Charles Randolph is the 2008 Democratic candidate for state representative in district 61. He is a true Democrat in that his issues include securing a better enviroment and a better life for those less fortunate citizens of Parker and Wise Counties and for working men and women.

The following is his personal story in his own words.

Well, I don't know what you got from me but what you have is pretty good. My politics goes back to a day in October 1963 about 1 month before JFK came to Dallas. My Father's boss was one of the individuals that convinced the Wyoming delegation in Chicago in 1960 to vote as a solid block for Kennedy instead of Johnson and this gave Kennedy the nomination. The Kennedy family never forgot this and was making a promised trip to Cheyenne as part of the reward and to look the new Strategic Missile Base being built by Boeing in Cheyenne. Warren Air Force Base. When you are 7 years old, get a extra day out of school, and meet a very charismatic popular president it leaves a permanent impression on you. Although a Republican state and having a very politically active family on both side of the question it was hard to escape the snare of politics, so instead of ducking it, I embraced it to my grandmother on my Father side of the family delight. A true believer in Harry S. Truman she was a real fireball when you mention Nixon.

I ran the first Earth Day seminar in my civic classes in 1970, took both Grandmothers to various rallies during my high school years including a Spiro T Agnew one for Grandmother on Mothers side of the family. Worked various campaigns and eventually took up environmental issues challenging the current single US Representative the Honorable Mr Teno Roncolio on Nuclear power and Wyoming's role in the industry.

I learned to debate, speak, although I could use more practice speaking and to keep up on current issues and events.
I spent a lot of time behind the curtain in both Wyoming and Nebraska working and organizing campaigns for different candidates and in 1988 was on the ground floor of Gary Hart's campaign in Nebraska when it imploded. Was elected twice at the State Treasure of the Young Democrats in Nebraska and attended 3 or 4 state conventions as a delegate.

Kind of dropped off the map when Ben Nelson, a native of McCook Nebraska, asked me to a meeting and we hashed out what we thought was wrong with Nebraska. This brought me back into the fold again and I spent several days driving his mother to local functions and events and got to know Ben Nelson pretty well. He was elected Govonor of Nebraska then eventually ran for the US Senate. Recently he attended at function at the railroad and I was able to say hello to him again. He could not remember my name but said he knew me from McCook and I let it go at that.

In 1980 while traveling back to Cheyenne Wyoming on Amtrak to get my motorcycle I met the love of my life Susan Flett. We spent only 4 or 5 hours together on that train on that cool March 17th day but it was like a lifetime. We were married in McCook on October 19th, 1980, and have spent a eventful time together ever since. She brought with her four children from a previous marriage and we added one of our own in September 1981 we call Jennifer. We moved from McCook to Lebanon, a small town of about 50 people and this is where I learned first hand about problems of ground water contamination and health. The ground water in the Ogallala Aquifer was so full of nitrate pollution from farmers putting to much anhydrous ammonia on their crops that the parts per million in the water became so high that it could kill anyone under 5 and over 65. When you cooked with the water it did not destroy the nitrates but actual raised the ppm to even higher levels. Lebanon was then forced to drill a new well and flush the water system until the nitrates dropped to a safe level. Not to zero and had to have constant monitoring to make the levels were acceptable, even with a new well it could still all go bad again. During the times when it was not safe the town had to notify the public immediately, provide anyone under 5 and over 65 and anyone else who requested it bottled water for cooking and drinking. Since the average age of everyone in town was 67 it got expensive fast. I watched as the head of the town water board and town clerk filled out the request for the $255,000 needed to drill the new well and basically make a whole new water system for the town. Although considered a emergency, it still took over 3 years to get the money and do the work. Beginning in 1988 the Burlington Northern Railroad started to say they were going to close the office in McCook and move the dispatcher to Denver Colorado, Lincoln Nebraska, Alliance Nebraska, Overland Park Kansas. In 1992 they actually were in the process of moving us to Lincoln when the day before we were going to close on a acreage in Crete Nebraska they cancelled the plan and told us there would be no moves for the next 5 years. We were told in March of 1993 the office was going to be closed and everyone was moving to Texas. We moved in July 1993 but that's whole other story.

Also in 1992 in January our Senior in Lebanon High School, Dawn Flett, came home one Sunday from her dishwashing job in Oberlin Kansas, laid down in front the TV in the living room and was watching a movie when a valve in her heart gave out and she died. There was nobody at home at the time account I was at work and Susan and Jennifer were going to meet me in McCook and we were going to see Beauty and the Beast. Leslie was at a Girl Scout event all day so Dawn died alone at home. Needless to say this left a remarkable mark on all our lives and in the town of Lebanon and Danbury because everybody knew this tall, beautiful, active girl just wanting and waiting to go to college. This led eventually to her sister Leslie in 1999 while here in Texas also taking her own life for what ever reason she did. This put a huge strain on the family but through out our faith and our ability over come such events have kept us together and stronger. In the 6 weeks after we lost Dawn, my wife lost Dawn, her favorite aunt and her mother. I never knew a stronger women than my wife.

Coming to Texas, I had received some letters of introduction from some of the political people I had worked with in Nebraska. I presented them to the then what appeared to be the Wise county chair as a introduction. What I received later was a call from someone saying they did not need or want my help and if come to the meetings I'm to sit there and shut up. What warm welcome! You basically know the rest of the story up to this election. More fighting between democrats than against the republicans but its slowing getting better.

Sorry, I rambled on but sometimes and I gotta get things out, want you to know more about my background so you know me better. I know it's late but I learned a lot this time around and there is always a tomorrow and that I am truly dedicated to the cause and to make a better Wise, Parker, Texas and country for all.

CWRandolph