The first ever "Candidates' Night" event took place last night - the purpose was to honor & thank a group of FairTax & tax reform grassroots people who ran for elective office in NJ during the past year. By all measures the event exceeded everyone's expectations & each of the speakers deserve all of the credit for their inspiring accounts of running for office. I am only so sorry for everyone who missed it.
Carol thinks that every state should try to put on such an event - but first you have to spend the time & effort like we have in NJ developing a program to find such candidates. But it is a goal that each of you can try to make happen for your state & America.
Below is a report that we are submitting to several newspapers along with the above photos. I also sent this information to Steve Moore of the WSJ who has asked me to keep him informed of our progress.
---Candidates' Night Report---
An event billed as "Candidates' Night" was held on Tuesday night August 3, 2010 at the Bridgewater Library to honor and thank ten candidates for elective office in NJ who ran on the FairTax or tax reform within the last year. Three such candidates for U.S. Congress - Mike Agosta (District 9), Anna Little (District 6), & Tod Theise (District 5) all won their primaries and are on the ballot in November.
Stan Serafin, former NJ Assembly candidate, was the keynote speaker to the standing room crowd which eventually spilled over to an adjoining room. Serafin's theme of having the courage to get involved was demonstrated by each of the ten candidates when they spoke individually to the group. They each explained why they ran and what they encountered as candidates. Each candidate was pure grassroots with little money and a desire to represent their constituents as someone who was of the people and not entrenched in the political party machines.
All of the candidates spoke of the need for tax reform and were supportive of the FairTax. When elected Mike Agosta and Anna Little will become co-sponsors of HR 25, The FairTax Act. All current congressmen in NJ have not supported the FairTax. Specifically discussed were Frelinghuysen, Garrett, Lance, & Smith's opposition to the FairTax.
Doug Hartlove, Volunteer State Director of FairTax NJ, asked everyone in the room to work one afternoon between now and the November election helping to spread the word of the FairTax support that each of the active candidates has shown. Such synergy could make the difference in propelling winning FairTax candidates.
sorry could not arrive sooner. - I was only able to hear speech from Bateman.
ReplyDeleteHe might several comments which I agree.
If you are not a "party" member, either Demo. or Repub., you have a hard chance of being elected.
He gave illustration, he raised "X" amount of dollars, and his opponent had much larger amount of money to spend - which made it difficult for him to compete.
In this day, Special Interest Groups, whether Demo. or Repub. such as railroads, mfg., oil firms etc. will give large amounts of money, if they know you will support programs they want
He also mentioned he spoke at several "Tea" party events. If only FairTax and Tea Party can join forces, they would be much stronger contenders.
FairTax program is very good, but they have larege uphill battle with limited funds. As more and more people hear of FairTax it will be easiers for them to compete.
Doug & Carol:
ReplyDeleteIt was a pleasure to participate last night. Thanks so much for fighting to fix our nation's tax system. And thank you for being so gracious and supportive.
Tod
Way to be.
ReplyDeleteDoug - nice meeting tonight. Glad the room was overflowing! Anyway, I know of Anna Littles and our TP is going to work for her (at least thats my plan). But who was the other guy again? I want to send an email to my group giving them the info.
ReplyDeleteDo you want to be on my TP list?
So glad it went well...we have had at least 3 candidates speak at our "Take Back IL First" meetings...grassroots...gentlemen who are NOT politicians, but great Americans who feel called to take a stand for our state...we have offered support to Sam McCann, running for IL State Senate, walked in parades for him, and I volunteer at his campaign office here.
ReplyDelete