Drummond For Congress 2014

On February 26th I visited U.S. Representative Steve Southerland’s mobile office that his staff held at the Chipley City Hall. Mr. Southerland was not in attendance that day but his staff said that he would try to be in attendance in the next quarter. I had originally gone there to see if he would be there. I wanted to be able to face my opponent and let him know that I, William Cleave Drummond II would be running against him in the 2014 General Election. Since he was not in attendance I left my card instead.

While there I was asked about my political affiliation of which I answered Reform Party. His staff was not familiar with the party and asked how many states the party was in and if Florida had a Reform Party, of which I told them yes. I also told them that in the past General Election that we had fielded a presidential candidate and to be honest, it seemed like they didn’t even know that fact. They also did not understand that the Reform Party was and is a centrist party and were more concerned with who I would caucus with if elected. When asked if I would side with the Democrats or the Republicans I told them that it would depend on the issue at hand. I was told that this would not be enough for either party and again asked which I would side with. I informed them that Congress should not be worried about political lines and leave politics at the door. I told them that the members of Congress need to work together and actually said to stop acting like children fighting over a toy or dogs fighting over a bone.

As I started to explain my views they said that it was the Senate Democrats fault that jobs were not being created, saying that every jobs bill that was sent there was not even voted on by the Senate and therefore never able to reach the Presidents desk to even have a chance to be vetoed or passed. She explained that until the Senate actually picks up a bill that nothing will really get done in Washington as long as they are sided against House Republicans. While trying to explain to her that the House needs to start working together one of the visitors went on how the President was pure evil and that a Muslim should not be in office. While I applauded her passion she is wrong. Even the other person in attendance applauded her passion and then went on to say that the party needs passion like that. She said that the Reform Party just doesn’t have the passion that the Democratic Party now has. I said that all Americans need to have the passion to stand up for this country so that it can get back on its feet again.

Visiting Mr. Southerland’s ‘Mobile Office’ was interesting. I even voiced my opinion that using money to influence elections was wrong and was told that it is just the way that it is. I was asked how I would contact voters and let them know my position with out money. My response was simple, go to events, use social media and any other way that I could to get my message across that having to use money is not always the only want to do things. I spoke on how I felt that Mr. Southerland might not always have the district in mind when he would vote or represent and was told that he feels and his staff feels that he does in all things that he does. I personally do not see this or agree with this as I have a different view on the district, and his office acknowledge that as we both come from different backgrounds.

I would like to say that Mr. Sutherland’s staff was very professional and were willing to answer any and all questions that were asked of them. It will be interesting to see how things play out between now and election day in 2014.