The Kind of Candidate Democrats Once Ran
In New York's 19thCongressional District (parts of Orange, Rockland and Westchester Counties and all of Putnam County, north of New York City), a millionaire, self-funding his campaign, is running against a small town lawyer who is a former school teacher and Marine Corps veteran, who is supporting his family as a union-security guard to avoid creating conflicts of interest during the campaign.
If you assume the millionaire is a Republican, you would be wrong. While not every Liberal, Progressive or Democrat will agree with the political views of Republican Candidate, Kieran Michael Lalor, they should agree strongly with what his candidacy represents.
The Kind of Candidate Democrats Once Ran
In New York's 19thCongressional District (parts of Orange, Rockland and Westchester Counties and all of Putnam County, north of New York City), a millionaire, self-funding his campaign, is running against a small town lawyer who is a former school teacher and Marine Corps veteran, who is supporting his family as a union-security guard to avoid creating conflicts of interest during the campaign.
If you assume the millionaire is a Republican, you would be wrong. While not every Liberal, Progressive or Democrat will agree with the political views of Republican Candidate, Kieran Michael Lalor, they should agree strongly with what his candidacy represents.
Once upon a time in this country, it was not unusual for civic-minded people of average means to run for Congress, usually as Democrats. Retired Cops, small town lawyers and accountants and small business owners from "Main Street, USA" were often among the members of Congress. Today, all too often, only the very rich can afford to run for a seat in "The People's House."
Kieran Michael Lalor hearkens back to that earlier tradition. He is the kind of man whom the Democratic Party used to seek as candidates for high office.
Lalor attended the Virginia Military Institute ("VMI") for one year as part of the Class of 1998, before leaving because of his father's serious illness. He completed his undergraduate education at Providence
College, an institution operating in the tradition of the Dominican order, and became a high school teacher. In 2000, prior to the events of 9-11, as a college graduate and a teacher, Lalor enlisted in the Marine Reserves as a Rifleman.
After the events of September 11, 2001, he was activated and served as a Rifleman with the 25th Marines as part of Task Force Tarawa in the early stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom ("OIF I"). In 2005, Lalor and another Marine Reservist from his unit, on their own initiative and on their own time, went to New Orleans with water and food to support relief and lifesaving operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina ("Katrina"). They were so successful in these endeavors that they were each awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ("NAM"), a major award given the fact that the Marine Corps is traditionally parsimonious with medals. Mr. Lalor graduated from Pace University Law School, located in the 19th District, in 2007.
Lalor is running against Rep. John Hall, a former member of a somewhat obscure 1970s rock group called "Orleans." Where Rep. Hall is independently wealthy, Mr. Lalor currently works as a security guard at Westchester Medical Center to support his wife and two children, not working as an attorney to avoid creating any conflicts of interest while working on his campaign.
In sum, where Rep. Hall stood on a stage as part of a now defunct (and somewhat obscure) rock group, Mr. Lalor stood in front of students in a classroom; Mr. Lalor stood as part of a Marine rifle Platoon in war; Mr. Lalor stood up for his fellow Americans going through hard times in New Orleans after Katrina; and Mr. Lalor stands as a member in good standing of the New York State Bar. No matter where you stand politically, it is apparent that Mr. Lalor is more reflective of the personal qualities that Democrats, Liberals and Progressives once sought in their candidates.
Currently, Mr.Lalor receives next to no coverage in the local newspapers or on television. Based on his service to our Country and his community, I think that Mr. Lalor deserves more attention and the consideration of voters of all views in New York's 19thCongressional District.