Gaulrapp is best candidate for House

I just read your Jan. 5 article titled “Durbin backs Bustos for Congress” on the U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin debacle concerning George Gaulrapp’s run at the 17th District House seat.

May I first qualify myself by saying that George is my nephew – my sister’s son. I do not support him for that reason alone. George is one of the people I admire most in the world for his honor and integrity. I would never support a candidate only on the grounds of being family or a close friend.

My older brother once ran for the office of Freeport mayor and lost. I lived in Ogle County and could not vote but would not have supported him. I felt he had no qualifications. Favoritism, like nepotism, is akin to inbreeding in my opinion – whether it is in politics, in the military, or on the job, as I have witnessed all three instances.

I have lost a great deal of my admiration for Sen. Durbin. I supported him in past years before retiring to Arkansas in 2007. My hopes and prayers are that the citizens of northwestern Illinois send the best candidate to Washington – George Gaulrapp. God bless you.

Note to readers – John Veer was born and raised in Freeport and is the mayor of Strawberry, Ark.