Kendall Qualls: We Need Selfless Leadership to Move Country Forward

I call upon elected officials to cease political grandstanding and unite across party lines for the shared purpose of getting Americans back to work as quickly and safely as possible.

Kendall

As we navigate the public health crisis of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and eventually open the doors of business, it is critical that elected officials rise above politics, provide selfless leadership and focus on problem solving partnerships with the private sector to successfully put this issue behind us. There will be a lot of uncertainty when restaurants re-open, when our children and teachers can go back to school, and when employees are asked to fly to across the country or abroad. Even attending a movie theatre may cause trepidation.

After we ensure the health and safety of our country, the first order of business should be focused on getting our American “can-do” mojo back. That sense of spirit comes from individual Americans and the collective efforts of the free enterprise engine of the private sector. It is imperative government agencies incentivize individual efforts and the free enterprise system – not overregulate it.

For better or worse, we are in an election year, and, as a result, there will be elected officials who will use this crisis for political purposes. Unfortunately, many already have. However, the crisis is not the time for personal gain and a divisive political agenda. It is a time to unify as Americans and get through this health and economic crisis together, and as quickly as possible. Let’s put politics aside to focus on the greater good.

In August 2019, I decided to run for U.S. Congress because I was fed up with the politics of destruction and yearned for something much more. It was clear to me that we needed the caliber of men and women I worked with in corporate leadership as well as the U.S. Army serving the American people in Washington D.C. Representatives should put politics aside and do what is best for their constituents and the country, even if that means standing up to party leaders pushing pork barrel partisan projects.

Sadly, we are more divided as a country today than I can remember in my adult lifetime. We no longer trust each other or give another benefit of the doubt. The country is fragmented along lines of ethnicity, gender and political identity. Instead of reinforcing unwarranted fear, we should use this opportunity to remind all citizens of the country’s virtues and integrate newcomers with those values. Even though we are the most powerful country in the world, we are also the most generous and caring nation on earth.

I call upon elected officials to cease political grandstanding and unite across party lines for the shared purpose of getting Americans back to work as quickly and safely as possible. By focusing on our shared experiences, uniting behind a common goal, and working together as a nation, we will put the nightmare of coronavirus behind us

Kendall Qualls

Kendall Qualls is the President of TakeCharge, Minnesota which is an organization committed to supporting the notion that the promise of America works for everyone regardless of race or station in life. Mr. Qualls was a Republican candidate for Governor of Minnesota. Prior to his candidacy, he was a health care executive and served in the U.S. Army as an Artillery officer. Mr. Qualls has been married for 36 years and has five children.