“Lessons I’ve learned”

I feel I can represent you and your family well in the new Metro Council, because of lessons I’ve learned in the past 15 years. I feel what I’ve learned in life will prepare me to work through all the challenges that are awaiting this new council. Let me tell you a little about myself.

My name is Stuart Benson and I am the sum of every person I have ever met. I feel I am one of the luckiest persons in the world. My Father used to say, ”The harder you work the luckier you are” and so, I’ve tried to work hard all my life. My parents were good role models and they instilled confidence within me.

My High School sweetheart, Linda Montfort and I married right after graduating and we have three wonderful daughters (Laura Benson-Putney, Stacie Benson-Linn and Amanda Benson). Due to her struggle with a blood disorder, called ITP, she passed away fifteen years ago at the age of 39. This tragedy taught me it’s not how long you live but how you live. In her short life she was a great inspiration and had a fuller life than some people who live a long time. She believed the more you give the more you receive.

I met Chris, my wife, at Southeast Christian Church 13 years ago and she has two daughters (Tamara Moore Hoagland and Trisha Moore). We have worked hard to overcome the normal struggles of life and now have a great blended family. We love being grandparents and the joy it brings to our family.

One year after we married, our house burned down and it taught us many valuable lessons. This situation put us on the receiving end of people’s generosity. During this time, we learned humility and how the most important things in life are not your possessions. That same year, my sister passed away of breast cancer and Hospice helped make a difficult time better. Through these losses it taught us how important it is to cherish time with those you love.

Before the fire, my father came down with Alzheimer’s and moved in with us. He lived with us the last seven years of his life and he taught me patience like I never knew before. It is very important to love and try to help our elderly keep their dignity. Our senior citizens should be cherished and not forgotten.

• I believe the more you give, the more you receive.

• I believe if you look for the truth, you will find it and the truth will set you free.

• I believe in the constitution of the United States and in the Second Amendment to the constitution and in no law for any special group but equal laws for every one.

• I believe in representative government and each person should have the right to be heard.

I hope to meet everybody in the district so they can freely express their views to me. I will work hard to make our district the model for the entire Metro area.