Dear lovers of Liberty, I would like to update you on my campaign for County Commission, District 2, in Hamilton County (Chattanooga), Tennessee.
I am in a two-way race against a tax-and-spend Republican, an incumbent who has never voted against a tax increase, and who supported increased governmental regulations including a vehicle emissions inspection program that has done more to clean out the pockets of county residents than it has to clean our air. Yes, it's a one-on-one race. No Democrat qualified. Why would they bother, when they have the Republican incumbent to do the dirty job of increasing the size and scope of government for them? While every incumbent has a built-in advantage, I am convinced my opponent is beatable. His Republican primary opponent polled 32% despite having low name recognition in most of the district, doing no door-to-door canvassing, and spending almost no money. This was a better showing than all but one of the other primary challengers in Hamilton County. And, the challenger polled that number in spite of a very low turnout (about 12% of registered voters county-wide). Low turnout elections are known to favor incumbents, so I expect to be much more competitive in the August 3 general election when turnout should be significantly higher. I am running an active campaign. I have good name recognition in my home town of Signal Mountain, where I have previously run vigorous campaigns for the Town Council and founded a group that fought a municipal tax increase to fund the construction of a county school. I have already started door-to-door canvassing in other parts of District 2 to gain support there. In fact, I will be out with some of my supporters, walking the district this very afternoon. A little heat and humidity will not stop me from taking a stand for the hard-working, tax-paying citizens of Hamilton County! While I am definitely outworking my opponent, it's going to take more than hard work to win. It is an unfortunate reality of politics that success requires money. So far, I'm David to his Goliath financially, and that needs to change soon. (The election is less than two months away!) While I don't have to outspend the incumbent -- as a candidate as well as an office holder, I prefer to spend more *wisely* rather than more -- I do need to at least be "in the ballpark." I need to be able to run print, on-line, radio, and possibly cable TV ads, and I need to do at least one (and preferably more than one) direct mailing. All of this takes money. And that is where, I hope, you come in. Those of you reading this on the Badnarik lists might be wondering why I posted this message there. For what it's worth (a lot, I hope), Michael Badnarik took time out from his own busy campaign to endorse me earlier this year: > I want to let everybody know that Joe and Cheree Dumas are cherished > friends of mine, and that Joe has my enthusiastic endorsement for his > campaign! Having spent the last few years giving everything I have to > my quest for Liberty, I don't have a lot of available cash on hand. > None the less, I will be sending Joe a $100 check to make sure he has > the money he needs to Light the fires of Liberty in Tennessee. > > I'm hoping that each of you will join me by giving more than you feel > is comfortable. Thomas Paine said that it would be a surprise if > something as valuable as Liberty were obtainable at a very low price. > (Or something like that.) You may be able to complain that your > finances are tight - but only Libertarians who get ELECTED will be able > to fix that problem for you in the future. DIG DEEP! Then become a > volunteer for Joe's campaign. > > Give 'em hell, Joe! Michael did send that donation, and a few others followed, for which I am very grateful. But there are still a lot of you out there who, together, could make a really big difference to my campaign if you act now. How big could a victory in my race be? As big as -- maybe bigger than -- Ben Brandon's 2004 election as County Executive in Dade County, Georgia. (My district is larger in population than Ben's entire county ... and Ben didn't have to knock off an incumbent to win his newly created position.) Is this area ready for another Libertarian office holder? Darn right. Just ask Wilson County Commissioner Heather Scott, Collegedale City Commissioner Harry Hodgdon, or Ben Brandon just over the state line from here, all of whom are currently serving as elected officials within a short drive from where I now sit. While most of you reading this message don't live in Tennessee, let alone Hamilton County, a victory for a Libertarian candidate anywhere is a victory for libertarians everywhere. (Note that due to unfair ballot access laws in Tennessee, I am forced to run as an independent, but I have been officially endorsed by my county and state parties.) How much is a win in my race worth to you? To our common fight for more freedom and less government? Please consider that and send your best donation to: Joe Dumas Campaign 1111 James Boulevard Signal Mountain, TN 37377 Or, you can visit my campaign web site at: http://www.JoeDumas.com/ and follow the link to make a secure on-line contribution via PayPal. I thank you in advance for your consideration and support, and I'll keep on working to compete, win, and make you proud as Tennessee's newest elected Libertarian on August 3, 2006 and as County Commissioner for the next four years! In Liberty, Joe Dumas "The Taxpayer's Best Friend" Candidate, Hamilton County Commission, District 2 www.JoeDumas.com P.S. Please feel free to forward this message to friends and/or other liberty-minded lists. Thanks! JD -- "One man with courage is a majority." -- Thomas Jefferson ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get to your groups with one click. 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