Dear Editor,
As a Kingman resident everywhere I go I see men and women, young and old who identify in some way as being Military Veterans. I have come to learn that Mohave County has more veterans than any other County in the U.S. Almost four times as many, numbering over 23 thousand, comprising no less than 13 % of our population.
I do a fair amount of reading and research and am always deeply disturbed when I read about the ongoing suicide rate of American Military Veterans, sometimes as high as 22 a day. Too many patriotic American heroes come back from whatever combat conflict they participated in with the invisible wounds of war, PTSD (Shell Shock), TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), and many other mental health and physical injuries. They find themselves lost in civilian society, unable to readily adapt back to productive lives. I have tried to imagine the overwhelming 24-hour-a-day feeling of “something is terribly wrong and others just do not understand”. Like most, I find that I can understand that but do not truly personally feel it, yet have a passionate desire to somehow help.
As a candidate for Kingman City Council, my quest to serve the people was greatly amplified when I read that our City Council has proudly played and continues to play a major role in helping veterans and their homeless find help and resources that are so desperately needed. It was with that aspiration I made my final decision to run for a seat on our City Council being overwhelmed by the prospect of “giving back” and serving my fellow man.
The more I learn about our veterans and their sometimes seemingly hopeless quest to be understood and emotionally embraced, the more I realize in most ways that we are all wired the same. Whatever the issue or concern, whether you are a veteran, a mother, a father, young, old, disabled, rich, poor, store clerk, or city mayor, we all need and strive to be heard and understood.
As a candidate, I make a wholehearted sincere commitment to hear you, understand you and serve you in my role as a Kingman City Council member.
Your voice will be my voice, no strings attached.
Elliot Chalew
