Primary Election Date: 08/14/2012
General Election Date: 11/06/2012

Who Am I?

I am a small businessman, progressive Democrat, Kenosha County Board Supervisor, environmentalist, a classically trained chef, husband, and candidate for United States House of Representatives, challenging Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) in 2012.

Growing up, things were not always easy. I was raised by a single mother who often struggled to make ends meet. I ate government cheese at home and free lunches at school. I was only able to attend the Culinary Institute of American with the help of Pell Grant and Stafford Loans.

I was able to start two small businesses in the food services and catering industry, eventually employing 45 people because the American people invested in me and gave me a chance. I have always had the belief that I should pay it forward.

I stood by my employees, providing them with family-sustaining wages and the best health insurance I could afford. My employees responded in kind with their efforts and both businesses were very successful, which allowed me to retire at young age and dedicate my time to public service. In 2010, as board member to the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters, I helped to pass the Great Lakes Compact. I’m currently serving a 2nd term as Kenosha County Board Supervisor.

My focus now, beyond my lovely wife Cornelia, and my two dogs, Barley and Hops, is making sure that I use my independence and time to stand up for our progressive values.

I am committed to rebuilding the economy, protecting students and seniors, and ending the unlimited money in politics that is holding back good ideas and good people from being heard.

Why Am I Running?

I am running because I am tired of the selfish conservative philosophy being advanced by Paul Ryan.

Paul Ryan has authored the budget in the House of Representatives that attempted to privatize Medicare and Social Security, slash education, cut environmental protections and women’s health, and stop funding our economic recovery, all to benefit his wealthy donors by providing large tax breaks.

I know that I was only able to succeed in life and achieve my version of the American dream because my country made an investment in me. Without that help I would have gone hungry as a child. Without that help I would not have been able to attend culinary school - I would not have started two small businesses and created 45 jobs. I want to preserve the opportunities I’ve had for future generations.

That is why my focus will be on rebuilding the middle class, honoring our commitment to our seniors by protecting Social Security and Medicare, and safeguarding women’s rights, our civil liberties, and our natural resources.

I am also a firm believer that we will be able to end the gridlock in Washington, and start solving our problems, when we get money out of politics. That is why I support a Constitutional Amendment to overturn Citizens United. I also support term limits for Representatives and Senators, redistricting reform, lobbying bans, and other initiatives to make Congress focus on serving the country and not on lining their pockets.

My goal is to make the economy work for every American, not just the wealthiest among us.

The American people deserve no less than my best every day. I look forward to serving in Congress as strong, independent, progressive voice who will work to bring the best out of my fellow Democrats, and who will not back down from a tough fight.

Hold Me Accountable!

The top three issues my constituents face are similar to the problems across the country.

My main priority is rebuilding the economy to revitalize manufacturing and the middle class. My focus will be to fix our trade policy by promoting Fair Trade, not Free Trade, and ending tax loopholes that ship jobs and profits overseas. We need to invest in our infrastructure to create jobs and to build the foundation for success. Finally, we cannot forget how important education is to our economy- both for the young and for the unemployed. I support much lower college tuition as well as expanded worker retraining at technical colleges for unemployed workers who are seeking new skills.

The second main issue facing my constituents is their desire to have retirement security. Paul Ryan keeps talking about privatizing Social Security and Medicare, which are successful programs that work much better than the private, corporate options. Paul Ryan continues to try and privatize these programs to create big giveaways to the banks and health insurance companies. I will strengthen Social Security by lifting the cap so we can continue to provide the same benefits without charging people more. I also propose allowing Medicare to negotiate for prescription drugs.

By ending our wars, and ending tax loopholes for corporations and wealthy individuals, we can get the economy growing and provide retirement security without raising taxes on the middle class.

Finally, we will not solve our problems, or end the gridlock in Washington, until we get big money out of politics. I support publicly financed elections and a Constitutional Amendment to repeal Citizens United. Elections should be about ideas and not bank accounts and I want to not just defeat Paul Ryan, but end the corrupt system that elected him in the first place.

My DFA values:

When I started, no one said I could take on an entrenched party boss like Paul Ryan who had taken millions of lobbyist dollars. Because of the support of thousands of Wisconsinites and Americans across the country, we have changed a lot of minds.

My campaign has never been about what I can do. I hope it is a reflection on what progressives can do when we work together and fight for what we truly believe in.

I am all about the grassroots! I work to be accessible by answering emails and phone calls that come in, by communicating on social media, by answering questions put to me by many groups, and by traveling the district to answer people honestly to their face and let them know where I stand.

I know our victory will energize the Democratic Party. It will show that even a 14-year creature of Washington like Paul Ryan can be held accountable for selling out his constituents and all Americans to the big banks and health insurance companies.

I am looking not just to this election, but to my first term in Congress. I think I am a straightforward person, and that is lacking in Washington. I am not afraid to be the first one, or the only one, to fight back against bad ideas that are being rammed through. I am not afraid to fight leaders in either party who are under the influence of big money. When we win, I think shockwaves will be felt throughout Washington and I hope many more individuals will decide to take on the difficult challenge of running for office and that they will ignore the pessimism of beltway insiders and follow their dreams and their hearts.

My Campaign is People-Powered!

1) Constituent Policy Advisory Committees

We have organized constituent volunteers, based on interest and expertise, into issue-based and regional committees. These committees will focus on their efforts on research and outreach, identifying the district’s concerns and desired solutions, ultimately producing ‘white-papers’ which will guide the narrative of our campaign and eventually my policies and legislative agenda – an agenda produced by the people of southeast Wisconsin for the people of southeast Wisconsin.

2) Outreach & Accessibility

Our campaign actively engages with the voters of Wisconsin, and progressives across the nation, every day.

Recently, we partnered with Kenosha County Democratic Party; pooling resources to provide office space and equipment to volunteers for the purpose of recalling Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, because our campaign knows progressives are strongest when unified. I have a small army of volunteers, standing by, and after the successful recall of Scott Walker, my volunteers will engage voters directly in what will be the largest field program in the history of Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District.

Our campaign is fueled by volunteers and small-dollar donors from Wisconsin and across the nation. We have cultivated a strong netroots following by keeping the lines of communication open and responding to everyone. Our campaign will remain open, accessible and willing to engage you directly, not only because this is the authentic human connection lacking in our political process, but because effective representation requires it.