To the editor:

While attending several local festivals and events within the past month, I have been privileged to encounter an extraordinary young man.

Lee Auman, from Union Grove, is challenging Robert Aderholt for his seat in the United States House of Representatives, Alabama District 4, Nov. 6.

Although Auman would seem to have placed himself in a David-and-Goliath situation, he is indeed in possession of many advantages.

Most importantly, Auman cares! He cares about the hopes, dreams and general welfare of his would-be constituents.

He cares enough about adequate and proper communications with the voters to hold at least two Town Hall meetings in every county in the district before the mid-term elections. He also pledges to open local offices populated by real live people, ready to address and answer questions and concerns of the constituents.

Sept. 6, Mr. Auman held his first Franklin County Town Hall Meeting at the Todd Center.

I did not find any announcement of this important meeting in the local print media. One must wonder why and what had happened to prevent any announcement of this meeting from being published.

During that meeting, it became evident that Mr. Auman possesses a great deal of courage and fortitude in order to challenge the embedded 20-year veteran of the do-nothing establishment.

He took questions from every audience member and answered them thoughtfully and intelligently. He presented logical and realistic solutions to some of our most pressing problems.

He has pledged to avoid expedience and convenience in favor of doing the right thing.

He deeply cares about improving the employment and educational opportunities for all the district inhabitants. He also believes that healthcare is a basic human right and wants to work to maintain the viability of local hospitals.

He has an excellent solution for the projected Social Security insolvency without raising taxes or contributions from the common man. Additionally, he would work to secure adequate funding necessary for the finishing of current highway and infrastructure projects as well as building new needed projects.

Although Lee Auman enjoys all the energy, vigor and enthusiasm of youth, he possesses knowledge, thoughtfulness and wisdom far beyond his years.

The readership should expect the local print media to cover, or at least announce, all Town Hall meetings so that the voters of the district may become the truly informed electorate so vital to our democracy.

Randi Hull Gross