I have a job to complete, and a journey to embark upon – Election to U.S. Congress.
Last election, I made the decision to run for Congress, and I offered a message that is still
today considered unique. I entered the race at a late date, with a limited budget, yet the voters
in Oregon's 3rd Congressional District stood up and took notice. Crossing traditional Party
lines on many issues, I was able to reach out to those who normally would have voted a straight
“Democrat” ballot. People became aware that I began my life’s work not in the State House,
but by working my way up to Journeyman level in 3 separate Union trades. People also
discovered that I've been a community leader and small-business owner for almost 20 years -
creating jobs, balancing budgets, and providing living-wage incomes for my staff and their
families. People soon realized that it was my real life experiences that qualified me for this job,
not a laundry list of elected offices.
I received absolutely no support from my own Party during the last race, and I took no money
from the D.C. fat-cats or special interest groups. Instead, my wife and I spent almost $100,000
of our own money. We're not wealthy, and people soon understood just how committed I was.
The amount the incumbent spent out of his pocket, $0.
Entering that race with low name
identity, I watched my Party wilt at the thought of contesting an incumbent. Why? Was it
because he had done such a good job in Congress, or had they simply looked at the numbers
and given up? After a little research, I realized that my Party had simply given up, and that
motivated me even further.
Our current U.S. Representative has not been a good Congressman. He continues to push
Light Rail in our neighborhoods, even though the businesses and neighborhoods where it will
run don’t want it. He voted to permanently normalize trade relations with Communist China
(PNTR). This was a vote totally anathema to my position, and one which is now proving to be
a bad decision on his part. The Chinese government is behaving with more hostility than ever
since he voted for PNTR, and have elevated their reputation as the “bully of Asia” to new
heights. Since the U.S. no longer has any leverage with Communist China, they have increased
their human rights violations, their arms deals to our enemies, and their threats against our
friends. As a way of thanking the U.S. for PNTR, a Communist Chinese General has openly
threatened to “nuke” Los Angeles if we interfere with their Taiwan policy. This is the same
Chinese General who was in charge of the 24 American flight crew members who were illegally
held hostage when our EP-3E reconnaissance plane was downed by a Chinese F-8 fighter jet
while flying over international waters in April of 2001.
Our current Congressman gave new meaning to the term “waffling” as he changed positions he
held closely when previously running unopposed. His own voting record shows that:
* He voted against our farmers 83% of the time
* He voted against small-business 85% of the time
* He voted against private property rights 91% of the time
He was so arrogant during his Campaign last year, he felt absolutely no responsibility to the
people to defend his record and debate any of his 4 challengers. Feeling that he had the “safest
seat” in Congress, he devoted almost half of each 30 second Campaign radio advertisement to
bashing State Ballot Measure 7. Ballot Measure 7 called for compensating private property
owners for damage done by government. (The radio ad's were pulled mysteriously after
someone pointed out that perhaps he was in violation of FEC regulations by purchasing
air time at Federal Candidate rates, and espousing State level issues.) Oregonians
overwhelmingly voted Ballot Measure 7 into law. However, it's now embroiled in a heated
court challenge, with our current Congressman fanning the flames, once again disregarding
the will of the people.
As an elected official on the Portland City Council and as a Multnomah County Commissioner,
he sat by and watched major corporations AND the City of Portland severally pollute the
Willamette River, yet did nothing to hold them accountable. Instead, he’s left all of us with the
financial burden of a taxpayer financed “Super-Fund” cleanup.
When I think about our current Congressman, I think about broken promises. I think about
promises made to uphold the Constitution; I think about career politicians breaking promises
and going on a spending binge to keep their cushy jobs... with our money! Money that could be
used for family medical bills, children's clothing, repair bills, a car, and rent or mortgage
payments. Money for increased (and soon to get much worse) energy costs. Money earned
by the sweat of our brow. Money for our future and our family's future. Speaking of families,
our current Congressman voted for the 6th time in a row on 3/29/01 against even a reduction in
the “Marriage Penalty Tax,” let alone a full repeal. He's not married, why should he care? More
tax dollars to spend……………..
I then continue thinking about career politicians, who see us a meal ticket to reelection. To
them, we're hard-working dupes who fork over paycheck after paycheck to keep them
enthroned far above the faceless taxpayers they command. In short, our current Congressman
has failed us in Congress. I’m a believer in our system. I believe that the people can and will
replace a bad Representative, no matter what the so-called “experts” say.
While it may not be fashionable to talk about the Constitution, one of my favorite sections of
that Document is the 10th Amendment. When I read it, I get the distinct feeling that the
Founding Fathers were adamant about limiting the role of the Federal Government in our lives.
They were not telling us what we can do, but rather what the Federal Government cannot do.
As a United States Congressman, I will take an oath to uphold the Constitution, and I'll protect
our rights by ensuring that we abide by that Document, established for ‘We The People.’
My Campaign’s motto is:
“It Takes Leaders With Vision,
To Help People With Dreams”
and
“It Takes Leaders With Courage,
To Represent The People”
I believe, as Thomas Jefferson believed when he wrote, “Governments derive their just
powers from the consent of the governed.”
I hold fast to the concept that government's job is not to make our dreams come true, rather
government's job is to reduce the number of obstacles in our way so that we can make our
dreams come true. There is no doubt that government has a vital function. But there's a big
difference between believing government is the solution, versus believing government should
eliminate barriers to our success. As a United States Congressman I will work to eliminate
barriers.
As A United States Congressman I Will Demonstrate The Courage To:
Be a leader who will fight to return as much power, money, and decision making back to the
people. Our elected officials must fight for a smaller, fairer, more efficient government.
Be a leader who will never forget that, Tax Dollars Come From The Paychecks Of Hard
Working Americans.
Be a leader who will fight to turn the heavy hand of Government into the helping hand
of Government.
Be a leader who will introduce bold, meaningful legislation that will positively affect
all Americans;
listening to all, and pandering to none.
Be a leader who’s willing to cross Party lines and fight for what is best for America, and not
the fat-cats in Washington D.C. Each and every Bill should represent ‘We The People.’
Be a leader who will fight for our Seniors by protecting the Social Security trust fund, and
insuring its solvency for generations to come.
Be a leader who will fight for living wage jobs, small business’s, family farms,
and private property rights, and especially our families, our children and traditional moral
values.
Be a leader who will fight to reform our tax system, restructure our education system, and
rebuild our military.
Be a leader capable of restoring honor and integrity back to the political process.
Here's how I view my challenge: I need to expose our current Congressman for
what he is, a nice man with a lousy voting record. He's selling Oregon’s 3rd District
and America down the drain. I’m picking up where I left off last election and will
continue to earn trust and votes by demonstrating that I can and will do a better job
for us in Congress. When I accomplish these two things, we can finally bring true
representation back to Oregon's 3rd District. If I fail, we'll get more Light Rail,
and our current Congressman will continue to help Communist China instead of
those who hired him.
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