I believe that we, as Americans, can overcome any challenge if we work together. As South Carolinians, our collective challenge is to look past the rhetoric of greed, fear and divisiveness, and embrace a new breed of Democrats who will champion the solutions to our nation's challenges, protect our freedoms and restore integrity to our national government. It is up to all of us to guarantee this nation's legacy of freedom, compassion, opportunity and self-initiative well into the 21st Century.
I'm doing this to begin to get the word out about the next Representative of South Carolina, District 1 (aka Charleston), Randal 'Randy' Maatta. He is running against Henry Brown in '06 as a Democrat; socially progressive and fiscally conservative.
I plan on posting a statement from Mr. Maatta from time to time to generate local awareness and also appeal to the community for aid if possible. Today: Privacy.
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I choose privacy first because it is a current event and still developing and it will probably be revisited as things unfold. Also because it is short and I want to take a moment to introduce everyone to Randy.
Randy was born and raised in Charleston. He was the son of an accounting technician with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command in North Charleston, and an officer in the United States Navy, grandson to a ship fitter at the Charleston Naval Shipyard. Growing up middle-class, "Randy's mother and grandparents instilled the values of hard work, integrity and personal responsibility into him."
He attended the College of Charleston and earned a BA in Poli Sci. Upon graduation he joined the local supermarket, Piggly Wiggly, and worked his way up to owner/manager by the age of 24. In '85 he branched out and opened a real estate brokerage firm. The firm grew into two offices and 20+ associates within two years. Randy sold the firm and moved to Maryland to work in the private sector and attend grad school in business; he also became certified public accountant. After 6 years as CFO at two real estate firms, he entered public service with the FCC. Randy spent his last 3 years in Washington working at the Financial Operations Center in the Department of State. "At the State Department, he was instrumental in consolidating worldwide financial systems into the Charleston Financial Operations Center located on the former Naval Base. While at the State Department, Randy earned the prestigious Certified Government Financial Manager designation from the Association of Government Accountants in Washington and is an expert on the federal budgetary process."
Having enough of Washington, he returned to Charleston in 2004 and became a private real estate investor. In 2005, Randy became fed up with Washington. As his campaign put it, "after witnessing first hand the mismanagement, incompetence and corruption in Washington, DC, Randy made the decision to serve the people of Coastal South Carolina, and his nation, by announcing his intention to run for the United States House of Representatives."
Randy's Vision:
His mission is to bring a vision to Washington, where he will fight to bring quality, affordable heath care, fiscal responsibility, job creation, security for our ports and integrity back to our federal government. He will work tirelessly to take back our democracy from the special interest and return our government to the people.
Randy lives in Charleston with his wife Debbie, who is a public school teacher in Berkeley County. He has one son, Ryan, who received a congressional appointment to the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York, where he is currently a midshipman.
Randy is a member of the St. John's Lutheran Church in downtown Charleston.
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Now for his statement on privacy.
I believe that, the United States Constitution guarantees Americans the right to privacy on many levels.
Domestic Spying
Foremost, the federal government should get out of our citizens' personal lives. The unilateral action of the Bush Administration -- using the resources of our national government to spy and eavesdrop on law abiding Americans - must STOP.
From provisions in the Patriot Act greatly expanding the power of government over its citizens, to domestic spying in the name of "national security", I am opposed to any infringement on Americans' right to privacy without due process of law. Yes, it is government's responsibility to protect us, but not at the expense of the Bill of Rights. If we allow this to stand, the terrorists have already won.
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Keep a look out for the next instalment.