Dear Editor, I want to thank those who voted for me during the
June 6 Primary Election.
Dear Editor,
I want to thank those who voted for me during the June 6 Primary Election.
It was difficult to run for Congress in 2002 and do pretty well against Congressman Richard Pombo. I believe the figures were 21 percent overall in the 11th Congressional District against an incumbent. This time with Pete McCloskey running as another Republican I didn’t even make 10 percent. That is OK. We sent a message to the people of the district that change was in the wind.
With that change comes responsibility. I believe that people like Morgan Hill Times columnist Ben Gilmore are the root of the problem. He set out in 2002 to say things against me just because I ran against Pombo. He did it again during the latest race.
I was invited to a CRA endorsement meeting, that I could not speak at because the other candidates did not show up. I introduced myself to the membership and then was told that my time was up. I sat down and the next thing Gilmore said the other candidates didn’t show up and we would have to postpone the event.
Being I was the only candidate there, I asked to let me speak and leave because I had another event to go to. Gilmore said “no” so we packed up and left the meeting. We waited for two hours for that decision to be made.Â
Gilmore makes it sound as if he is the prophet and all is good, if you believe in the Bible.
In his June 27 column titled, “America was founded on Biblical Principles of Government,” he states that study groups come to Morgan Hill, such as the ACH, whoever they are, to preach. I think they need a new leader and a new venue. Let God be the judge of people, not a political crony like Gilmore.
To all the CRA members at that meeting, I hope you wake up and smell the coffee. The Republican Party needs new leadership in Washington, D.C. You have changed that process by allowing Gilmore’s and your agenda to cloud the issues. You have put the party back 50 years.
Thomas A Benigno, Tracy
Former Republican candidate for the 11th Congressional District
