Ed Mezvinsky, I'm Shocked

The name was the same, Chelsea was marrying a Mezvinsky, so I looked it up and there it was, Ed Mezvinsky, convicted felon. I was shocked. Where was I when this happened? How did I miss it? Ed, how could you do this to me?

Congressman Mezvinsky was in his second term as my congressman from the first district in Iowa. I was sitting at a town hall meeting with my newly born daughter on my lap. My daughter was fussing and frankly I was paying more attention to her than to my congressman. Then I heard him say, "Kent, what's wrong?" That's right he stopped in the middle of his answer and called out my name and asked me what was wrong. He saw a strange look on my face and thought maybe I disagreed with what he was saying. I knew him that well.

The strange look on my face came from the growing puddle on my pants. My daughter's cloth diaper exploded and my pants were getting soaked. In my daughter's baby book is a note from Ed congratulating us on her birth. He had held her on his lap. The Ed Mezvinsky I thought I knew was no ponzi schemer.

I was the county chair of the Democratic party in Henry County, Iowa. Sounds good but in reality I got the job because no one else wanted it. This county had not elected a Democrat to any office since Mary Harlan married Todd Lincoln in 1868. That is the truth. I was a transplant from Chicago and had worked on a few campaigns there and never knew a Republican could win an office. So I wanted to change things in Henry County.

My wife and I decided to bring a little Chicago styled politics to Henry County and wake up the Democrats. Becoming chairman was easy. I went to a meeting and volunteered. Next we began a year-long census of all voters and identified who were the Democrats. We got the attention of the state party and actually got help from them. The third step was to enlist a slate of local candidates. The fourth was to get our identified voters to the polls. Simple Chicago politics.

Ed was narrowly defeated in his first bid to unseat Fred Schwengel for congress but now for his second bid, he had Henry County behind him. Fortunately our slate of local candidates lost, but we carried the county for Ed Mezvinsky. This was the first time since 1868 that Henry County went Democratic.

I got this little three by five plaque from the state party along with an invitation to spend $250.00 so I could receive it at a dinner. However, the real reward was a relationship with my United States Congressman. My letters were answered fast. I could pick up the phone and call his aides who I knew by name. This was super cool and I really liked the job Ed was doing.

He and I disagreed on one major point, gun control. I thought and still do that all guns need to be outlawed, he thought that position was a little extreme. Was I so enamored by his celebrity that I missed his criminal nature? I cannot believe I was so naive to be duped. I sacrificed, spent my money, wore out a car, and several pairs of shoes for this man and all along he was nothing but a crook.

Ed, you say you are sorry and I accept your apology, further I forgive you because it is too painful to remain angry. I sincerely hope you will pay restitution to those you stole money from. I hope you have told each of these people you are sorry and that you accept responsibility.

Now there's another politician I need to keep my eyes on. He was not in politics when I knew him back in Mt. Pleasant but he did take advantage of what my wife and I created in Henry County. He rose to be governor and now Secretary of Agriculture. Tom Vilsak, I remember you from the college bowl days thirty years ago and enjoyed your company. Please don't foul up.