To the editor:

Thank you Lee County! We did it!

Tuesday night your voice was heard. You proved that hard work, dedication and commitment to conservative principals can still win.

This election was about you. It was about your family. It was about hope for greater opportunities for our children’s future. This election was about bringing a fresh perspective to the county commission. That means looking at the issues from your point of view and giving you a voice. Tuesday night you re-affirmed that you want a citizen legislator who will be looking out for you, while you’re at work trying to support your family.

You also sent a message to the old guard politicians everywhere. You overwhelmingly passed term limits for your commissioners. You told them, you can serve your 12 years, but after that you have to go live under that laws that you created. This experience has been very humbling. Your thoughts, prayers and votes through some of the toughest, yet best days of my life, are the greatest honor anyone has ever given me.

The importance of this office, of the trust and the confidence that you’ve placed in me, will never be lost on me. I will strive every day to continue to earn the privilege that you have bestowed upon me as your representative on the county commission.

There is no way that I could possibly thank everyone but I’d like to take a minute to thank the following folks:

– God – None of this would have been possible if it wasn’t His will.

– My wife, Rebecca – she believed in me no matter how good or how bad things were going. She’s always there for me. I love you!

– My daughter, Kaitlyn – Half of the votes we got are thanks to her telling everyone to “vote for daddy!” It’s time to book that Disney World trip.

– My mom & dad, David & Brenda – You raised me right and provided a great example for how I will raise my family.

– My campaign manager, Terry Miller – He just ran the best commissioner campaign in Lee County history.

– My campaign team – Ken Clifford, Michael McMillan and all of the volunteers. This would have been impossible without you.

– Gov. Rick Scott – So proud of his victory and his outstanding leadership for our state. Thanks for giving me an opportunity to serve as a commissioner. Let’s keep working!

– Of course all of you who voted!

I said it earlier, this election was about you and the next 4 years will about you too.

Our best days in Lee County are still ahead of us. This county will grow by leaps and bounds over the coming decades. The University of Florida projects that we will have a population of over 1 million residents by 2035.

I promise to be your voice as we plan how to handle that kind of growth. I promise to be your advocate as we grow our infrastructure. Together, we can create the right environment for businesses to thrive and create jobs.

Let me say that again very clearly so the folks in Washington can hear it, businesses do create jobs.

More jobs isn’t just a talking point. You know that. At the end of the day, what it really all comes down to is more opportunity – better opportunities, for our best and brightest, for our children and grandchildren – so that one day they’re not leaving town because they couldn’t find a good paying job in Lee County.

Our County is now 127 years old. Many have come before us to make it the great place that it is today. Together over the next 4 years let’s do our part to make it better for those will call it home over the next century.

Thank you again! God bless you. God bless Lee County. And God Bless America!

Brian Hamman

Lee County Commissioner

District 4