I’m writing this letter in hopes to return some support and kind words that have been bestowed upon me. My name is Dana, and I’m an alcoholic and an addict. For the last 21 years I’ve been battling a series of one addiction after the other. Not to mention a series of poor choices. The real battle began when I caught my felony drug conviction back in June of 2015. While serving a deserving amount of jail time, I found myself with a lot of down time. I found myself reevaluating the situation I had found myself in, and realized I needed to make some serious life changes.
When the time came I was lucky enough to make it to the halfway house where my road to recovery had started and the struggle was real. I started intensive outpatient treatment and slowly started to ease my way back to real life, back into our amazing little community of Juneau. I completed an online administrative assistant course that was offered to me and started looking for work. I had many interviews. Over the course of 21 years, I had worked up a decent-looking resume. Jobs ranging from bagging groceries, impacting the minds of young eager children to dispatching for a cab company, tending bar and running bingo. One could say on paper I looked pretty employable, making it pretty easy to get a foot in the door and at least get myself an interview. Finding a job while residing at the halfway house with a felony conviction was definitely a challenge. Actually the word challenge is an understatement. The interviews always started off great: smiles, hellos, some small talk. Most of them all the same. Then the conversation would lean toward my felony charge. Some were curious; others, worried and scared. Some even acted as if I were infected with a contagious disease. Challenging for sure. Many appreciated my honesty about my addiction and felony but it had still left me unemployed, up until I walked into the doors at Subway in the valley and shook hands with Wade Bryson. Mr. Bryson was aware of my situation and where I was residing. Right from the beginning he was respectful, kind, encouraging and real. He never once judged me or treated me any different from any regular person like others had. He took a chance on me when no one else would. Wade Bryson is a team player and the kind of man you want in your corner supporting you all the way, someone who is definitely beneficial to have on your side.
In 21 years I can honestly say he’s one of the best bosses I’ve ever had. No matter how busy he is, he makes a couple minutes every morning to check in with every employee. Wade treats his employees like family, supporting us every and any way possible, whether it’s helping keep his employees’ cars on the road, helping their kids go to camp or to purchase school supplies, or even helping them keep a roof over their head. You can tell he genuinely cares for his employees and his community. When I heard Mr. Bryson was running for office in hopes for big change in our community, I was excited for him. I could not think of a more deserving person than him. Wade is very passionate in advocating change for the better, especially when it comes to the drug epidemic that is taking over our town. Not only has Mr. Bryson taken a chance on me, he has also given many other people chances. Some deserving, some not so much, but who am I to say who deserves a chance and who doesn’t. I wrote this letter in hopes that my words give everyone a little insight on Mr. Bryson, and in how in my opinion he’s the ideal candidate for office and a great person to have fighting on your side, not to mention a great person to have on your team. I can only hope that everyone is willing to trust him, support him and even take a chance on him. Vote for Wade Bryson for Assembly.
• Dana Elie is a Juneau resident. My Turns and Letters to the Editor represent the view of the author, not the view of the Juneau Empire.
