Don't Count Out Bob Rasmus!

Wow. So Bob Rasmus has thrown his hat in the ring for Mike Frerich’s seat. That seat, of course, is opening up because Frerichs is moving on to State Treasurer. I know Naomi Jakobsson has said no to it because she doesn't want to run in two years, but if I can't have Naomi...I can't think of a better person than Bob Rasmus. There are a LOT of people that have expressed interest in the seat so who knows what will happen but just the same…DAMN Bob would be fantastic! I truly believe Bob Rasmus would be a brilliant choice. He’s one of the hardest workers I know, and one of the most thoughtful and passionate people that I know.

 As my mother once famously said, “Bob is a complicated man.” She said it because he showed up at her door in his minister’s collar with a dashing yellow Karmann Ghia in the drive behind him. She thought that was an interesting combination. And of course, she was right, Bob’s an intriguing combination of traits and beliefs and history. Bob’s not simple to pin down and I think his job history shows it. From Tom Kacich’s column in the News-Gazette today:

Rasmus, 60, has an intriguing background: former political reporter in Iowa, former congressional press secretary, served as an Army medic, a Lutheran minister for 20 years, 14 years at St. Matthew, past chair of the Lutheran Social Services of Illinois board, and a husband and father to a seventh-grade daughter.

"One of the talents I think I bring is the ability to build coalitions and partnerships," he said.

If you think someone who has that history and has worked as a minister for 20 years doesn’t know politics, well think again. Bob would be brilliant in this position. I gotta think of a word other than brilliant but that’s what comes to mind. He knows what it’s like to represent people, to advocate for them, to get things done. More importantly he believes in the honor of public service…no matter that it might get down and dirty…I mean Bob knows how to fight…but he still sees service as an honor.

Wow.  Hearing this just made my day.

Go Bob!