Opinion : Darling Conversations - Paused for this important message

Hi Readers! 

I'm hitting pause on my column Darling Conversations to address something I feel is a bit more important this week. You know, priorities.
I've seen a lot of bashing of our County Attorney Dave Thompson this week and I think you may be interested in hearing from someone who isn't anyone important regarding his character.
I'm a nobody here in Vinton. I'm not a staple of a person who can be seen at our local gas station or grocery store.  I flit in and out of view depending on my need for self-preservation. I sing and I write essays regarding matters of the heart and I'm grateful to have this space to share those.
I used to go in and gab with the staff at McDonalds every morning while getting my iced coffee. I met one of our local Veterans there who would occasionally say hi. One day I decided to plop down and get to know him. Our encounters became more frequent and longer. During one of our conversations, it was brought up that I was fighting for custody of my then 5-year-old son. He recommended I speak with Dave. I did, Dave sat with me, and his honesty caught me off guard "Get a lawyer." At first meeting, Dave was your run of the mill asshole lawyer.
But his honesty made me so mad I ended up representing myself in court and won.
The next time I went in for my iced coffee he and my Veteran friend were sitting in their usual spots and Dave asked me how it went, I smiled and told him I didn't hire a lawyer but practically lived at the courthouse and won the case without any legal representation. Dave was impressed...and not only that..he ate crow right there in front of me. And he was happy to. He apologized for doubting me. 
And from there he's been an unlikely friend to me. I was recently the Worship Leader for a pretty conservative Church in Toddville and after I was fired for reporting sexual comments made to me by my boss(the Pastor), Dave was the person who looked at me and told me it was wrong, unfair and that I had rights. He even came to see my performance at the Farmers market in Vinton and followed up with me regarding it. 
He has been honest and kind.  And I never let his sassy attitude best me. I'm sassy right back to which we both have a good laugh about. He was happy for me when I told him about me finally growing a figurative pair and starting to publish my writing. He asked me questions and was genuinely interested in hearing what I had to say. He actually cares. I know this to be a fact about him. Benton County is lucky to have Dave as their County Attorney. He doesn't let people slip through the cracks. He looks the least important of us in the eyes and reminds us that we are seen and that we matter. I just thought the readers should have that perspective when they go to the polls.
R. Darling