Candidate for
Member, Republican Party County Central Committee; County of Sonoma; Supervisorial District 1

While I have been a student of politics since my highschool days and have studied political philosophy both ancient and modern, my views have been most powerfully shaped by my acquaintance with George Washington, John Adams, and Abraham Lincoln, the great founders and preservers of our Republic. I believe that the American system of limited government and free enterprise, while it cannot claim perfection, represents "the last, best hope of mankind." The greatest expression of the American system is found in the Declaration of Independence which I take as my perpetual reference point in all political matters.

In domestic policy, I favor a government which actively promotes investment in the common weal through internal improvements in infrastructure and oppose the divisive transfer payment programs of the welfare state. I favor open and unrestricted political debate and oppose limitations on that debate through so-called campaign finance reform schemes. I endorse the concept of a single flat income tax and the elimination of all regressive and progressive forms of taxation.

In foreign affairs, I favor a policy which assures our nation of access to the trade opportunities of the world, but which does not entangle us in complicated international trade treaties which threaten our freedom of action and independence. I support all actions which would secure our borders and require the world to respect our sovereignty and our laws. As a retired professional soldier, I strongly support military preparedness and vigorous warfighting when war is necessary to secure our international interests and rights, but I am opposed to "nation building" and all imperial pretensions as being incompatible with our republican form of government.

Finally, I believe that our two great political parties form an essential means for the expression of the political views of our people. I believe that through these parties, organized within each community, the otherwise powerless citizen finds a means to influence events in his own back yard. So empowered, citizens can then reach higher and influence the state and national leadership with confidence in their authority. The denigration of our great political parties is treason to our republican form of government. It is from partisanship, driven by differing views of the public good that representative government draws its energy and freedom is made tangible.

I am running for the Central Committee of the Sonoma County Republican Party to do my small part to advance the above views and purposes. I will appreciate your vote.