McClain will Perform the Job Professionally, Efficiently, and Effectively

My husband and I divorced when Mark was 5. I divorced for a number of reasons, but domestic violence was commonplace and we had to escape it, while the divorce was pending my husband even kidnapped Mark and his sister. The violence and terror persisted and we were required to move several times to stay safe. Sadly, and what is truly a great regret in my life, my children later lived with their father. The violence persisted, including serious physical assaults on the children. Mark's father told both of his children that they are not his.

Despite this turbulent upbringing, my children made their lives successful. Mark worked through college, taught classes, worked with domestic violence groups, and coached sports. He became his own man, he, and our family, elected to take my grandfather's name. We did this to bring our family together and put the past where it belongs. Mark has made it his life's work to protect domestic violence victims and children of assault and I was disappointed to learn that our family's decision to put this type of violence behind us was being used for political purposes, especially by my party, which claims to support those who overcome adversity and achieve success.

I am proud of my son and his accomplishments. Rather than seeking financial gain in private practice, he works for his community. He does so out of a profound sense of duty. He is kind, compassionate, and appropriately hard of violent criminals. I've been with him when criminals have come up to him on the street after he prosecuted them and have seen them thank him for his tough but fair approach. Mark has forgone vacation and holidays because he has an important case and wants to support a victim. Mark isn't the right person because he is my son; he's the right person because his values and body of work have shown that he will do the job professionally, efficiently, and effectively.

I hope this addresses a very private matter and that the voters will focus on what is most important: job performance.

CHRISTINE MC CLAIN