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Tonight I will make my declaration of candidacy to the media and the general public, so wish me luck!
I've announced to friends and family and at a Dean fundraiser, but no official press conferences until tonight.....deep breath, here I go!
Here is my statement, for your approval. Short and sweet, and to the point.
Hello and thank you for coming this evening,
I wanted to start this event by thanking some people who have helped me get to this point. Eric Resnick and Marilyn Scott, whose previous campaigns in this city have provided and will provide me with the wisdom and experience I need. Marilyn is unable to be with us tonight as her husband Gary is in the hospital recoving from surgery. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Scott family.
I’d like to thank my family, who have thrown their full support behind my candidacy. My wife Susan has been an endless supply of warmth and love. Her efforts to push my campaign forward cannot be matched and I cannot be more grateful to her for it. My daughter Charlotte even managed to convince one of her classmates from kindergarten to be here tonight. Now that’s impressive.
I’d also like to thank the Ohio Democratic Party, Johnnie Maier, Gene Grande, Pamela Miller, Sam Lett, and all the Democratic officials throughout the 16th District. Their support and guidance will prove to be the difference in this race.
Jan Schwartz, Pat Rhodes, June Barlow, Carol Sukosd, Gayle Jackson and her entire family, Bill Smuckler, Dan Sciury, Martin Olsen, and the list goes on. Thank you all for your support and your encouragement.
I’d especially like to thank five very important people who have given me advice and support far beyond what I ever expected to receive. Governor Howard Dean, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Congressman Sherrod Brown, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and Congressman Bart Gordon. I have spent time with these leaders and met with members of their individual offices. The level of support from these great Americans is truly astonishing, and I thank them for it.
Finally, thank you Paul and Sheila Wellstone. Senator Paul Wellstone was one of the greatest men ever to grace our government and our country. Your memory lives on, Senator. I will work every day to provide the same kind of dedication to the American people that you brought. Your family is carrying on your legacy, and I hope to join that effort in the halls of Congress.
Since February, the Stark County Peace Coalition has been marching and demonstrating against the war in Iraq and members of the Bush Administration. My wife and I founded the SCPC and are very proud of the efforts this community put forth in an attempt to stop this war. The group encountered many wonderful experiences along the way and I’m sure that any member of the coalition can tell you their favorite. Mine came on a day when we held an impromptu protest in downtown Canton one Friday morning.
As was the case many times, someone decided to try and get physical with us that morning. They pulled up in front of us, and started screaming at us. Some of the worst names you could think of were flung at us, despite the child sitting in the person’s front seat. Butthey said one thing that will always remain in my memories. Removing the obscenities, I’ll repeat the important part of this person’s eloquent speech. They said that “all I ever do is complain about the government but I never do a thing to try and change it.”
It's time to respond to that verbal charge.
Early this afternoon, I went to the Stark County Board of Elections and officially filed my petitions to run for the United States House Of Representatives in Ohio’s 16th District. I’ll still be on the streets calling for a change, but now I will also be an active participant in making that change.
My opponent has been in office too long, has lost touch with average American citizens and what their daily problems are, and has too often voted against the best interests of this country and its’ citizens. From stripping away basic rights through the Patriot Act to robbing seniors with a horrible Medicare bill that benefits only pharmaceutical companies to taking away overtime pay from people who work their fingers to the bone to make this country great, my November opponent has forgotten who he is supposed to represent. He’s supposed to represent Americans. You and me. The whole idea of representing the citizens of the 16th District is gone, and I plan to restore it in 2004.
I ask you for your support on March 2nd in the Ohio primary election. I will ask for it again in the November election. I promise to stand by your side and represent you with pride and integrity. My tenure in Congress will be one that remembers every American and not just the ones who can contribute financially. I ask you to join my campaign. My name is Jeff Seemann, I’m running for Congress, and it’s time to take our country back!
Thank you.
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