Florida Pro-Life Democrats Pay Tribute to Bob Hagenmaier’s Candidacy for Florida State House

Our democracy is most basically based on everyday citizens offering themselves up as candidates for elected office. While Election Day is very important, the most important day for any campaign is when the individual citizen commits to offering himself up to serve his neighbors. In most cases, this is an internal and inexplicable tug at one’s soul toward service and quite possibly a series of sleepless nights and thoughtful days.

Bob Hagenmaier made the courageous decision to become a candidate for Florida’s State House. He was ready to serve and run for office with integrity. Bob executed a precise and deliberate campaign. He decided from the beginning that his campaign would represent his principles as both a Democrat and a Pro-life Catholic. In addition, he refused donations to his modestly financed campaign. He participated in the most unusual activity for any politician, by personally stamping checks made out to his campaign as “void” and kindly returning them.

Fighting to win a seat in Florida’s House, Bob was simply Bob. He spoke directly to perspective constituents, and he never shied away from who he is. He ran a genuine campaign, and that makes all of us on the Board of Florida Democrats for Life honored to call him one of our own.

Since Bob is analytical and a person of integrity, it seems fitting to summarize his campaign with a succinct explanation of integrity. The Latin root of integrity is integer, a whole number. In a person of integrity, all aspects are whole and integrated, working together to achieve that person’s faithful purpose.

Make no mistake that we want Pro-life Democrats to win races, but fighting for votes from your moral center is all that can be expected. 32,859 people or 48% of the electorate in Florida District 65 thought Bob Hagenmaier was ready to serve, and we couldn’t agree more.

FL Democrats for Life Board of Directors

November 2008