To the editor:
I have worked on state representative, state senate, gubernatorial and congressional races. It has been 20 years since I have seen a political atmosphere like the one we face. Our elected representatives are not listening to us and as citizens we are without a voice.
I was contacted last November by a gentleman who wanted to discuss his plans to run against Niki Tsongas. I had grown tired of political campaigns and told him so. In addition, the 5th District congressional seat has not elected a Republican in almost 35 years.
He was not easily dismissed. He came to Lawrence where I live and began to meet with people in the diverse neighborhoods of my city. I spoke to old friends who had moved to Methuen, Haverhill and Andover. He had been to their towns as well, on coffee shop tours and business tours that traveled to all 29 towns in the 5th District.
As I learned more about the campaign, I decided that this is a person who would represent the 5th District well. His name is Jon Golnik. He is a small businessman, married with two young children.
Jon believes we need to lower taxes on small businesses so they can create jobs. In addition, we need to stop the out-of-control spending in Washington that is destroying our economy. The buyouts, takeovers and trillions of dollars spent on the stimulus are wrong for Massachusetts and for the country. For a political outsider, Jon has put together a campaign as well run as I have seen, raising more money than his competitors combined and working harder to get his message and voters out for the September primary.
I will be voting for Jon Golnik in the Sept. 14 primary because he listens and is the only candidate who can beat Niki Tsongas in November.
Richard M. Fielding
Lawrence
