For the first time in our state’s history a former speaker of the house and his wife will stand trial for embezzlement and larceny and other financial crimes. As Lee and Stephanie Chatfield wait for the trial which will either exonerate them or send them to prison for years, their story is a cautionary tale for those who want to mix religion with politics

Some in our state may be surprised by Chatfield’s alleged actions, I was not. Five years ago, Chatfield supported a policy which threatened my family. In an attempt to get Chatfield to reverse his position, I called his office to request a meeting with the Speaker of the House. As a pastor’s wife ,I felt confident that Mr. Chatfield would meet with me.

His office refused to set a meeting with me. The lesson I learned that day was that raw, unchecked power can turn the head of anyone, even the son of a pastor.

Perhaps Chatfield missed Zechariah 7:10 in his morning devotions that morning: “Do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”