Oneida Man Launches Write-In Campaign for 22nd Congressional District

By Robert Mann

(Oneida, NY – Oct. 2014) How would you like to vote in a one-party district – a congressional district controlled by a single political party? Doesn’t sound like the American way, does it? But that’s what we are being asked to do Nov. 4, with only one major-party candidate for Congress on the ballot.

There is no Democrat on the ballot. No one who would vote with Democrats in the House of Representatives to defend affordable health care, a clean environment and other progressive policies; no one to stand up to the backward, obstructionist coalition that dominates the House.

That’s why I decided to run for Congress on the write-in line. I want to demonstrate that we Americans still have free elections and are free to exercise our right to choose our own representatives. I want my fellow Democrats and progressives to let their voices be heard in this election.

To vote for a Democrat and a progressive, you can write in my name, Robert Mann, on the write-in line under “Representative in Congress, 22nd District.”

I am a registered Democrat because that party comes closest overall to representing my personal political philosophy. I strongly believe in the progressive policies and programs supported by the party over the past century.  These include Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, minimum wage, the right of labor to organize, environmental protection laws, the Affordable Care Act and many other progressive measures.

Democrats like Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts are leading the way toward progressive policies, such as the reduction of the college loan debt that is crushing American students and their families.

Our new 22nd District, which contains some of the most beautiful land in America, runs from Sandy Creek in the North down to the Pennsylvania border and includes the cities of Rome, Utica, Oneida, Sherrill, Hamilton, Norwich, Cortland and Binghamton.

Our district is still feeling the effects of a financial crash and a major economic recession caused by the greedy, immoral behavior of the heads of major financial institutions. Poverty and hunger continue to plague many of our working families.

People here are worried about further American involvement in costly and destructive large-scale wars. They reject the neo-conservative delusion that Americans can “re-draw the map of the Middle East.” They do not wish to waste American lives or resources on counterproductive wars. At the same time, they know we must use appropriate and necessary force to stop any fanatic who seeks to murder innocent Americans or allies in cold blood.

Knowing there is something profoundly wrong with these murderers, we must not sink to their level. We must keep ourselves free from the negative emotions that govern their actions, free from fear, hate, arrogance and brutality.

In past congressional elections, I have been a volunteer worker in the campaigns of Democratic candidates Bob Johnson, Bill Owens, Mike Oot and Dan Lamb. I know these candidates were more qualified than I to serve as our representative in Washington, D.C., although I think my write-in candidacy serves a good purpose.

I plan to self-finance a unique, extremely low-cost campaign. I hope to have some yard signs and campaign buttons available for supporters who request them in the near future.

Please note that this is a word-of-mouth campaign that depends entirely on the efforts of citizen volunteers.

I would be very grateful if you would tell your friends and perhaps write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper in support of my campaign. If you wish, you can share a copy of this e-mail with them. If you do any of these things, I would be grateful to hear about it.