Recently received from Randy Kitchens, one of our members who is running for office:

Friends,

Some of you may have heard I have decided to seek public office.  I am an independent and feel part of the problem we have in politics is the 2 party system.  In my opinion, too much money and power is controlled or influenced by 2 political parties.  Like many Americans, I’ve gone to the poll to vote the lesser of 2 evils, a Republican or a Democrat.  There are Americans that would rather not vote than vote for someone they do not believe is good for America. 

I have been dismayed at the number of lies and misdirection we get from elected officials everyday.  I am even more saddened to find few elected officials from the “opposition” party are willing to speak out against the lies and misdirection.  Maybe lying has become the preferred method of dealing with issues.  Few, if any, are willing to make the hard choices, for fear it will disrupt their election chances the next year.  Thus, the same issues facing Columbus, Georgia and the United States never truly seem to go away.

George Washington, my childhood hero, said, “I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is the best policy.”  

When two individuals or groups disagree but say nothing for fear of offending the other, neither learns to understand the other’s perspective.

This year I’ve decided to run for Georgia State House District 133.  Although it would have been easier to qualify for the ballot as a Republican candidate, I have joined a 3^rd party, the Conservative Party, because their values more closely match my own. 

My platform can be summed up with the following

• Power Corrupts–the 10^th Amendment limits the power of Washington, DC and preserves the power of the States and the People.
• A Liar is worse than a thief.  Lies do not solve problems; they make them worse. 
• It’s a Global Economy. Government regulations and taxes have placed Americans at a competitive disadvantage for manufacturing jobs to produce goods sold in the United States.
• Competition is good for America.  Unfortunately, our political leaders have passed laws that reduce competition.  The 2 prominent political parties have even passed laws and regulations giving themselves advantages over independent and 3^rd party candidates.
• United We Stand, Divided, We fall.  Politicians and political powerbrokers are dividing Americans on Race, Creed and Religion.  We need to focus on what Unites, rather than what divides Americans.  When we allow them to divide us, we give them too much power over the lives of Americans. 

I have a long shot campaign ahead of me.  As much as it pains me to admit this, I will need help.  Georgia Election laws state an independent or 3^rd party candidate must gain the signatures of 1% of the registered voters in the district.  This means I need volunteers to help get signatures.  I don’t have a large war chest to mount a broad spectrum marketing campaign.   I will have to rely upon the less expensive strategy of word of mouth and door to door campaigning of myself, friends, and volunteers.  I need people to help me hand out flyers, get signatures, and raise campaign funds for materials and required election fees.  Even if you do not live in District 133, but you believe that the people, not the entrenched parties, should have the right to choose our representatives, please let me know if you can help in any way.

Humbly yours,

Randy Kitchens, Candidate

Georgia House of Representatives, District 133