Not since the 2004 Presidential campaign have members of Catholics for Democracy had an opportunity to witness a candidacy worth getting really excited about. That is not to say candidates haven't approached us. A number of candidates from across the country this year, in fact, have approached the Catholics for Democracy community for our support.

Supporting any particular candidate at all is a risky endeavor. So many assumptions about a group's values ride on endorsements the group chooses to make. The particular risk, here, is the potential for a perceived loss of objectivity or credibility in evaluating the values exercised by government and by those who seek elected positions in government.

Sometimes that risk is worth taking, though; especially when a candidate comes onto the political radar with a firm set of values in place.

We at Catholics for Democracy are really excited to highlight the candidacy of Victoria Brooks who is running for Floyd County Commissioner Post Seat 4 in Floyd County, Georgia.

Victoria says her campaign is a campaign to combat local poverty. Victoria has a broad array of well-thought-out approaches with which she intends to address the growing problem of poverty in Floyd County. Reading some of the developing ideas Victoria shared with me in our correspondence, I really believe Victoria has the ability and the gumption to see those ideas through.

I think Victoria mislabels her campaign, though, as a campaign about poverty. Victoria?Ĵs campaign is really a campaign about ?IJopportunity?Ĵ and about 'community'. It is a campaign about restoring the American dream of a middle class in Floyd County and giving all her constituents a realistic opportunity to be financially self-sufficient. It is also a campaign about helping different generations learn how to care for each other again. Among the key elements of her campaign Victoria shared with me that stood out are:

• Increase small-business entrepreneurial opportunities for local residents by providing low-interest small business loans to unemployed residents who have completed courses in small business at their local Tech School or local college;
  
• Use zoning laws to promote the development of low-cost, quality housing for lower-income residents, especially for the growing fixed-income senior and disabled populations;
  
• Establish a day-or-night child care facility to provide child care for no/low-income single parents, so they can have a realistic opportunity to complete their education and/or get established in the workplace;
  
• Re-engage retired seniors in the life of the community by providing community service opportunities, particularly in the child care facility project;
  
• Engage the young in the life of the seniors by stipulating that those single parents, who benefited from the volunteer seniors?Ĵ participation in the care of their children, in turn volunteer community service in a senior care facility.

Victoria brings so many other ideas to her campaign. Essential to note, though, is that Victoria is strongly committed to the 'common good' and wants to use the office of County Commissioner to help the citizens of Floyd County thrive.

Victoria has a long history working within the Catholic community. We are excited that Victoria brings the authentic values of her faith into her political aspirations. And we are excited about the great opportunities Victoria's candidacy will bring to her constituents in Floyd County, Georgia.

Furthermore, Victoria is committed to the ideal that the government and those who serve in government belong to the people. Victoria is running an authentic grassroots campaign; a campaign unencumbered by commitments to special or corporate interests. As a grassroots candidate, however, Victoria needs support of like-minded people who want to see the people's government succeed.

You can learn more about Victoria Brooks' campaign at www.victoriabrooksonline.com. You can help the people of Floyd County, Georgia have an opportunity to learn more about a politican who will promote their interests by supporting Victoria's candidacy through her campaign's Paypal account, linked to on her website.