By Eddie Edwards I have spoken openly and honestly about how my childhood was one that was challenging. I have images forever in my head of my mother asking for the horrible things being done to her to stop. That was the hands of my father beating and hurting my mother. Those are the earlier memories I have as a young child growing up. Hearing your mother in pain. It's truthfully something you never forget. But having the police come to your home. Those lights and sirens meant a place of safety for me. That's why I joined law enforcement shortly after my active duty military service. I wanted to be in law enforcement because I was drawn to it. Those blue lights and policing has been a part of who I am. It has truly shaped me because I felt that they protected my mother. Growing up, my grandmother taught me American values of hard work, self-reliance, and patriotism. That same love for our country is what drove me to join the United States Navy and then law enforcement. During both periods of my life, I served every day with pride. In the military and policing, you learn commitment. You learn what character and integrity really are. And you learn that those things matter and matter the most. That same commitment to public service is what has driven me to run for the United States Congress. I believe that Granite Staters are yearning for a conservative outsider, not another career politician. They want someone from the real world who can change Washington, not someone just looking to climb up the next rung in a political career. We must change the type of people we send to vote on our behalf, which is why I am such a strong advocate for term limits, but that is not enough. We also need to truly examine the character of whom we vote for. I am a proud Republican and a proud conservative. I believe in lower taxes, less government, and fewer regulations. I am pro-life, a strong supporter of President Donald Trump's tax cuts, and will not rest until we repeal and replace Obamacare. I'll fight every day to build the wall to finally protect our borders, ensure our Second Amendment rights are always protected, and that our men and women who served our nation are taken care of when they come home. You can be certain that these beliefs will always be at the core of who I am and what I will fight for in Washington on your behalf. For the past year and a half, I have campaigned in every city and town in our district. I'm the only candidate running on either side of the aisle holding open Town Hall meetings. Listening to the voters is imperative, but regrettably, fewer and fewer of our leaders have the courage or commitment to do so. In all corners of NH-01, Granite Staters are telling me how badly they want a conservative representative they can be proud of. I pledge to you that I will be that voice. We might not always agree on every issue, but I will always be honest with you. I will always be accessible and approachable. I will fight for you and your families every day and will not rest until we change Congress. I humbly ask for your vote in the Republican Primary on Sept. 11. If we work together, we can bring the values of service, honesty, and integrity back to Washington. -- Eddie Edwards, a resident of Dover, is a United States Navy veteran, a former chief of police in the town of South Hampton, the former Chief of the New Hampshire State Division of Liquor Enforcement, and a small business owner. He is also a Republican running for Congress in New Hampshire's First Congressional District.