Candidate for
United States Representative; District 10

It Starts with Principles

Current events change the priorities we attach to issues. The end of the Cold War resulted in a debate on the appropriate size and role of the military. In the early nineties, students' poor performance on math and english tests focused our attention on our education system. More recently, gratuitous acts of violence have led to renewed calls for greater gun control.

As events dictate changing priorities, a principled approach to proposing new laws provides comfort in consistency. So before describing my positions on the current issues I perceive to be important to you, I want to share the principles I live by. In many cases these principles will help you understand why I take the positions that I do.

The reason I am a Republican is best embodied by the first three words of the Constitution - `WE THE PEOPLE'. The authority of our Constitution was and is given by the consent of the people - us.

I believe that the federal government has a responsibility to provide those critical functions that cannot be performed by individuals or state and local governments. It is a government by the people - us. We have limited the power of the federal government through the Constitution. It is our individual judgment and common sense, bolstered by diversity and reflected in our votes, that keeps this country great. Our representatives must respect the fact that the real power lies with the people back home and not in Washington DC.

As citizens we have the responsibility to govern ourselves through our elected representatives. To ensure that the people - us - are able to control our government, our individual liberty must be protected. Our government cannot continue to expand its powers. It should not intrude in our personal lives. An unchecked federal government risks the very things that make this country great - the diversity of outlooks and the common sense and judgment of each and every voter.

I measure my success at consistently living these principles by a simple set of personal values - accessibility and integrity:

· Accessibility: Real representation means listening to the problems, concerns and ideas of the constituents, doing something about it, and letting them know what the outcome is. Accessibility about action and communication. Voters shouldn't always have to seek out their representative. The representative should proactively provide access to the voters. Accessibility is about diversity. A representative who listens and understands the different perspectives of his or her constituents can propose better solutions.

· Integrity: Principles are tested when there are conflicts of interest. Integrity is about adherence to principles in the face of adversity. Say what you mean and do what you say.

Representing The 10th District

We have lost our voice in Washington. Our political representatives have ceased to listen to us. Instead, they focus on a small elite group of insiders for money and advice. Unfortunately, the rest of us don't get heard. The vast majority of voters have no personal contact with their representative. As a result, a few political insiders with access to the representative gain a disproportionate amount of influence.

Campaign finance reform that seeks to combat special interests in government is a significant issue in national and state politics. Whatever the outcome of that debate, there is no reason that we can't have greater accountability in government right now.

The real problem is that the average person doesn't think he or she has a say in government. What kind of representation is that? You deserve a representative who will work on your concerns.

My plan is to solicit input from as many of you as I can about your concerns through open town hall meetings, publicized neighborhood walks, and over the Internet. I will publish your priorities along with my plan to address them. I will clearly state my objectives at the beginning of each year. Finally, I will ask an independent panel made up of interested citizens to evaluate my success and create a report card that grades my performance.

When I am elected as your representative in Congress, you will know exactly what I'm doing in Washington and whether I'm making the grade.