Election Day has come and gone, my signs have been picked up, the congratulatory cards and calls are still coming in, and I am back to work at the Canyon County courthouse. To everyone who contributed so much time, energy, and money to my campaign. To all of you; thank you. Thank you to the thousands of People who voted for me; those that believed in me, my honesty, integrity, and the solid work ethic that I posses. I will continue to work for you, not only as your employee, but in your community. I wish that the results of my election had been different, it would have been and honor to serve and work for you.

Congratulations to Ms. Alder; my prayers are with you as you begin your work and service for all the residents of Canyon County.

As many of you, I have read and heard about political signs being maliciously destroyed, racially motivated ethnic jokes and remarks being made, children chanting hateful chants, the message at the entrance to our city, an American flag flown upside down, and general dissatisfaction with the election results. Idaho has once again made national news. It is not all good. As Americans we embrace our right of free speech. I encourage it, but messages of hate should not be tolerated by the American people. We may not agree with the results, but being hateful and malicious will not change the outcome of the election.See Article 30 of the Declaration of Human Rights.

Article 30.
Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

I am honored to have been a delegate to the Democratic National Convention and nominated Barack Obama for President. Our country has just elected him president; he is in my prayers. We need to support the decision made by this country and concentrate on what we can do to bring about the change necessary to get our country back on the path to peace, prosperity and tranquility. We are in an economic crisis, people are dying at war, families are homeless, and trying to keep their families safe and free from fear. Hate and discontent are not the answer.

Estella Ozuna Zamora