We have never written a letter to the editor or publicly announced our support for any candidate for public office. However, we personally wish to declare our support for District 9 State Senate candidate Cristen Hemmins.

Cristen was a friend and high school classmate of our daughter. Having known her for over 25 years, we are excited and encouraged that someone with Cristen’s gifts and abilities is offering herself for public service.

Cristen is intelligent, persistent and compassionate — she has always been a person of high integrity. As a college student, she survived a violent crime where she was raped and shot twice. We watched her overcome this tragedy with grace, resolve and a will to make our world a better place. Today she is a mother, a small business owner and an active community volunteer who continues to give back to our community and beyond.

As the mother of three very active children who dance, play soccer, love math and science and attend Oxford public schools, Cristen is grounded. She not only cares about her own children’s futures, but the futures of all our children. Cristen is a strong supporter of public education and will do her best to strengthen schools across our state.

As a small business owner of Hemmins Hall Inc., an independent ad sales agency, she knows that quality public education is the key ingredient in a vibrant community. She will work to cut taxes on our small businesses and create tax incentives to encourage more, good-paying jobs to settle in our district.

Life is important for Cristen — she is a survivor and believes wholeheartedly in fighting for a better quality of life for all Mississippians.

We’re grateful to have a person of Cristen’s character and ability accept the challenge of public service and hope you will join us in electing her to represent Senate District 9 in the Mississippi State Legislature on Nov. 3.

Warren and Janis Black

Oxford