Why We Vote
The Register Star has brought together a group of people from all over the Rock River Valley to serve on our Election 2008 Voters’ Panel. These men and women are Republicans, Democrats, Independents and Green party members. Some are high school students. Some are retired. And some fall in between those two age groups. They all share this: The upcoming election is important and voters do have voices. They’ll share them in this blog.

Posts filed under 'Jeff Rushing'

Republican for a Day

Add comment May 14th, 2008

Last night, the Register Star’s Voters convened for the second time. I was shocked to learn that one of our most conservative members, Jeff Rushing, died of a brain aneurysm in late March. He was only 45.

I haven’t been keeping up with our blog for the past two months because I started a new, demanding job, but I want to express belated condolences to his family.

When I “googled” Jeff’s name last night to find out what happened, I came across something his stepdaughter had written about the man she called her “hero.”

“He was a die-hard Republican, and said we were all Republicans…we just didn’t know it yet.”

So today, I will put aside my bleeding-heart Liberal tendencies and become a Republican - just for a day - in Jeff’s memory. I’ll miss his contributions to our group….his ideas stopped many of us in our tracks and he made us think twice about important issues. I’m sure his children will carry on his legacy - even if they don’t know it yet.

Audrey Haynes
Audrey Haynes