It would be an understatement to say that these are troubling times. We’re in the middle of a pandemic not seen since 1918 followed by an economic crash not experienced since the great depression of the 1930’s and on top of all that, political unrest that looks remarkably like 1968. We’re going to have to weather these storms. We have in the past and we will again.
But we need the right leadership. Republican leadership is failing us and it’s time we take a Democratic direction. Send me to Washington D.C. and I will fight to make Washington’s 3rd as strong as it can be.
About Davy:
Davy was born in Alabama and lived by the banks of the Elk River which flows into the mighty Tennessee River. A musician, he spent time touring the south in a band and finally got a degree in music business. He then worked in the industry in Nashville in music publishing and copyright. During this period he also became active in the Appalachian Trail community leading trail crews to build and maintain parts of the 2,200 mile trail that runs from Maine to Georgia This instilled a passion for environmental issues and taking steps to mitigate climate change. When the Internet came along and ultimately changed the music business paradigm forever he decided to head west. As a ‘retirement’ gift he hiked the Appalachian Trail and on January 1st, 2000 he became a citizen of the Pacific Northwest where he became an instructor and grad student at the University of Oregon. He also pursued an interest in aviation and aerospace technologies. During his time off in the summers he managed to find time to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. When he got to The Bridge of the Gods he decided to plant a flag. He currently resides in Skamania County.
Davy has a daughter and four awesome Grandkids.
Political Positions:
Jobs and the economy
Well the first thing we need to address after the pandemic is jobs. My primary objective will be to get the economy going again. It will require us to think differently about how we do that but I have some ideas. We will need to learn how to coordinate autonomously from home for some tasks.
Infrastructure
This one is easy. During the economic recovery there are plenty of employment opportunities for infrastructure improvements particularly when bridges in this state are literally falling into the river. I will work to secure federal funds for infrastructure improvements.
Health Care
One of the biggest concerns of our generation. I fully supported the Affordable Care Act even though it was a lukewarm compromise. I have opposed every Republican effort to dismantle it. If this economic depression has proven anything it’s that it has exposed the problem with tying one’s health care to employment if you’re one of the forty million people who lost their jobs during this pandemic.That’s why I will do everything in my power to make health care a right and not a privilege.
Education
Education is an investment for the community and I fully support free two year post high school education not only as an investment but as an incentive for all who qualify. Education should not be available for only those who can afford it but those who earn it. I was fortunate to get a Pell grant and student loans that burdened me for decades with debt. Our kids should get a better chance regardless of income or racial status. We need smart people to take us into the future.
Leave the Post Office alone
I was a part-time rural carrier for a few years and I know that the Postal Service is critical for rural residents. The USPS is older than this country and its survival is mandated in the first amendment. But Republicans have been trying to privatize it for years. In 2006 a Republican bill was passed that required the USPS to fund pensions 75 years into the future; basically funding pensions for people not yet born. This was likely designed to create a slush fund for when they managed to cause the demise of the Post Office. There are some things that do not lend themselves to privatization. This is one of them. I will work to stop this from happening.
Restoring Democracy
I will eagerly support any bill to dismiss the Electoral College. This was an arcane attempt to placate land owners in the seventeenth century and it has obviously stopped being useful. One person, one vote. Washington is already a vote by mail state and I will advocate for that for the rest of the nation. Please see the text on the Post Office above.
Small Businesses
During the economic recovery we will need to help our small and medium sized businesses to recover. I worked with the Small Business Administration back in grad school and will work with them again to get our economy roaring once again.
Environment and climate change
This is a global problem and while it may not look like much of an issue here, other than the forest fires, it will effect us eventually. From ocean conditions in Pacific County to the forests in Skamania county. We will also need to address climate refugees.
Affordable Housing and living wages
Other parts of our state have already implemented an increase to the minimum wage. I think we should follow that. In addition I think we should take measures for affordable housing. My mother helped build houses for Habitat for Humanity so I’ve seen it work up close.
Reproductive Healthcare Choices
Whenever I’m asked this question I tell people I’m pro-life. And then I tell them I’m also pro-choice. How is that possible? I introduce them to my oldest Granddaughter. But I also point out that any decisions a pregnant woman makes are none of my business It’s between her, her partner, and doctor.
Immigration
There are much better ways to deal with border security than a wall. And in my neck of the district there is a strong and vibrant Latino population. I will fight for their rights.
Space Force
Just…No. We have NASA and no enemies in space so let’s spend this money along with the wall money elsewhere.
Criminal Justice Reform
So I lump this topic under marijuana legislation as well. Since we are now a legal weed state we have a lot of non-violent offenders who are essentially no longer guilty who are in prison for marijuana offenses. We need to revisit that and clean out the jails. Also there are considerable benefits with marijuana from hemp products. This represents potential business revenues. I will support any legislation that takes marijuana off the schedule one drug list.
Gun Violence Prevention
Full disclosure; I own a couple. Washington has some fairly stringent gun regulations. The last time I purchased a gun I had to wait two weeks while the Sheriff ran a background check and the shop owner made certain I knew all of the regulations and consequences of gun ownership.
That being said, I had a close friend who was a victim of gun violence so I support reasonable gun regulations such as background checks, closing the gun show loophole, and banning products that turn guns into automatic weapons or high capacity weapons. If you need a high capacity magazine or an assault rifle to kill a deer you aren’t much of a hunter. There is a difference between hunting and owning a weapon of war.
Political Stance:
I wasn’t old enough to vote in the 1980 election when Ronald Reagan became president but that moment is when I felt the nation took a wrong turn. And I didn’t bother to vote when he ran for reelection. I was busy running around the nation in a rock band and wasn’t terribly concerned. But I did vote for Bill Clinton in 1992. Not because I supported him but because he had Al Gore as VP on the ticket and I was fully into environmental issues by then.
Obviously I was shocked in 2000 when the presidential election could’ve been determined with a coin flip by the bartender at Sloppy Joe’s in Key West, Florida. or in this case by Antonin Scalia in a 5-4 decision on the Supreme Court. It was obvious that the party of my Grandfather had been taken over by special interests fueled by a media propaganda machine designed to dupe the American public. This wasn’t my Grandfather’s party anymore.
In 2007 I jumped on the Obama train and spent several weeks campaigning for him in Nevada. When he won I thought ‘we’re back on track’. That all crashed in 2016. I had been a Bernie Sanders supporter (the bumper sticker is still on my truck) but I voted for Hillary Clinton. When she won the popular vote but lost the electoral college I knew democracy was in danger because for the second time in the past twenty years in our 240 year old country a minority candidate had won by default. Something was wrong.
So my politics are decidedly Democratic. Which means that everyone gets a voice and policies are made that benefit everyone not just the privileged few.
Contact:
Davy for Congress
PO Box 659
Stevenson, WA 98648
audacitymedia@gmail.com
541-400-9520