Many things in politics remain the same, but we are working to break out of the status quo.
One of my fellow candidates’ main point has been that she entered the race first and has recently posted:
Mr. Backer is running because he “couldn’t pass up the opportunity when Mr. Carroll retired.”
She also said something similar on a recent radio interview.
And she also posted:
“I am finding my supporters are people who want a leader that can think for herself, has original ideas and works hard for the solutions to our county problems (for over a year now).”
Let me take each of her two talking points above and address them:
Since February of 2010, I’ve been working with law enforcement across America to help them to better find investigative leads to solve crimes, and over the past 3 years I’ve been traveling the country helping commercial customers, local, state and federal government agencies to find fraud, waste, and abuse. As reported in the Green Valley News editorial about me, Mr. Shearer recalled that I have been talking about running for office to serve my community for 3 years; however, between my serving as a Cub Master for Cub Scout Pack 328 in Green Valley and traveling 75% of the year, I did not have the opportunity to run for public service. In the editorial, Mr. Shearer also points out that he suggested I wait to jump into the race, because he had an idea that Mr. Christy was entering the race…and that I waited and jumped in anyway.
Around the same time as Mr. Carroll decided not to run for re-election, I came to see an opportunity to run due my work travel schedule slowing down. I still work and travel some, but not nearly as much as previous years.
Just to give you a sense of my resent travel:
- The week of March 6th I was in Washington DC
- The week of April 10th I was in San Francisco
- The week of April 17th I was in Las Vegas
- May 17th – 19th I was in Illinois
- May 31st – Jun 3rd I was in Austin
Despite traveling and holding a full time job to support my family, I walked neighborhoods and personally got the signatures I needed to be on the ballot, and learned a lot from the citizens in the process.
Despite not running for the Pima County Supervisor for District 4 for over a year, I was able to show how quickly I learn and how well I connect with fellow citizens by winning the Quail Creek Debate held on May 21st. If running for office for over a year doesn’t prepare you to win a debate of the issues against two fellow candidates, what good has it done you? You can watch the entire debate on my website http://BackBacker.org and arrive at your own conclusion – I don’t think either of the other candidate’s posted the links to the video of the debate.
In every debate, candidate forum and interview I’ve participated in I have had nothing more in front of me that an outline of opening and closing comments in an attempt to stay on time. EVERY answer I have ever provided for any question asked of me has been without the need for talking points or notes of any kind – believing instead that answering questions directly, honestly and from the heart is what citizens deserve to hear. If running for office for over a year hasn’t committed a knowledge of the issues to memory, what good has it done you?
Now for the second point – suggesting that I don’t have original ideas and can’t think for myself.
I started providing original ideas right from the start of my campaign:
- My mint boxes which state – “Does your county government leave a BAD taste in your mouth”
- While the other two campaigns were arguing about campaign signs – “Sign Wars” http://Video3.BackBacker.org
- My Economic Development Plan Framework – http://Video4.BackBacker.org
Endorsing Ally Miller’s road plan, instead of developing my own, shows that I am willing and able to collaborate with others – something citizens desperately want to see from our board of supervisors.
I believe our citizens are smart – they don’t want us to tell them why we shouldn’t vote for someone. Our citizens want to tell us why they should vote for a candidate, and I feel the voters will choose the candidate who is most like them, the candidate they feel they can trust, the candidate who is willing to listen to everyone willing to share, the candidate who has a work and business history in Pima County, and the candidate who has shown the ability to do the most with the least.
I feel that I have been preparing for this campaign since I first arrived in Pima county July 4, 1984, and I will not let you down. I’ve been working hard, and will continue to work hard to break us out of the status quo – the citizens of Pima County deserve something better.
John Backer