Express-Times – “Mr. Towne Should Go to Washington”

I am very honored and humbled to have received the endorsement of the Express-Times, a major local newspaper in the 15th congressional district, this morning.  Under a headline, “Mr. Towne Should Go to Washington” the Express chose to endorse my candidacy rather than Republocrats Mr. Dent and Mr. Callahan after my clear victory at the Debate at the State (footage here, photo courtesy Sue Beyer of the Express-Times).

I have also been very humbled to see strong support from the entire community, and I believe the race in the voting booth on November 2nd is going to be very close indeed and the skewed polling by the Morning Call will be proven to be highly inaccurate.  (The campaign has polled at 8%, 5%, and 3% so we are heading in the right direction. Unlike a two-way race, likely only 35-37% is necessary to win, and all of the skewed polling took place BEFORE the WFMZ debate and Express-Times debates.  Unlike the Express-Times, the Morning Call banned me from their debate.)

Volunteers are still needed to help out at the polls.  Polling materials can be picked up tonight at the American Sandwich Company in Coopersburg from 5-8 pm, or at the Rally to Restore Sanity at Easton’s Porter’s Pub on Saturday afternoon, campaign event details here.  An issues-oriented flyer is available to download or share from here.

From the Express-Times:

“Jake Towne started his congressional campaign more than a year ago on a shoestring budget and an idea — that a straightforward, third-party message could resonate in the Lehigh Valley, especially if the Republican and Democrat got into a divisive fight over which major-party candidate should represent the politically diverse 15th District.

We’re disappointed to see Towne’s independent candidacy hasn’t gained a lot of traction. He’s still in single digits in the polls.

Yet Towne is the best choice in this race, and we enthusiastically endorse his candidacy. He pledges to set a high ethical standard. He disdains the garbage passing as dialogue on the airwaves.

And he’s for real.

Republican incumbent Charlie Dent has done a credible job, but we need a break from mainstream Republican politics that caused the nation to rebel and elect Barack Obama in 2008. Democrat John Callahan has put together a defensible record as mayor of Bethlehem, but his approach in this race is less than inspiring.

We believe both men are capable of representing the Lehigh Valley, but we also feel we’re being played for suckers in this million-dollar investment in attack ads — you know, the ones that call someone a “disaster” or tax-raise worshipper or a George Bush clone.

We’re tired of the same old crap.

Finally, when The Express-Times’ editorial board had a chance to prod and observe the candidates at Monday’s Debate at the State Theatre — and after examining their records — we concluded, simply, that Towne is more than just a viable alternative. His platform is somewhat libertarian, ardently constitutional, fiscally conservative, socially live-and-let-live, and radically pointed in areas in which we wanted to hear real answers — such as the need to end nation-building efforts in Afghanistan. He is a member of the local Tea Party group, but is not a Tea Party candidate.

Like most candidates, he puts job creation and deficit-cutting at the top of his list. Unlike other members of Congress, he would be free to pursue and vote on those issues without having to check his campaign-supporter list. His assessment of the “two-headed, one-party system” we operate under rings true.

On some issues, he’s closer to Republicans, such as extending the Bush tax cuts, opposing the health care bill, opposing restrictions on gun ownership, redirecting the military to defend our borders. On others, he’s closer to Democrats, such as supporting a woman’s right to have an abortion, allowing gay marriage, eliminating income taxes for households making under $41,000, and eliminating the “Halliburton Loophole” so states such as Pennsylvania can regulate natural gas drilling via the Safe Water Drinking Act.

On other issues — phasing out the “War on Drugs,” questioning the loss of civil liberties under the Patriot Act, pledging to serve two terms, refusing to enlist in federal health care and pension plans — he’s distancing himself from the status quo and setting an example of independence that many people would like to see in their elected representatives.

As a third-party candidate with libertarian leanings, coming out of nowhere, accepting no big political-action-committee contributions, Towne faces a public as wary of newcomers as it is weary of the major party candidates. And that’s a fair suspicion. Towne, who grew up and lives in the Nazareth area, has worked as a chemical engineer in this country and China, and is involved in his community. He’s articulate and, when given the chance, has injected energy and dimension into the 15th District debate.

Callahan and Dent aren’t spending much time or money worrying about Towne. Based on his well-run campaign and his embodiment of qualities people say they want in a congressman, maybe they should be.

We think voters should send a strong message about change — including independence from special interests and typical Washington gamesmanship — by electing a candidate with a steely populist streak.

We think Jake Towne can do the job.”

Upcoming events are listed below, and anyone wishing to make a donation to cover more TV advertisements can make it below.

• Northampton Community College Forum, October 28, 11 AM till perhaps 12:30 or 1 PM.  Open to public, Q&A. Location Changed!! Location is in the Student Life Zone on the 2nd floor of the College Center.  3835 Green Pond Rd Bethlehem, PA 18020.  Campus Map.
• Live interview on WDIY, 6-7 PM on Thursday, October 28.  Listen locally at 88.1 FM or here online.
• Rally and Poll Materials Pickup, 5PM-8:30 PM on Thursday, October 28 at American Sandwich Company at 7001 Route 309, Fairmont Village Shopping Center, Coopersburg, PA 18036.  MAP.  A volunteer will be there to hand out materials from 5 PM on, Jake will arrive around 7:30 to talk for a bit.

• Rally to Restore Sanity, 12 PM- 4 PM on Saturday, October 30 at Porter’s Pub, 700 Northampton St., Easton, PA 18036.  MAP.  The Comedy Central march in DC will be televised from 12-3 pm and Jake will be taking questions from 3-4 pm.  This is not a campaign sponsored event.
• Slatington-Walnutport Halloween Parade: 5:30 p.m. Oct. 30. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.
• Replay of “Debate at the State”, 8 PM on Saturday, October 30 on WFMZ Channel 69.

• Easton-Phillipsburg Halloween Parade: 12:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.
• Allentown Halloween Parade: 1 p.m. Oct. 31. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.
• Bethlehem Halloween Parade: 1 p.m. Oct. 31. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.

• NOVEMBER 2nd ELECTION DAY!! Volunteers are needed to hand out literature outside of local polling stations, please volunteer here and share your name, phone #, city, and if you live in the district, your current polling location.
  • Post-Election Victory Party for all volunteers and supporters at 8 PM on Election Day at Pies On Pizzeria at Front and Pine Streets, Catasauqua!!!!

Jake Towne Issues Flyer Oct 2010