News release from the Pillie for City Clerk campaign:
Conservative leader believes knows Pillie has a servants heart to do the job
(April 2, 2015) – City Councilman Russel Jehl (Fort Wayne, 2nd District) made a statement supporting Derek Pillie’s campaign for Fort Wayne City Clerk today. In his endorsement, released via YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/pillieforclerk, Jehl shared a story he believes shows Pillie’s servant’s heart and demonstrates he has the right qualities to be Fort Wayne’s next City Clerk. (Scroll down a little for the video.)
“I can say aside from politics, way before I was involved with politics, before Derek was running for this office I’ve seen first-hand he has a servant’s heart and I think he will serve the public very well,” said Peters. “I look forward to his candidacy.” Jehl joins Allen County Commissioner Nelson Peters, City Councilman Tom Didier and former Republican mayoral candidate Paula Hughes who have already endorsed Pillie’s campaign for City Clerk.
“Russ Jehl took on a huge challenge and defeated an incumbent city councilman and has provided consistent conservative leadership on city council,” said Pillie. “I look to him as a model for how to approach your responsibilities to those you represent and I very much appreciate his endorsement.”
Below you’ll find the text of Jehl’s endorsement video in its entirety:
I’m Russel Jehl and I’m the Second District City Councilman and I’d like to tell you a story about Derek Pillie, and it actually goes back pretty far.
About 12 years ago I used to live in the Philippines, that’s what I did out of college – I spent some time abroad and I lived in the Philippines for a year. Made some really great friends and eight or nine years ago my wife and I wanted to bring one of my best friends, his name is William. We have actually named our son William in honor of him. We wanted our friend William to come to the United State and visit us for a couple weeks.
Well in the Philippines it is really difficult to get a tourist visa so we needed to see a little bit of help. It was natural to call the Congressional office and ask for a letter of good standing basically saying that we are good citizens and that the State Department can have a higher comfort level with approving this Visa.
We spoke to Derek Pillie at the time, we didn’t know him at all. Derek didn’t just accommodate us but went out of his way to help. At the time I was just Johnny Q. Public, I was just a regular constituent. Derek followed through with writing a very kind letter and actually asking the State Department to follow up. Our friend was able to visit us and we were very grateful for it.
Fast forwarding to the present time, Derek is running for clerk and I can say aside from politics, way before I was involved with politics, before Derek was running for this office I’ve seen first-hand he has a servant’s heart and I think he will serve the public very well. I look forward to his candidacy!