Mariannette Miller-Meeks is 4' 11" of I Can and I Will in Iowa

Morning Sun, Iowa -- I must admit I knew very little about Mariannette Miller-Meeks six months ago. I started hearing some buzz about her and decided I wanted to inform myself of Miller-Meeks, a candidate running for the 2nd congressional district in Iowa. I attended the small town-hall meeting in Morning Sun on June 5. This is how Miller-Meeks struck me.

More than 20 people were sitting down to lunch and a very energetic woman entered the room with a warm smile for all. Miller-Meeks had arrived -- all 4' 11" of her. She personally shook everyone's hand. Miller-Meeks sat at our table and we had a chance to chat with her. I observed how Miller-Meeks treated people. If you were asking a question, you had her complete attention. You also received a complete answer. She's all business and doesn't short change your question with hood-winking or whining or riding the fence.

Miller-Meeks stood to talk to us. She fielded a question about abortion. She is pro-life. She was asked about illegal immigration and said our laws should be obeyed and all four borders should be secured. She also said that all immigrants should speak English. But Miller-Meeks took that subject farther. Why should we all speak English? Miller-Meeks said this country has many races, religions, etc.

What is the one thing that can unify us all as a country? Our language! It made a lot of sense to me.

She had something to say about the 2008 floods in Iowa, too. A lot of concern, she said, had been placed on large cities like Cedar Rapids where the damage was terrible from the flood waters. But, she said, small communities like Oakville were wiped out. Her concern is that these small communities get treated fairly.

Miller-Meeks came from a large family of eight kids. Her father was a master sergeant in the Air Force and worked two to three jobs to take care of his family. Miller-Meeks' mother did not graduate high school but helped by working odd jobs. And she learned from her parents that hard work can and does pay off. She is used to working hard. (For her complete biography, go here.) I like people that want to work for what they get.

The more I listened and watched Miller-Meeks, the more I liked her. She is running against three candidates. The race for the 2nd district has gotten dirty. I am from Iowa; I don't like mudslinging against other candidates, especially of the same party. I liked how Miller-Meeks answered the smears and kept above the fray. She did not drag any of the other Republican candidates through the mud. She merely corrected the statements that they had made.

Miller-Meeks expressed the desire to listen and compromise. Talk to those who don't share her ideas and see where some compromise can be found. That's what I wanted to hear. I want someone to go to Washington and work for the people. If that means compromising on both sides, then so be it. There are moral issues that cannot be compromised on. But fiscal problems, immigration problems, energy problems and the job creation need all candidates, no matter what party, to work for Americans' well-being. I believe Miller-Meeks has that ability.

I voted for Mariannette Miller-Meeks. There's a lot of heart in that 4' 11"!