A few good men

Recently the press has been on a whirlwind with the “men bashing” because of all the wrongs of celebrity men’s indiscretions. It is time that we acknowledge a few good men. 

Recently I read an article about Councilman Joseph Estes that promoted his family and faith. I have never personally met Mr. Estes, but his story was inspiring. Here is a Maricopa man who has professed that his faith guides him in every aspect of his family’s life. He should be commended for publicly professing his love for his religion and family. My sister, who is LDS, tells me that no matter what faith you follow, family should always come first.

Another good Maricopa man that has been pushed into the dark shadows of Maricopa’s history is Marty McDonald. I understand that Mr. McDonald has filed a lawsuit against city hall and, therefore, cannot comment on the multiple facts that brought the lawsuit into daylight. It should be noted that charges levied against McDonald were dropped upon name-clearing evidence that was presented to the courts and originally withheld from the investigation. A good man was wrongfully ruined.

However, I want to acknowledge his contributions to our city and set aside the legal issues as he attempts to restore his name. I was not very close to McDonald, but without his hard work and efforts I will be the first to admit that Pacana Park and the Maricopa Public Library might not have come to fruition as quickly as they did. His commitment and dedication to these two major points of civic pride, as well as the numerous special events he produced showed that both his heart and mind were always in the right place.

I must also acknowledge two great Maricopa men that I am proud to claim as my family. My brother, Jorge Romero, has been a huge proponent for Maricopa Little League. He served as vice president last year and has dedicated countless hours to a travel baseball team comprised of boys from Maricopa. My husband, Kevin Gusse, has also given countless hours to coaching local kids on basketball and baseball teams. My brother and husband’s passion are in sports, and they have both been 100 percent supportive of my choice to run for Maricopa’s city council.

Let’s focus on the positive male role models in our backyard and forget about the negative “celebrities.” We must also recognize that behind every great man is a great woman. Once again, I do not know Mrs. Estes or Mrs. McDonald, but I am willing to bet that they are great women who support their husbands as I do. I am a strong woman who is not afraid to speak the truth, and I am seeking a seat on council to represent the men, women and children of Maricopa – keep my name in mind (Julia Romero Gusse) when you vote on May 18.

Maricopans can register to vote by going online by April 18.

Julia Romero Gusse

Submitted photo

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