It's come to my attention that there's a fourth candidate for the 20th Congressional District special election. Local resident Anthony Cerro (full disclosure: he's a friend of mine) is running a write-in campaign for the seat. Mr. Cerro's press release can be found below:
With the recent appointment of Kirsten Gillibrand to the post of US Senator, her seat in Congress as NY's representative is now vacant. I would like to be the person to fill that seat and serve The People of my state in her place.
I am an Independent candidate, and will not accept any nomination to any party during the campaign, nor during my time of service if elected. I will never accept any contribution from lobbyists, or anyone who seeks to "buy" my influence. I will not accept Congress' retirement or health packages. I will not live and retire as a king upon the backs of those I'm meant to serve. My wage will be an hourly rate, based upon the median salaries of The People of my district.
I will serve one term, and will not seek re-election, nor be distracted by it from my task of representing you. I will not seek to be put on any ballots. If The People want to vote for me, they can learn how and take the trouble to cast it as a write-in. If The People wish me to serve additional terms, they can continue to write me in as they vote in subsequent elections. I go forward with my intent and dedication to hear and serve you to the best of my ability as your friend and neighbor.
Although I am an Independent, I will not be a reckless maverick stampeding through the House of Representatives. If elected, I would seek the support, counsel, and mentorship of my seniors, such as Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich. I would listen to and work with both parties (and hopefully more Independents), but will not be bound by the platforms or principles of anyone other than my constituency.
I have taken and upheld an oath to support, preserve, and defend The Constitution of the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic, when I became a citizen in 1990, and will maintain that oath throughout my time of service. I will never vote in support of any bill or measure which I determine to be unconstitutional. Government derives its power from The People it serves. If a person cannot command his neighbor, or restrict the free exercise of his neighbors’ rights, then the government likewise can have no such power over you. You cannot give government any power you yourself do not possess. I will see that government returns to that understanding and conducts itself accordingly.
I was proud to become an American in 1990, and remain proud to be one. However, I am angry and ashamed at many of the things America has come to represent. I want to see the Patriot and Military Commissions Acts thrown into the garbage can. I want full and immediate restoration of all civil liberties lost or restricted by their passage, and review of security measures currently in place, to ensure they meet our need for security without violating the spirit of freedom with which we were meant to move about and live our lives.
I want accountability for what I believe to be crimes that have taken place over the last several administrations, but particularly that of the Bush/Cheney regime. I was raised thinking it was only Nazis and Communists that tortured people and demanded papers of its citizens as they walk the streets. I never dreamed I'd see it happening in my country, yet here it is. I have reason to believe, as many do, that this last administration has conducted itself in an illegal, unconstitutional, immoral, unethical, and inhumane manner; in violation of US and international laws and treaties. No one is above the law, and if any such transgressions did indeed take place, they need to be brought to light and accounted for.
Our current financial crisis was brought about and exacerbated to a large degree by the misrepresentations and misconduct of the Bush/Cheney administration. Intelligence and propaganda were manipulated to a point where this administration tricked the American People into allowing us to enter TWO wars that never should have taken place, creating a fertile breeding ground for cronyism and profiteering. We are no safer from “terrorists” as a result of these wars than we were in September 2001. If anything, we now have more enemies abroad than ever before as we continue to police the world and force our view of “democracy” upon those who might not necessarily agree with or want it. I would demand a complete review of the administration’s granting of “no-bid” contracts to the likes of Halliburton and Blackwater, and would seek damages and restitution for each, any, and every case of misappropriation or misconduct revealed.
Furthermore, I would support legislation calling for the closures of overseas military bases and seek to have all US Military personnel brought back to the United States. With all of our might concentrated and vigilant on our home soil, what country or group would dare try to attack us? If our forces are needed elsewhere in the world, we have the means and technology to deploy troops, render assistance, or deliver a response without having to hemorrhage our economy with the maintenance of these bases.
The other issue requiring review and correction is Congress’ request for bailout funds to be paid by the American People to maintain the solvency of failed banking institutions. From the outset, this is an illegal and unconstitutional program, and they have no authority to require anyone to pay for the failures of ANYONE’S private business venture. When things went well for the banks, I don’t recall any of them sending a surplus check to The Treasury, asking their profits be divided among the American People. I see no reason or justification for The People to be asked to share in their debts.
But still, the money’s been taken, despite massive public outcry. Half of it’s gone now, and no one in Washington seems to know where, however with each passing day, We The People continue to hear of CEOs receiving their multi-million dollar bonuses, company execs still being rewarded with spa and hunting junkets, seemingly as a reward for their failed performance. I would seek to have all these bailout transactions reviewed and revoked, with any wrongfully-disbursed monies to be returned to the Treasury, and for personal assets of these executives – as well as those of the representatives who voted in support of this measure – to be seized and used towards restitution and restoration of a solvent economy.
I would seek to end the unconstitutionally-enacted Federal Reserve and Internal Revenue Service. If you’re scratching your head and asking “why”, then I strongly suggest you view Aaron Russo’s film “America – From Freedom to Fascism”.
I would seek a new, independent investigation into the attacks of September 11th, as it’s been well established – even by its own chairmen – that it failed to get all the facts and do its job. Ample evidence has come to light, suggesting rogue elements within our country and perhaps even our own government allowed or even helped these attacks to take place. The souls of those we lost that day, together with the spirit of American justice, demand that we have a true and complete accounting of what took place that day.
I will work with President Obama to the best of my ability – supporting him when he makes the right call, challenging him when he doesn’t. I will do everything I can to ensure the “change” we get is the change we need, and work every moment to ensure openness and transparency of the US government to its People. I can understand to a certain degree of his desire to not get bogged down in the past, looking instead to the road ahead. That’s a nice bit of ideology, but presently our nation is lost – having been sold a laundry list of bad direction, and asked to continue to “stay the course” even as many of us began to awake to the realization we were far from home and nowhere near where we should be.
Let’s say a visitor came to our area and stopped in Fort Edward, asking for directions to Glens Falls. The visitor knows it’s somewhere nearby, and thanks the stranger who points him towards the east. The visitor passes signs for Argyle, Hartford, Granville thinking that it’s taking much longer than he had thought. The visitor then sees a sign saying “Welcome to Vermont”. Should he, at that point, still be only concerned about the road ahead? Like most of you folks, I would be thinking about going back to Fort Edward to see where I went wrong, and if I found out that bad directions had deliberately been given to me, I’d be looking for an explanation and some payback. The American People are due AT LEAST this much, and it is OUR call to make, not his.
These are just some of my ideas, the ones housed closest to the top of my head. I will always have an open door, open ears, and an open heart to greet any questions or concerns from The People of my district at any time, and will respond to anyone who posts such on this forum.
I will maintain my principal office in Glens Falls, with satellite offices in the seat cities served in our district. These offices will be staffed solely by your friends and neighbors who will report your concerns to me in the course of monthly meetings. I will always seek to be available for emergencies, and will plan for at least one “open office” day per month for each of my offices, where you can schedule an appointment to meet with me personally if your situation requires it. I will maintain the highest degree of transparency and openness with regard to my office and staff, as I demand the same from our government in Washington.
Your state is my state. Your rights are my rights. Your prosperity and pursuit of happiness are mine as well. As your representative in Congress, my rights and privileges will give way to yours as I humbly pledge myself to your service. I hope and look forward to the opportunity to serve you to the best of my ability, and thank you for your consideration and support.
Respectfully yours,
Anthony J. Cerro
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