A letter about my dad,
Kevin Mannix
Dear Oregon Voter,
By now, you’ve seen all the TV ads, gotten all the mailers, and heard all the talking points candidates and their campaigns want us to hear. However, we rarely get a more authentic and personal understanding of who our candidates truly are.
My dad is Kevin Mannix, and he has been in politics since before I was born. He is your current State Representative and is running to continue to represent the Salem/Keizer community in the State Legislature.
Growing up, people would always ask me “what’s it like having Kevin Mannix as your dad?” To me, this was always a silly question; he was just my dad. The same man who came to all my dance recitals, soccer games, Girl Scout meetings, and High School plays - often with a camera in hand to take pictures, even when it was embarrassing.
As the only daughter in the family, I’m proud to be a daddy’s girl. My dad has always supported my goals and dreams; from the small things like choosing to take French lessons, to big things like moving across the country to explore my career. Even recently, while going through a rougher time personally my dad told me “I always have your back” and I knew how true that was. He also always respects my opinions, even when they differ from his, and we have open and candid dialogue about the political climate.
My parents recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, and my dad’s love for my mom, Susanna, and the way he treats her has always stuck with me. His example taught me what to look for in a future partner. He is always attentive and caring, even when his full schedule demands a lot from him. He always puts our family first.
I have been incredibly proud of my dad for the work he has done to protect victims of crime, especially women. Years ago, he passed landmark anti-stalking legislation to give victims of stalking a legal way to fight back. Just this last year, he updated that to ensure cyber-stalking was included in those protections. His life’s work has been centered around ensuring those who have been victims of terrible crimes have a voice and get the justice they deserve.
As I mentioned, growing up, policy and politics were just a part of our lives. I have never questioned my dad’s willingness to have an open dialogue with those who disagreed with him because he was always willing to do that with me. We don’t always see eye to eye on politics, but he never failed to listen to me and my perspective. He believes in a bipartisan approach, and this is why he has been able to get more legislation passed than any other lawmaker in the history of Oregon.
Many of you may not agree with my dad on everything either. I’ve learned that there is no perfect candidate, even if they are my family! But, my dad, Kevin Mannix, is a truly great man who has spent his career working to make Oregon safer and a better place to live, work, and raise a family. I am so incredibly proud of him.
We live in a deeply divided political climate, even within our families, but I hope I gave you a bit of a more personal insight into the man behind the name on the ballot. Now, more than ever, we need level-headed politicians who care about their communities and are willing to put affiliations aside to get much-needed work done.
If that is what you care about, Kevin Mannix is the candidate for you.
Sincerely,
Emily K. Mannix