Raimondo gives business a voice

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2835&u_sid=10314866

ublished Sunday | April 20, 2008
Raimondo gives business a voice
BY ROBYNN TYSVER
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

COLUMBUS, Neb. — When U.S. Senate contender Tony Raimondo talks about health care reform, he doesn't recount heart-tugging stories about grandmothers unable to pay for prescription drugs.

Instead, the Columbus manufacturer focuses on the burden that ballooning medical costs place on main street Nebraska and the ability of businesses to compete in a global market.


Tony Raimondo


In Raimondo's eyes, what hurts small and medium-sized businesses hurts middle America.

"I don't differentiate the two," said the former Republican, who is now trying to persuade rank-and-file Democrats that, as a business executive, he cares about workers.

"When you want to help working families and working people, we've got to help small and medium-sized business be more competitive," said Raimondo. "We can't squeeze one without squeezing the other."

Raimondo, 68, is first and foremost a businessman committed to the bottom line and, he says, creating jobs in America.

The longtime head of Behlen Manufacturing Co., Raimondo is challenging Scott Kleeb of Hastings for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination in the May 13 primary.

FULL story at link.

Tony RaimondoAge: 68

Party affiliation: Democrat

Occupation: chairman, Behlen Manufacturing Co., Columbus, Neb.

Education: Bachelor's degree, Michigan Technological University, 1962; master's degree, business administration, University of Rochester (N.Y.) 1972.

Family: Wife Jeanne, four grown children. The couple live in Columbus.

Web site: raimondo2008.com

[residentfan]

1. Raimondo not a Democrat

Raimondo was a Republican until he decided he couldn't beat Johannes in the Republican primary. So, he ran over to the Democrats for an "easy" win (we'll see how easy Kleeb will be to beat).

The Democratic party is becoming the dumping ground for disaffected Republicans, first Kate Witek now Raimondo. Who next?

[TheFarseer]

2. gotta agree with that

I'd vote for a stray dog over Mike Johanns, but given the choice of Kleeb, it's pretty obvious who I'm pulling for.