Nathan and I (Barb) want to take a minute to let you know what a gem we have in Jen Bleyenberg and why she will make a stand-out county commissioner.

We know Jen and her family well, walking through life together the past 14 years. We can testify on a personal level to her love of family and friends, values, character and work ethic and her desire to get involved and make a difference. It’ll be hard to keep this short (I have so many stories to prove my points) but let’s keep this simple and to the point;

• She is committed to her family. We’ve witnessed this on so many levels.

• She’s a forward thinker, not satisfied with the “this is how we’ve always done it” answer. She will ask questions and do the research to make sure there’s not a better way.

• She doesn’t complain; instead, she gets involved.

• For lack of a better word, she’s frugal. She budgets well and knows where her dollars are going.

• She is constantly learning. Everytime we get together, she’s eager to share something new she’s learned and get others’ perspectives on ideas and thoughts.

• She is grassroots.

To that last point, I wanted to know exactly what it means to be grassroots. Here are two definitions I found; “People at the local level rather than at the national center of political activity” and “the ordinary people in a society or organization: the people who do not have a lot of money and power.” So yes, Jen is grass roots in the best way. I will let you in on a little secret: Jen is not comfortable promoting herself and following the political process one has to do to run for office. She really just wants to get to know those she will work with and those she will serve on a personal level, and anything political will follow from that. And even though I know Jen is anything but ordinary, she really is just another one of you and me who is excited to get involved and make a difference.

We couldn’t be more excited to support Jen Bleyenberg as county commissioner.

Barb & Nathan Schock
Sioux Falls