Sunday, March 16, 2008

Indiana For Joe 2008

It's time to do something instead of just complaining about the political leaders around here and run for office. So I am pleased to announce I am running for Indiana State Representative for the 29th District. I have been asked by the Democratic Party to run and have accepted the honor.

On this blog as time permits I am going to give you a glimpse into the process of running for office. Running for office is more than a 9 to 5 job, it’s almost a 24-hour job. If you have not done it before or have someone at your side who has done it before it becomes even harder with all the paperwork and what you are allowed to do, etc.

Before I accepted I check to see what the current officer had done in office. I had heard my neighbors complaining that she didn’t do much; I do know I had e-mailed her a few times for positions and had not received any reply. So here was someone who had been in this office for 16 years and I could not find any accomplishments. Her voting record was straight party lines. So she was representing the party and not the people. My belief is that if people elect you it's your job to represent those people. It's your job to listen to the people and respond to their questions and concerns. Therefore, the request was accepted. I did know that this was going to be an uphill battle. She was a Republican in a very Republican area. But this was a year of change and many people are ready to view the candidates and ask questions. A major problem is that people have become so one way or another they don't even want to look, ask and listen.

The first step was submission of the filing paperwork. Done.

Now comes the hard part. You need lots of money to run for office. So far I have not raised any and that starts now. I did look at the fun raising of my opponent, its all-open records on the government web sites. Interesting is all I can say. I will be asking for money to buy signs and maybe make enough to use it for airtime. So if you want to donate to someone who believes in people, here I am.

I am also putting a team together to help. A few friends have volunteered, but will need lots more.

Am meeting with other candidates and will be talking with others in office to learn more of the ropes.

Website - An important part of any modern day election. Working on it now as the real first step. Need to develop my positions for listing on the site. That has been the first priority and it is coming alone, can't list everything, as it is getting far too long. What I am saying is that common sense is missing today in lots of areas and we need it back again. Within a few days it will have my positions and hopefully you will take a look. Got a concern, use the e-mail section and I will respond. Want to donate to the campaign, I have a donate now button on the site that uses PayPal, credit cards and tell you how to mail in checks.

That's it for today. More to come.

My name is Joe Weingarten and I approve this message.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Its time for an Indiana Change

Last week Bush told reporters: "I don't think we're headed to recession." But when one tried to puncture the denial, mentioning that America's energy analysts were predicting $4 gas, our oil-man president stopped him: "Wait, what did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gasoline?" No, Mr. President, experts are. "That's interesting. I hadn't heard that."


This points to one of the main problems we have a President who surrounds himself with advisors who tell him only what he wants to hear. So while we suffer he just rolls on without a worry in the world. He and his group of I don’t care about anyone leaders have brought on the economic problems we have today. His solutions to problems don’t work, its like the rebate check we are all going to get, mine will be going to the property tax collector and not to the stores or the economy as he wanted, also it is taking months to get it to me instead of days when it is needed.

For years we are going to have to work to repair the problems he and his party have dumped on us. Of course everyone will expect the new president to repair all of George’s mistakes in the first 100 days. It just is not going to happen, it is going to take years.

Things are just as bad at the local levels where some of these political parties and holders of seats of power are just as bad. Some people just get re-elected time and time again and people just keep on voting them into office and never look at what they have done.

In Indiana’s 29th District is a 16-year, 8 times re-elected State Representative who votes almost 99% of the time for whatever the party leaders tell her to vote. She has no opinion on anything that is different from the party line. She does not respond to questions from the people living in her district. Don’t believe me, e-mail her at h29@in.gov, ask any question, she either will not reply or return a party line answer that she did not write, just cut and paste from the party handbook.

My name is Joe Weingarten and I am running against Kathy Richardson in the 29th District and I approve this message. Want more information please go to www.indianaforjoe.com. At our site is a box to sent me a message and I will answer on what I believe not what is the party line. You may not agree with me on each and every point, but overall I hope you agree with me on most and therefore vote for me for a change. You might even sent some money for yard signs, or buttons,, etc. After 16 years of nothing happening its time for a change. Its time the people of this district have someone who cares about getting things done.