OK, all you Floridians out there. Here's your chance to live blog with two candidates for the Congress in your State.......ask them the questions you've always wanted to ask. Or just pop in to say hello.
Rick Penberthy for U.S. Congress (FL-05) Dave Bruderly for U.S. Congress (FL-06) Chat with them here:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/2/26/17630/2626FIGHTING DEMS SPOTLIGHT ON FLORIDA: Live Blogging by Rick Penberthy and Dave Bruderly
by mikepridmore
Sun Feb 26, 2006 at 03:06:30 PM PDT
The Massa for Congress blogger team has been coordinating live-blogging efforts with other Veteran campaigns to give the netroots a chance to interact with these candidates. The current plan is to feature Veterans in spotlight sections each Sunday.
Bill Winter and Jay Fawcett already liveblogged today here and were on the Recommended List for a while. Eric Massa's diary on Port Security, the second part of today's triple header, is on the Recommended list. Finally is part three and from 5-7pm the Spotlight will be on Florida Veterans Rick Penberthy (FL-05) and David Bruderly (FL-06), who will then be on hand to live-blog.
Interesting news came recently from a Rasmussen poll showing that Democrats are trusted more than the President on National Security issues (43% for Dems to 41% for President Bush). And this was before the ports story broke.
The 66 Fighting Dems may be part of the reason why Democrats are doing better than the President on National Security issues. Republicans have said they have about 40 non-incumbent Veterans running for office but my recent $1000 reward offer for anyone who can prove they really do have that many has remained unanswered. E-mails to members of the media who mentioned the stat, including Helen Thomas and Greg Giroux of CQ.com, have yet to yield any proof.
Rick Penberthy for U.S. Congress (FL-05)
Rank/Branch: 2nd Lieutenant, U.S. Army
Service: Rick enlisted in August of 1972, he was 18. Rick's MOS (military occupational specialty) was in light weapons infantry. He served overseas in Korea from January 1973 to January 1974. Rick was at Panmunjon with the Eighth Army United Nations Command and also on the DMZ with the 2nd Infantry Division. He served stateside in The First Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas, and served in the United States Naval Reserves in the early 1980's. Rick proudly explains that he joined the military because "I come from a family where military service is a tradition. We believe in service to our country."
Family: Rick and Doreen Penberthy live on a 5-acre ranch in Wesley Chapel. They have 4 children, Brittany, Brett, Corttney, and Colette.
Education: Rick has a Bachelors degree in Interdisciplinary Social Science, a Bachelors degree in International Studies, and a Masters in Political Science from the University of South Florida.
CAMPAIGN
Party and District: Rick Penberthy is a life-long Democrat and a teacher running in the 5th Congressional District.
Opponents: 2nd term incumbent Republican Virginia Brown-Waite. Democrat opponents: '04 write in candidate Disabled Truck driver H. David Werder (D) and `04 candidate Nurse John T. Russell.
District Profile: Brown-Waite received 65.9% in '04 with mild opposition. Won by 1.7% in '04. Semi-solid Republican district, but as in many places the citizens are restless. Over 20% Registered Independents. Penberthy is a citizen of substance and respect who is being taken seriously. See the Newspaper Endorsements below.
Theme: Changes in '06
Key issues:
§ An Independent Iraq
§ An Honored Military
§ A Smarter Budget
§ A Healthier Florida
§ A Cleaner Florida
§ An Educated Florida
Newspaper Endorsement snips:
Citrus County Chronicle (`04)
"Without question, Penberthy, the only lifelong Democrat in the race, is best prepared to challenge U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite in the general election."
The Tampa Tribune (`04)
"One candidate stands out ... Rick Penberthy, 50, of Wesley Chapel. His background, life experiences and 20 years as an educator make him the most knowledgeable about issues of importance in the district, which is home to more than 100,000 military retirees. His is a truly grassroots campaign."
St. Petersburg Times (`04)
"...Penberthy's unassuming determination and down-to-earth grasp of the issues facing voters...makes him best."
Hernando Today (`04)
" Penberthy of Wesley Chapel...has the most statesmanlike approach and is the most impressive in the way he describes his platform."
Lakeland Ledger (`04)
"He's the only candidate in the race who's a military veteran with active-duty experience. ... (he) has the best understanding and articulates well thought out positions."
Ocala Star Banner (`04)
"He understands the critical issues facing our country and offers clear ideas on how to enact them."
Statement: Rick Penberthy is a proven leader and a true Democrat. A Veteran of the US Army and the US Naval Reserves, Rick has the experience to talk about securing both our country and our constitution. For the past 22 years Rick has been an educator, instilling in his students a sense of responsibility, integrity, and public service. Rick is determined to restore these same values to Washington D.C.
No one comes better prepared to be our United States Representative than Rick Penberthy. His military service, his education, and his integrity will allow him to immediately begin to represent the values of our District.
Rick has proven his determination and dedication throughout his service to our community. Rick's outreach goes beyond the classroom and includes volunteer work with St. Anthony's School Board, Metropolitan Ministries, the Children's Christmas Toy Network, Habitat For Humanity, and Florida Coastal Clean-up. In recognition for Rick's leadership Rick was named Pinellas County's Secondary Social Studies Teacher of the Year and received the Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellowship Award.
