I have decided to run for Congress in Michigan's 9th Congressional District.
As a Chemical Engineer and Attorney I have been solving difficult scientific and legal problems for companies and clients for 21 years.
We are facing extremely difficult problems in this country and I am confident that with my background in engineering and law and my personal concern about the direction of this country, that I can be a force for change in Congress.
Spending a week at the Women's Campaign School at Yale and then watching the Presidential Leadership Forum yesterday in Chicago, has made me confident that a strong grassroots and netroots campaign can really create change in this country.
I've lived in this community for 17 years and I have a lot of friends, family, past and current co-workers, and clients in this area. I know it well. I've also done extensive analysis of the voting patterns and the demographics of the District.
Many of the families in the District make a living either directly or indirectly through the auto industry. And they are scared.
Having gone to engineering school in the area, and having been an engineer at GM and Chrysler, I have a lot of friends who work in the industry as engineers and mid-level managers -- some of whom are now my clients. I cannot think of a single one who feels secure in their job.
When they aren't worried about losing their jobs, they are worried about losing their pensions. These people are not mildly concerned about the economy, these people walk in fear of losing their jobs and their homes.
My experience in the auto industry and with other businesses have given me an insider's view as to how companies operate and what we need to do to help our domestic auto industry regain our status as leading the world in manufacturing and technology.
Some say we should just write off manufacturing in the USA. I strongly disagree. Manufacturing jobs helped build the middle-class in America.
There are also many small businesses in this area including those of Doctors, Dentists, restaurant owners, etc, that, like myself, are running small businesses that rely on the health of manufacturing and good paying jobs in this country. And these people are worried about the survival of their businesses. Running my own small business -- my law firm -- I am all too well aware of the challenges facing small businesses.
There was a time when the Democratic Party was the Party of small businesses. We need to bring those people back into the Party. Their interests have not been served by the Republican Party. I know from the small business owners I have already spoken with, they are very interested in supporting a Congressional Candidate who understands their concerns.
I agree with what I heard Jimmy Hoffa Jr. say yesterday -- that every candidate should have a "labor platform". I'm going to prepare one.
I'll be posting more detailed position papers (and probably) even asking for help in vetting them from all the experts on this site.
Meanwhile, feel free to visit my website. It is still under construction, but I would welcome comments on form and substance.
Also, I watched Rep. Carol Shea Porter's race from a distance and was very impressed with her campaign. She won on hard work and a team of dedicated grassroots/netroots supporters. I'd appreciate any inside information from those of you who volunteered or are more familiar with her campaign.
I have copies of many of the excellent posts that were on DK.
Rhonda
P.S. I consider this a "soft announcement" -- I'm starting raising funds for the campaign. I'll make a more formal announcement in the very near future. (No. I promise I won't do what Fred Thompson is doing -- keep announcing that someday he'll announce.)