Unfortunately, due to a combination of insurmountable factors, we were unable to secure victory: the makeup of the constituency of District 8, the strong Democratic candidates ahead of the County Board race on the ballot, and my opponent's name recognition in the community.

I could hardly call this experience a loss though. Through it all, I've had the opportunity to visit areas of west Bloomington I didn't even know existed. I've literally met thousands of faithful, good, honest and hard-working people that make me proud to call them neighbors and have a deeper understanding of what it means to serve something larger than myself.

When you see her, please help me thank my wife, Amanda, for her unending support!

Thanks to my supporters and campaign volunteers. Whether their contribution was emotional, spiritual, financial or strategic in nature, their help did not go unnoticed.

I look forward to continue serving the people of west Bloomington as their friend and neighbor, as the director of finance for Crosswinds Church, as the spouse of a District 87 teacher - we all know they can't do it on their own - and through whatever other future opportunities present themselves.

Dave Van Allen

Bloomington

The writer was the Republican candidate for McLean County Board, District 8.

Taxing wealthy will result in higher prices, lost jobs

Why would Barack Obama and the liberals out there tax the wealthy? What good could come from it?

Oh, so we could spread the wealth? That is smart because it's not like the big business owners have the power to raise their prices or fire people because they are losing money! Oh wait, it is like that! That way the guy at the bottom gets the reward for doing nothing while the guy who worked his entire life - which isn't always the case but usually is - gets taxed on everything he does!

I must say that when it comes to Democrats, they are just greedy. They want a tax break so they can directly have more money and they don't want what is good for the economy.

If the CEOs of the big corporations are happy, then the economy will be happy. They clearly hold all the power.

I hope the economy doesn't get as bad as I think it will in the next four years because I have to go to college here in the next three years. I hope I will be able to afford it.

I really want these next four years to get over with so we can get a good, Republican president and Congress back into power. The Democratic Party is just a joke.

Drew Leverenz

Mackinaw

Raising price of ammo won't curb crime rate

Let's just say that the price for ammunition for your gun is raised extremely high to limit you from buying ammunition ("Attack gun violence by raising cost of bullets," YourViews, Nov. 13).

If the price were raised, people would still get the ammo but possibly from other sources. The increase of ammunition prices would encourage people to buy from the black market, instead of stores that could benefit our economy.

People would still commit crimes no matter what. If someone wants to commit a crime, they still will but in another way. If the crime was initially planned to be with a gun, it can be changed to another weapon that would yield the same result. Therefore, raising the price of ammunition would not lower the crime rate in America.

Tyler Flynn

Mackinaw

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