Why I'm running
Many candidates and office holders say the right things on the issues, but too many fail to be champions when they are needed most. When I hear from people who are struggling to put food on the table, I understand because I’ve been there.
My father was a Veteran who put himself through college on the GI Bill and he had a good job. But then the bottom fell out and at 55 my dad was unemployed. My entire family pitched in - my mom took in sewing and I got a minimum wage job after school. Hard work, food stamps, and charity is how we paid the bills and rebuilt our lives. These experiences have taught me that I will work to find practical solutions.
One of the first things I did in this race was release a jobs plan that outlines priorities for investment in infrastructure, education, and job training. I believe that we need to repeal the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest 2%, crack down on big corporations who avoid paying taxes, and speak out against those who would go to war for the wrong reasons. We need to create jobs, reform our tax code, and make sure that everyone plays by the same set of rules.
I could have died when my helicopter was shot down in Iraq. Now, I believe that this time in my life is a second chance for me, a “bonus time”. This means that I am free to stand up for what I believe in and speak out for what I think is right. I can speak with a unique voice on issues such as cutting defense spending and fighting waste and inefficiency at the Department of Defense.
