by Crystal Southwood

Created on: March 22, 2010   Last Updated: March 24, 2010

I am the daughter of a small town politician in the hills of Kentucky.  I have been kissing babies and shaking hands since I was old enough to walk.  Politics in my community is a very dangerous thing.  I live in a place called Breathitt County.  It is also known as "Bloody Breathitt," because of all the blood that has been spilled here due to politics. 

There have been more public officials killed here than anywhere else in the world.  My father is the county sheriff.  During the last election, he received letters in the mail saying they would take his grandaughter from school, kill his children and his wife if he didn't drop out of the race for Breathitt County Sheriff. 

This all seems so crazy to me.  However, I guess part of it is that there are no jobs here and the job of Sheriff pays well; therefore, people will kill for the position.  So, here we are again, election year.  It has started all over again. 

We are getting threats and people get on the internet and pick our family apart and remind the public of every mistake that each of us have ever made.  We are small town celebrities. 

So when does it end?  Never I suppose.  It has always been this way and most likely always will be.  The rest of the world doesn't even know this place exists and doesn't care. 

Maybe, if there were more jobs and more opportunites for the people then the game of politics would not be so dangerous.  I don't know, but I would love to find some kind of solution to this maddness.  Our county seems to be at least 20 years behind the rest of the world. 

We have worked very hard in the last four years to try and make changes in this county.  However, it seems that many of the people here don't want change.  Our county is still a dry county.  Yep, that's right, no alcohol buying here. 

You have to drive at least 20 miles one way or 30 miles in the other direction for a drink.  I am not one for drinking, but I do think that it would put an end to bootleggers and give the county a chance to get some nicer places to dine. 

It would even give an opportunity for more jobs, but see the town runs on politics.  Since politics is what runs our little community, one of the more powerful people here owns one of those liquor stores the 20 miles out of town and makes sure that this county stays dry. 

Stopped again by political power and money.  So, wish us luck in the upcoming election and pray that we survive because sadly there is a big chance that we won't.

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