Website: Rick for Congress
Contact: Contact
Dave Bruderly for U.S. Congress (FL-06)
Rank/Branch: Officer, U.S. Navy, Naval Reserve
Service: Dave began his career as a cadet-midshipman serving on ocean-going break bulk cargo ships, a container ship and the flagship of the US fleet, the passenger liner SS United States. After winning his USCG licenses as 3rd Mate - Oceans and 3rd Engineer - Unlimited Horsepower, he served on three civilian oceanographic research vessels and a research submarine with active duty naval service at sea on a destroyer, a destroyer escort and ashore at the Naval Undersea Center, San Diego. During the height of the Cold War, these ships took Dave across the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans to a multitude of European countries. Included in his travels were Africa, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Japan, Korea, the Bahamas and South America.
Family: David Bruderly has lived in Alachua County for over 20 years. He has 2 children, David and Heidi, and 3 grandchildren.
Education: Dave received a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering & Transportation from the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1969. He received a Master of Science degree in Engineering from Columbia University in 1971
Positions: Dave has been an environmental engineering consultant for 32 years. After returning from his duty at sea, Dave implemented projects in more than 20 American states. He also participated in engineering programs overseas in countries such as Canada, Israel, Egypt, Germany and Japan. Dave has worked in over 45 countries during his career. Some of his achievements include environmental studies for electric power plants, military bases (including the Kings Bay nuclear FBM Sub Base), and many industrial facilities. Dave also analyzed urban and agricultural non-point contamination, evaluated lake and river restoration projects, helped clean-up dozens of contaminated petroleum and chemical sites and investigated spills, leaks and illegal disposal activities. Dave currently serves as a Director for the following non-profit organizations: the Florida Hydrogen Business Council, Sustainable Alachua County, Florida Defenders of the Environment and the Cross Creek Initiative. He is currently active in the Florida Hydrogen Business Partnership, coordinated by the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation, and recently served on the Clean Fuel Florida Advisory Board, sponsored by Governor Jeb Bush. He is currently the President of the Clean Power Engineering Company and an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Throughout his career, Dave has advocated for cleaner, more efficient technologies for transportation, maritime and alternative energy industries.
CAMPAIGN
Party and District: Rick Penberthy is a Democrat running in the 6th Congressional District.
Opponents: 9th term incumbent Republican Clifford B. "Cliff" Stearns; no other Democrat challengers.
District Profile: Stearns received 64.4% in '04. Dave is committed to bringing progressive ideals to Congress, as he seeks to unseat a man who has been a 95 percent rubber stamp for the Bush Administration, a man who donated $5,000 dollars to Tom Delay's defense fund and a man who 18 years ago promised to only serve 12 terms.
Key issues:
· A Return to Representation.
We must stop corruption and cronyism in our government and corporations. Officials must be held accountable to the Public Trust, not narrow special interests or their own profit.
· Alternative Energy and Effective Management of our Petroleum Use.
We must build cleaner, safer, more efficient transportation and energy systems to sustain our communities and grow our economy.
· True Security and Safety, for Americans, in America.
We must secure our borders, our ports and we must continue to maintain the best military in the world.
· Health Care For All Americans.
We must realize that healthy workers make our economy and our country more productive.
· We must educate our children, protect our elderly and ensure a growing, diverse economy, which will lead to prosperity for all Americans.
We must realize that healthy citizens create a stronger Nation and a more productive economy.
Endorsements:
"If we were going strictly by his voting record, it would be difficult for us to endorse U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns for re-election to Florida's 6th Congressional District. We disagree with Stearns on a wide variety of issues, from his support of the war in Iraq to his environmental record to his opposition to reproductive rights. On the strength of many of the issues of the day, we tend to agree with Stearns' Democratic challenger, Dave Bruderly." - :Gainesville Sun, November 2004:
"Bruderly favors getting out of Iraq as soon as possible, overhauling the Medicare prescription bill, focusing on energy efficiency and alternative fuels, putting Social Security funds in a "lockbox," and fully funding the No Child Left Behind Act. He's a serious, smart candidate -- something Stearns hasn't been in the recent past." - Ocala Star Banner, October 2004
In 2004, both newspapers ended these columns by endorsing Millionaire Stearns. They made the wrong choice. In 2006, the right choice is the New Voice.
§ Bill Leighty
§ Florida League of Conservation Voters
§ AFL-CIO
§ Florida Public Transportation Association
§ United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Statement: Over 230 years ago, our founding fathers perfected federalism and the American Constitution. With this Constitution came new representation for the American people. Americans throughout the land would be represented, in Congress, by friends and neighbors, who knew the needs and desires of their communities.
As the years have gone by, money and politics have turned Representatives into "Congresspeople", more interested in power of that body than the people it serves. My name is Dave Bruderly, and I am running for Congress, but I am not running to be a Congressman. I want to be your Representative; A NEW voice, for REAL people
I began serving this nation in the Vietnam War era, and I want to serve again. Throughout my career, I have created responsible solutions to problems faced by clients, communities and governments. I will continue seeking solutions to the problems faced by REAL people, if you elect me to the U.S. House of Representatives:
Website: Bruderly for Congress
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