John "Jack" Gargan, who had lived in Cedar Key since 1988, is a candidate for the United States House of Representatives. Jack is a retired financial consultant, the author of five books and a lively 71 year old. He has been politically active in Reform Party, serving as the National Chairman, and has worked with H. Ross Perot and Jesse Ventura in their third party efforts. He is currently running as an independent. Mr. Gargan responded to the following questions with spirited candor. The questions are verbatim, but the answers are a summary of the torrent of Mr. Gargan`s replies.
CKN: This is the age of sound bites. Is it possible to tell why you are a candidate in 25 words or less?
JG: I want to save our country. The national debt will kill us. The Social Security system is in danger of collapse. If the economy falters and there are major layoffs the payments into Social Security will be reduced while payments continue to go out.
CKN: Jesse Unruh said, "Money is the mother`s milk of politics."
JG: I thought Tip O`Neil said that. Perhaps he took that from Unruh.
CKN: The question is, how much money do you expect to spend?
JG: If I can spend $25,000 I would be in hog heaven.
CKN: Where will your money come from?
JG: Individuals! One thousand dollars maximum. No money from Political Action Committees. I already have $8000.
CKN: What about H. Ross Perot?
JG: He`s not in the picture.
CKN: Third parties had great influence in the 1992 and 2000 Presidential elections. Has that been a good thing?
JG: I disagree. Studies have shown that equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans voted for Perot. So the third party had no effect on the outcome.
CKN: What will be the most important issue before Congress in the neat two years?
JG: The national debt!
CKN: What is your solution to that problem?
JG: Address the problem. It may be too late. Prohibit deficit spending. Cut out the pork barrel spending.
CKN: You don`t have a voting record for the voters to study. But did you vote for Bush or Gore in 2000?
JG: Neither, I voted for Ralph Nader. I disagree with him on many issues, but he is an honest man, and I`d rather vote for and honest man that I disagree with than....
CKN: Do you have any endorsements?
JG: None, other than Jesse Ventura. If you go to the firemen or teachers to ask for endorsement they ask what you can do for them. A quid pro quo.
CKN: With 600,000 people in the congressional district, half of them registered to vote, and fewer still voting....
JG: I have the numbers here. 639,000 people, 509,000 old enough to vote, 410,000 registered and only 200,000 vote.,..
CKN: That means 70,000 votes can win a three-way race.
JG: That`s it! I got 70,000 votes that last time I ran for Congress. With the new district lines I don`t have Alachua County where I did poorly, and have counties where I got 40% of the votes.
CKN: Final words?
JG: If people want special interests getting special favors vote Democratic, if they want bigger and better corporate welfare vote Republican, but if they want someone who is looking out for the people and the country, they had better vote Jack Gargan. |
