This Week We Love…

John Joseph Rizzo, a candidate for Missouri state representative, was a little shaky at a recent pre-primary forum. He’s challenging 40th District incumbent John Burnett, who’s easily 30 years older. The fresh-faced, idealistic J.J. got stomped by Burnett just two years ago in the same race.

Rizzo gripped the microphone tightly and announced to a crowd of white-haired listeners — who list crime as a big issue — that he’s against the death penalty.

“At one time, in college, I shared that view,” Burnett said, underhandedly ribbing young Rizzo. “I think I had a button I wore pretty proudly to that effect. I’ve changed my views over the years.”

Sadly, we don’t know what Rizzo’s views were in college at Rockhurst University. We never had the nerve to talk to the cute boy who sat shyly off to the side in our lit classes, folded over his desk taking notes and grinning sheepishly when the professor called on him.

But we’re impressed that Rizzo — still a little shy, by all appearances, but not lacking self-confidence — wasn’t fazed by his opponent’s jab. Yeah, OK, so he’s young. With that beautiful youth comes optimism, tenacity and longish hair shinier than the coat on a black lab in a dog food commercial. Things could certainly be worse, right?

Right.

That’s why this week we love J.J. Rizzo.