Clarksville Now publishes opinion pieces representing both sides of a variety of topics. Opinions presented do not necessarily reflect those of the newsroom or management. To join the conversation, email your opinion piece to news@clarksvillenow.com.
Contributed commentary from retired Army Staff Sgt. Terri Cannell and Ann Marie Cannell:
When deployed to Afghanistan in 2010, the last phone call I expected to receive was that my house was flooded. However, to my, and everyone else’s surprise, Clarksville was devastated by colossal flooding. I was granted emergency leave to access, and take care of, the damage but nothing could prepare me for the devastation I saw.
People expect flooding to occur near bodies of water, but few expected flooding off of Fort Campbell Boulevard. That is exactly what happened; the sinkhole at the end of my street, Ashbury Road, could not hold the water from the rains, causing my house to flood from the basement up to the main floor.
The flood was coined as the Great Flood of 2010, which was fitting considering the great amount of damage my home had undergone. Most of our prized possessions, big and small, were completely unsalvageable; our 2001 Suzuki Marauder motorcycle, TA-50, piano, furniture, computers, antiques, old photos, etc. To say we were devastated was an understatement, and the most nerve-wracking part was not knowing who to contact for help.
Originally from Indiana, I had no idea who was best to contact in this type of situation. Then I remembered that I had a city councilwoman who was regularly proactive, involved and readily available for her constituents.
Deanna McLaughlin went above and beyond to make sure my wife and I were taken care of. Shortly after talking through my situation, Deanna reached out to the Clarksville Street Department to help, eventually partnering with them to get us a FEMA grant. This grant saved our family from a plethora of financial and emotional turmoil, legally transferring ownership of our house to the city so that we could buy a new home.
From this experience, I learned that to be elected into office, you should be more than just a good politician. You should be an advocate for your constituents, someone who is dedicated to providing public servantship, someone who will not use their political role for special interests or gain, someone who truly cares about the people they serve, and someone who will be accessible to listen to concerns, and above all someone who will put the people’s needs above their own.
If your goal is to elect a politician into office, then don’t vote for Deanna McLaughlin. But if you want a selfless public servant who will always put her constituents’ needs above her own, then I strongly suggest supporting Deanna McLaughlin and electing her as your District 75 state representative.
Terri and Ann Marie Cannell
MORE: Election news and announcements in Clarksville
MORE: Candidate endorsements