Charlie Kirk once said, “If you believe in something, you need to have the courage to fight for those ideas – not run away from them or try to silence them.” On President’s Day, I attended the Cotton Country Republican Women Candidate Forum. While I enjoyed hearing from all seven candidates seeking to be our next United States Representative for Congressional District 19, I was extremely disappointed in the lack of attendance by Hockley County candidates with only one of six attending. Candidate forums exist for the community to get to know those who are running for office. For five candidates to not show up to a candidate forum that they were all invited to is not a good look. Sincerely, Calen Been President, Turning Point USA at South Plains College