commander, later rising to the rank of Lt. Colonel as an Air Force JAG officer.

Dan treats people fairly and respectfully.

His honesty and integrity will serve the people well in the position of judge.

Please consider the choice of Dan Bratka for judge on election day.

Walter L. Dodson,

MSgt. USAFR (ret.)

First Sergeant

This election is first and foremost about the economy. Based on this, I cannot vote for Barack Obama for the following reasons:

1. We are now over $16 trillion in debt. This is inexcusable and there is no sign that the president is willing to curb his spending. Obamacare will not only increase the deficit but will also increase taxes which will hit the middle class. Candidate Obama stated that if he couldn't cut the deficit in half during his first term he would not deserve reelection. So be it.

2. Our true jobless rate is higher than the 7.8 percent that was recently released. There are millions of Americans out of work, under employed or who have given up on finding jobs. Our president has never held a private sector job and does not know how to encourage private sector jobs.

3. For the first time in our history, the credit rating of the United States has been degraded twice during this administration. We went from AAA to AA and now we are at AA-. If we cannot control our spending we could get downgraded again.

4. There has not been a federal budget during Obama's presidency. The Democrats controlled the White House, Congress and the Senate during Obama's first two years. If Obama could not get a budget passed then, he clearly does not deserve another term.

5. Family incomes have dropped eight percent since Obama took office. Healthcare costs have increased even though Obama promised if his Affordable Care Act passed, healthcare premiums would fall.

6. Gas prices have increased 100 percent.

7. Entitlements continue to increase - over 46 million people are now getting food stamps. Medicare recipients have increased significantly. We need jobs.

8. Obama has stifled our gas, coal and oil production. Rather than encouraging domestic production, Obama is sending money to other countries to help them develop their energy resources. This is not only bad business - we should be in competition with these countries - it continues our dependence on foreign energy supplies. We need the jobs these industries would provide.

9. Obama has shipped jobs and stimulus money to other countries. Obamas jobs czar, Jeffrey Immelt, shipped thousands of jobs to China even though his company GE received stimulus dollars. And who can forget Solyndra and all the green energy jobs that took stimulus money then either folded or moved to another country?

10. Obama is working for the unions, not the workers. Had GM filed bankruptcy and restructured, they could have saved jobs while we could have avoided the debt this caused our government. What happened to the GM stock the government purchased? It was given to the unions.

These reasons are all economic but there are more regarding foreign policy and "leading from behind," tax codes, "Fast & Furious," and our standing as a world leader.

Diane J. Hager

Bellefontaine

In all fairness, it would be unwise of me to illustrate the "professional" character of my sister, Bridget D. Hawkins. That is, not without commenting on her character as a person. And, while I relish the opportunity to witness my sister work inside a courtroom, that day has not yet come.

After telling me of her nomination for judgeship, my foremost opinion is: "There is no stopping my sister from being and doing all that she is able ..."

A pivotal, decades old memory of Bridget is that of our mother designating her guardian pro tem for one casually mischievous, nine-year-old boy.

I don't remember why I wasn't in school that day. Bridget is working on her bachelor's degree in social welfare. The weather of early winter is skin-numbingly frigid. A one transfer metro transit bus ride from our home to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, while carrying weighty books, a sizable schedule of classes ... and me, may just have been Bridget setting a precursor to the steadfastness of many of today's single parents.

At the time, I didn't understand the enormity of her responsibilities. A 20 something college student, balancing school, a part-time job and being an on-call guardian is not an easy task. Nor is it, by most accounts, a desired duty. However, Bridget is the person, who handles such responsibilities well. During classes, she kept me entertained and/or distracted with a pen and paper, so that I could doodle or copy math equations written on one of the lecture hall blackboards. I tried to remain quiet and made efforts not to annoy her. She would even design pop quizzes to get me involved. She has a talent for connecting with people.

She fed me snacks of potato chips, a cinnamon roll and an apple. I think I inhaled a cheeseburger for lunch. I even remember us taking a moment (by Bridget's urging, of course) to watch a soap opera in the student union. That is her, caring for the "needy," while measuring out time for herself.

That day, I did learn just how intelligent ("My sister is so smart and lucky that she knows how to do math with numbers and letters ..."), principled ("She always knows where to go and what to do?"), and personable she is able to be around peers and professors. Throughout the day, she waved and happily chatted with people of varying age, gender and race. It all seemed so casual and normal for her to be handling such a consuming routine. Yet, she could still find the "fun" to enjoy her daily hustle.

Bridget instinctively knows how to temper discipline with devotion for those with whom she is charged. She has always spoken to me as a person with thoughts and feelings. Rarely, did she ever make me feel like a "little brother." Like all of my siblings, Bridget was instrumental in my upbringing and helped me to focus on pursuits that may have been outside my scope of consideration. Possibility is the word Bridget trumpets through her personal ethic and demeanor.

For Bridget, it is possible to foster children. It is possible to assist in raising a nephew to manhood. It is possible to care for an ailing mother. It is possible to be active in the community. And, it is possible to contribute in as many areas of life as possible.

Accepting the challenge. Designing a course of action that benefits the people involved. Maintaining a command of authority and guidance can be taught. However, the notable ones are usually cited with inherent ability. I believe the quality of my sister's character is inherited through her tireless pursuits, personal and professional experiences and pragmatic approach to life.

She is a person who gives of herself for the simple reason that, she believes, it is her job to give of herself and that when judged, she will be deemed, exceptional.

Jonathan D. Hawkins, Brother

Emeryville, Calif.

Bridget Hawkins is someone you want in your corner both in life and in the courtroom. She won't stand for anything less than true justice while still honoring the humanity in every person who crosses her path.

I hope she will be the voters' choice for Logan County Family Court Judge.

Through my own work as a journalist, I have come to see how quickly issues concerning family, divorce and child custody get volatile, pushing people to their breaking point. That is why having Bridget, someone with experience as a longtime local attorney, with compassion and unwavering moral character is essential in family court.

I am engaged to Bridget's youngest brother, Jonathan. Several  years ago, I met her, along with the rest of the family, five other siblings, their significant others and children, all at the same time. While it was a bit overwhelming, I remember how warm and welcoming Bridget was, recognizing almost immediately that she is the glue of this family, the one people count on, trust and go to for advice and counsel. And as I got to know her, I realized that her generosity and kindness extend far beyond the family, to the people she meets through work, church and by simply being part of the community she loves.

Bridget is dedicated to her work and motivated to making the world a better place through her everyday actions. I am confident she will serve Logan County well if she is voted Family Court Judge.

Kimberly Tere Kong

Emeryville, CA