DANVILLE — Historical things are important, but Mary Catherine Roberson says she wants to do the work.
That was her message on Tuesday at a special endorsement luncheon held for her at the Laura Lee Fellowship House in Danville that included Congresswoman Robin Kelly and former State Senator Dr. Stacy Bennett.
“What matters to me, is whether people can afford to live,’’ she said. “Whether our people can afford to get the help that they need. Whether our young people see a future in this community. Whether government is actually working for everyday people.’’
She included an quote from former President Barack Obama.
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek,” he said.
Roberson added, “people don’t wake up in the morning, thinking about politics. They wake up thinking about if they can afford groceries … can they pay their rent, can they go to the doctor, can they afford child care. Are their neighborhoods safe. Can they afford to pay bills, keep their lights on and still have enough money left to breathe.’’
Dr. Bennett, while introducing Rep. Kelly, shared a story about a letter of recommendation that her husband, the Late State Senator Scott Bennett, wrote for Roberson.
“For Mary Catherine. it’s truly never been about her and her own ego,’’ Scott Bennett wrote. “It’s about positive changes to the people in our community. She inspires me everyday to be a more selfless public servant. I look forward to be able to vote for her one day soon.’’
Roberson remembers that Scott Bennett showed her what it meant to have poise and diplomacy.
“I wish he could be here today,’’ she said.
One person that Roberson was very happy to have in Danville on Tuesday is Kelly, who just two weeks ago lost in the Democratic Senate primary to Juliana Stratton.
“I’m fine,’’ said Kelly, acknowledging the question on most people’s minds about her. “I know what I have done. I know what I’m about. I have nine more months to be Congresswoman that I can be.’’
Kelly admitted one of her goals for these final months is make sure that everyone on her staff has a new job.
For Roberson, who is the director of constituent services for the Congresswoman, Kelly firmly believes she needs to be the next 104th State Representative.
“She has been so wonderful — a breath of fresh air,’’ Kelly said. “So dedicated, so focus. She loves you, Danville. She loves you.’’
And Kelly has seen that first hand.
“This is the only part of my district that I go, where the people don’t say, ‘oh, the congresswoman,’” Kelly said. “Here, it’s all Mary Catherine.’’
Still Kelly knows it’s not easy to run for public office.
“You never know at the end of the day what is going to happen,’’ she said. “Keep your head up, so that your crown doesn’t fall.
“You are the epitome of what a public servant should be.’’
Roberson appreciated the endorsement from Kelly, thanking her for her leadership and her example.
“You have inspired me in more way that you know,’’ Roberson said. “I remember when you were talking about your own decision to run for office, and you said ‘you couldn’t go the rest of your life wondering what if?’
“And that stayed with me. Because I realized. I could spend the rest of my life wondering ‘what if’ either. What if I had stepped up? What if I had answered the call? What if I ran to represent the community that raised me? Here I am.’’
Roberson noted it was very fitting to have the luncheon at the Laura Lee Fellowship House because of it’s significance in her life.