Tom Brinkman, Jr. State Represenative (District 34)

Republican Candidate for the 2nd Congressional District For more information visit gobrinkman.com

My Case for Election

With the recent withdrawal of Phil Heimlich from this race, I wanted to tell you first hand why I have chosen to run for the Republican nomination and further explain my plans.

It is hard to believe that the 2nd Congressional District, which routinely provided Rob Portman with 70% pluralities and elected President Bush with over 63%, has been held by only the slimmest of margins in the last two elections.  In 2005 and 2006 the Republican Party had to spend almost $500,000 each election to hold the seat from the Democrats.  That is $1 million that would have been better spent holding or gaining additional seats!

Without a strong, proven vote-getter in this vitally important Congressional District, our presidential candidate will find it difficult to attract the majority he will need to offset the huge Democrat output of the liberal Cleveland area and thus win Ohio's critical 20 Electoral votes.

In a head-to-head comparison of the 2006 vote, I polled far better than my opponent for this nomination.  This chart shows actual election results for the area where both of us were on the ballot.

As a matter of fact, I won the entire 34th Ohio House District with a comfortable 54% of the vote, while my opponent lost this traditionally Republican stronghold to her Democrat adversary.

But that is only half the story.  My opponent spent nearly $1 million, while I spent around $10,000 on my re-election effort, and I outperformed her in every area where both of us were on the ballot.  I also raised and contributed close to $100,000 to other Republican campaigns around the state so we could retain our majority.  (We were the only Republican State legislature in the Midwest to accomplish this.)  I also spent weekends walking door-to-door for one of my colleagues who was facing particularly tough race.  As a result, he was able to hold his Republican seat.

Sure, I could have run up the score in my own area, but because my constituents in the 34th House District were pleased with my performance in Columbus over the past three terms, I knew I could count on them to turn out and vote for me, which in turn allowed me to help other Republicans in a difficult election year.

The point is that I can bring out the Republican vote even in the worst years and I can energize our base.

I can do this because I have remained true to our Republican principles of lower taxes and limited government.  I have never supported a tax or fee increase and have worked to limit government.  My efforts to eliminate E-Check not only ended a program that did not work, but also saved us from paying an unnecessary fee.

Simply put, I am the best choice to keep our Congressional seat Republican and bring out the majority to elect other Republicans.

So why would a seemingly sane person want to represent southern Ohio in that mess on the Potomac?

President Reagan, defining "status quo," said, "status quo is the mess we're in."  I am the best candidate to change the mess that is the status quo.

The real heritage of our Nation is that one generation works hard and strives and sacrifices to create an opportunity for those who follow.  For the first time in our history, we actually find ourselves going back on that heritage and our children and grandchildren may not have the opportunities that we enjoyed.

On the one hand, we have the greatest system of government ever invented.  On the other hand, we have never, in my lifetime, had as many obstacles facing our nation.

We find in front of us today $70 trillion of unfunded liabilities. On January 1, 2008 the first of my generation, the baby-boomers, started collecting Social Security.  Three years from now, that same group will become eligible for Medicare.  We have major financial problems in front of us that Congress has not addressed and our leaders do not have the political courage to solve, simply because of one problem - political selfishness rather than sacrificial service.

Congress has reached an historical low - only 11% of the people have confidence in their representatives. That is a real problem, because what it really implies is the illegitimacy of the Congress. The best way we address that is to start tackling the problems that face us, beginning with the $250 billion each year of waste, fraud and duplication, and the additional $50 billion of fraud each year in Medicare and Medicaid.  My experience in the Ohio legislature, twice named "Watchdog of the Treasury," demonstrates my commitment to safeguard our financial resources.

I am committed to be a leader in the battle against earmarks, unanimous consents, and legislating for the short term instead of the long run.  I will not buy votes with earmarks or PORK projects. I haven't as a State Representative, and I will not as your Congressman.  Foregoing the short-term benefits of political expediency - that is how we will get our country back.

I have six children between the ages of 13 and 23.  My focus is clear for them, for you, and for your families. We must not burden them with the costs of earmarks, waste, fraud or PORK.  I am solidly focused upon the Number One issue our nation faces today - our financial health.  My Conservative Republican bona fides are impeccable.  I am most closely aligned with Republican values and will be successful at bringing out Republican voters.

Now, I need your help.  I am clearly the candidate who can best get Republican voters in the Second Congressional District to come out and vote for a Republican ticket.  I can make sure that much needed resources are not wasted saving a seat, that by all previous results, was the most Republican seat in Ohio.

Visit my web site today:

www.GoBrinkman.com

There you can find out the latest on this race and sign up to assist me as we take back our party from those that seek to keep it in the minority for years to come.

Thank you so much for everything you do for our country.  Please support me in my efforts to keep our nation strong.

.