Meet the candidates

“It is difficult for men in high office to avoid the malady of self-delusion. They are always surrounded by worshipers. They are constantly, and for the most part sincerely, assured of their greatness. They live in an artificial atmosphere of adulation and exultation which sooner or later impairs their judgment. They are in grave danger of becoming careless and arrogant.” ~ President Calvin Coolidge

(Quote courtesy of Alan Snyder, “In Honor of a President Few Remember“)

This week we interviewed two Central Floridians who have stepped into the political arena to run for Congress. Neither have held public office before, making this their first foray.  In the past month we interviewed two more candidates.  A brief synopsis on all four is in order.  Look them over,  listen to the interviews, and if you believe in what they stand for, support them with your donation.  In all likelihood, they won’t be getting much financial assist from the RNC, so your support is  appreciated.

Dan Fanelli, Republican Candidate, Florida’s 8th Congressional District

Dan Fanelli, Naval Academy graduate, retired after 20 years of service as Lt. Commander. While serving in the Naval Reserves, Dan flew as a commercial pilot with a major airline.  Of notable significance, he was the Captain of a Boeing 727 aircraft on September 11, 2001. Captain Fanelli’s flight originated in Detroit, with a destination of Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C. when the Twin Towers and the Pentagon were attacked by terrorist.  Under these extraordinary circumstances, his flight was diverted to Washington Dulles International Airport where he landed safely with his crew and passengers. Dan’s recounting of the attacks while airborne is a particularly insightful and chilling look into the events of that tragic day and the character and leadership of Dan Fanelli.  After retiring in December 2007, Dan been a small business owner as well as a licensed real estate associate. Dan also holds a temporary State of Florida Public School Teaching Certificate.  He has been a past Cub Master and Assistant Boy Scout Troop Leader, and has been very active in serving his local community. Listen to the interview.

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Deon Long, Republican Candidate, Florida’s 24th Congressional District

Deon Long, a graduate of the University of Florida, and the University of Michigan School of Law in Ann Arbor in 1993 and became a member of the Florida Bar in 1994.  Deon’s first position as an attorney was with Foley & Lardner in Orlando, Florida.  Deon is currently a practicing attorney out of Winter Park, Florida.  Deon was appointed by Jeb Bush to serve on the board of the St. Johns River Water Management District from 1999-2007.  During his tenure on the St. Johns River Water Management District board, Deon spent two (2) terms as Chairman.  Deon also participates in Step-Up for Children and is on the Board of Directors of the Frey Institute.  In conjunction with his professional and other activities, Deon has been involved with the campaigns of several conservative candidates and has been involved with the Republican Party.  Deon’s independent streak has earned the ire of certain members of the Florida Republican political establishment.  Listen to the interview.

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Chuck Devore, Republican Candidate, U.S. Senate, California

Chuck Devore, named Legislator of the Year by seven groups, represents 500,000 constituents in the California State Assembly. He is the Vice Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation and serves on the Veterans Affairs Committee, and the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. Chuck was elected in 2004 and reelected in 2006 and in 2008.

Chuck worked in the aerospace industry for 13 years and was vice president of research before leaving work to begin serving as an elected official.  He served as a Reagan White House appointee in the Pentagon from 1986 to 1988.  As Special Assistant for Foreign Affairs his duties included working with Congress to advance the President’s foreign and military policy. Chuck’s official travels took him to Asia, Europe, Africa, and Central America. His initiative helped develop the Arrow Anti-Ballistic Missile program.

In 1988 Chuck served as Director of Public Liaison for former Congressman Chris Cox’s first campaign for public office. Through 1990, he served as the Congressman’s Senior Assistant.  After more than 24 years of active reserve service, Chuck retired from the Army National Guard. He is now a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army retired Reserve. A graduate of the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College, his awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster, and others.  Chuck is also the author of the internationally acclaimed novel, China Attacks. Written in 1999 and translated into Chinese in 2000, the book, banned in China, sells well in Taiwan where Chuck met with Taiwanese government and military leaders in 2001 and again in 2005.  His opinion pieces have appeared in the Washington Times, Investors’ Business Daily, Human Events, the Orange County Register, the Los Angeles Daily News, the Asian Wall Street Journal, the Taipei Times, the Jamestown Review, the U.S. Army’s Red Thrust Star, and many others. In 2008, he authored a scholarly piece entitled, “Relative Risk: Global Warming and Imported Fossil Fuels vs. Nuclear Power,” for the UC Berkeley School of Law’s inaugural edition of Ecology Law Currents. Listen to the interview.

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Jesse Kelly, Republican, Candidate Arizona’s 8th District

As a United States Marine Corps combat veteran, Jesse Kelly led a squad in the Mortar Section of 1st Battalion, 7th Marines while deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom.  He was honorably discharged in August 2004 after four proud years of service.

After serving our country, Jesse moved on to work in the family construction business in Tucson, AZ.  Jesse works as a project manager managing multi-million dollar infrastructure projects throughout the southwest region of the United States, his duties include: estimating, scheduling, budget analysis, and human resource management.

His endorsements include:

• Former Congressman and Chairman of House Armed Services Committee, Duncan L. Hunter
• Congressman Trent Franks, AZ-2
• Congressman Marsha Blackburn, TN-7
• Congressman Frank Wolf, VA-10
• Congressman John Shimkus, IL-19
• Congressman Duncan D. Hunter, CA-52
• Former Congressman Barry Goldwater, Jr.
• Lieutenant General Robert B. Johnston, USMC (Ret.)
• Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Horne
• Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce, LD-18
• Maricopa County Sheriff, Joe Arpaio
• Town of Marana Councilwoman, Roxanne Ziegler
• Town of Sahuarita Councilwoman, Kara Egbert
• Thomas C. Rustici, PhD – Professor of Economics at George Mason University
• Dr. Jane Orient, Executive Director of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons
• Dr. Elizabeth Lee Vliet, Founder and Medical Director of Her Place: Health Enhancement and Renewal for Women
• Arizona State Coordinator of Smart Girl Politics, Karen MacKean
• 912 Candidate
• Warriors for Congress
• Combat Veterans for Congress PAC
• Iraq Veterans for Congress PAC
• One Nation PAC
• Team America PAC

Listen to the interview.