School board candidate Angie Hanson is a lifelong friend of mine. So, MAYBE I am a little biased towards her. But, it should be noted that the qualities that make her a wonderful friend to me are the very qualities we could all appreciate in a member of our school board: she is trustworthy, kind, caring, open-minded, accountable and passionate.

On paper she has resided in Albert Lea most of her life, she has worked tirelessly as a teacher, she has served as president of her teacher’s union and she is a loving mother to a son who is in the fourth grade at Halverson Elementary.

But, that is not the entire story of what makes Angie Hanson, well, Angie Hanson. When she finds an issue she cares a lot about, she doesn’t just believe in it. She studies it, researches it and examines all aspects of it — the pros, the cons — so she can make an educated opinion, and as such, effectively argue and champion that issue. It was one of the things I admired most about her in high school and still do to this day. As a school board member you can guarantee she will bring that same work ethic and gusto to the table.

Now, I may get in trouble for mentioning this but I will take my chances because it really hits the overall mark of Angie’s true spirit. In college she developed a penchant for Winnie the Pooh character, Piglet [in full disclosure I got the Pooh fever too and chose Eeyore (moody and emo) as my favorite character. lol].

Whatever reason she chose Piglet, I don’t know. I do know that he was but little with a BIG heart. A Pooh quote does a better job of conveying it, “Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”

There it is. Angie Hanson, no matter how big or how small, she still sees that it ALL has value. Or as her signs say, “ALL VOICES MATTER.” It may be a catchy motto — but for her it’s been a way of life, an attitude that has been best served in her job as a teacher, as a leader and, yes, as a friend.

Let your voices be heard in November — vote Angie Hanson for School Board. For more information go to: https://www.facebook.com/AngieHansonForSchoolBoard

Laura “Lulu” Walker

Albert Lea