About this response & our editorial approach
About this candidate response
DutyStation contacts candidates to ask whether and how they support service members, military families and veterans, and invites them to share their thoughts and priorities. We share their replies here in the candidate’s or campaign’s own words, with minor formatting for readability and correction of obvious spelling mistakes.
No endorsement in either direction. Publishing a reply does not mean DutyStation endorses the candidate. Replying does not mean the candidate or campaign endorses DutyStation.
DutyStation’s website summaries and policy assessments are labeled separately.
Organized by topic. Email greetings and sign-offs are omitted; campaign contact details appear alongside.
Government shutdown and cooperation
- I very strongly oppose any more Federal Government shutdowns >>> they represent a complete failure of Congress to address responsibly the issues of the day. Shutdowns are a game – and people get hurt – while Congressmen/women go on an additional “paid vacation”.
- If there is a shutdown, Active Military pay should automatically be exempted. And If there is a shutdown >>> Congress should NOT be paid during that shutdown (and quite possibly not be entitled to back-pay once the government is re-opened).
- I am running for office as an INDEPENDENT Candidate >> we need to restore civility in Congress, and work in a trilateral and tripartisan manner to actually get things done, rather than just fight about it and call each other names.
Quality of life
- Our Servicemen and Servicewomen are NOT pawns. We must preserve, protect, and fund our all-volunteer force to maintain military effectiveness. Duty-station stabilization should be expanded (kids in high school, special needs of the family, etc).
- Spouses should get MORE prioritization for available employment on base and in the surrounding communities.
- In general, the number of moves should be reduced and standard rotation lengths should be prolonged .. this both stabilizes families, but also saves expense and maintains unit readiness.
Veterans’ care
- I am a retired military physician >> I know what works, and does not work, in the VA Healthcare System. I look forward very much to taking an active role given this special perspective.
- Our vets are entitled to improved mental health and medical care. This includes an increase in available Social Services.
- The VA healthcare system should be fully funded, and not be facing (current) staff reductions.
Family housing
- No servicemember, and especially those with families/dependents, should ever be asked to reside in unsafe military housing.
- Simple fix >> if the housing is sub-standard or unsafe, additional stipends should be provided to pay for local off-base housing.
- In the meantime, the military will then rapidly learn that it is cheaper in the long run to maintain appropriate on-base housing – simple economics.
ELECTION REFLECTIONS · IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Looking ahead to Election Day
Brief answers to DutyStation’s questions about hope, America’s future, unity, the next generation and a closing message. The earlier policy answers and their received date remain above.
Hope heading into the election
- As citizens cast their vote, I hope that they recognize that doing this is an act of ADVANCED CITIZENSHIP… and that rather than just voting a party-line ticket, that each person does the work to check out individual candidates and then choose those who match their own ideals and values most closely.
Vision for America
- Prosperity, Family, Fairness
Bringing Americans together
- Once every couple of years, we gather together to choose a path forward. Regardless of outcome, we should all remain engaged and support the winning candidate(s). There is no more room for anger, vitriol or violence in our political processes.
The next generation
- Peace, Prosperity, Happiness.
Closing message to voters
- Congress is broken – and the current two-party system is a large reason why. There are other alternatives out there, and there are more Veteran candidates running for office this year than in any other. And that’s because we care – we signed up for public service – and it is obligatory on all of us to together be “part of the solution – rather than be part of the problem”.