And the Race Begins in NC-6

So it's official. I am a candidate for the 6th District.

It has been a hectic couple of months of preparation in advance of the launch of my campaign. I am very excited to start to discuss the issues that effect regular people. I myself am a regular person, and by regular I mean that I was not born with or have ever acquired a silver spoon.

I have had to fight for everything I have in my adult life. I was lucky enough to have wonderfully supportive parents in my childhood and teenage years. I thrived during the Clinton era as the economy was stable and everyone was doing well. After being laid off right before Christmas 4 years ago, I started to recreate myself. Instead of looking for work, I took a giant risk and started my own small business. At the time, I had to support a wife and stepchild. We applied for Medicaid. I fought and fought to build a business able to sustain a family of three and eventually we were able to drop Medicaid and stand on our own two feet. All of this took it's toll on my marriage and we eventually ended our marriage and moved on. This is what happens to regular people in everyday life from all walks of life.

I have worked hard over the past many years to build my life to this moment. I am running for Congress! I have built a business that sustains my lifestyle and I have built my network within the Democratic Party. I started blogging in July of 2004 after I stopped playing drums in local and regional bands. I needed a creative outlet where my voice would be heard. We held a blog-in for politicians here in Greensboro and I had the opportunity to help Representative Pricey Harrison learn about our world. I have helped maintain her blog since. Through Pricey I was introduced to so many party members and then they introduced me to other party members. I was elected to the Presidency of the Young Dems of Guilford County and then 3rd Vice Chair of the Guilford County Democratic Party. I worked diligintly with the Young Dems of North Carolina in chapter building and college outreach. I advocated with YDNC at the legislature for the passage of Same-Day Registration and Voting and for Sudenesse Divestment.

During the 2006 campaign season, I took it upon myself to use my blog to investigate illegal campaign contributions to the Vernon Robinson for Congress campaign. Links here, here, here, here , here, here and one last one here.

All of this real life experience and political coverage sparked an interest in politics that can not be put out. I have networked my way to knowing just about everyone in the Party. I have been spending time in the 6th District with real people who have real world problems. I plan on solving these problems.

I am running on the issues. Universal Health Care, Jobs, Education, Veterans Affairs, Reconnecting with our Allies, Making Farms Profitable again and if I still have to address it in '09 (and hopefully I won't) bringing our Men and Women home from Iraq.

Coble called me and wished me well on my campaign. I told him I would run a clean campaign, which he promises to run himself. The mud has started to be slung though. The bloggers on the right are doing what they do. I didn't expect less. You can read the mud here and here. Just be sure to bring some wading boots as to not ruin your nice shoes. I answered the question being asked at Ed's site, honestly and clearly. Just to be absolutely clear I am in no way or have ever been a Pink-o Commie. I am taking the high road from there and not wasting time on it again.

As a blogger I obviously respect what is done on sites like this. My press releases for instance are going to the bloggers a half hour to an hour earlier then the traditional media. I do this not to buy your love, but because as a blogger myself, that is what I would want.

I have a campaign site and from there you can join my Facebook, MySpace, and Google Groups. You can also register to vote on my site. Oh...and my campaign blog is there too. Go visit the site and decide for yourself about my candidacy. I will be post there and I will be posting here. Different material at both sites. I look forward to the conversation. I can win this race for the 6th. I am confident and the time is now to act on creating the change that the people of the 6th District have been shouting for. I hear you and I am coming to help!

See you on the Sphere,

Jay