Most candidates “run” for office.
Republican 4th District Congressional candidate John Anderson is “walking” for office – walking across the entire 16-county district that is.
Anderson, a school math and Spanish teacher by trade, passed through Warren County last week, his progress slowed as he took shelter from the rain in front of Nurse One on Old Shelbyville Road while tending to blisters he had already worked up during his journey.
“This is the first time I’ve run for anything,” Anderson admitted, noting he intends to walk 750 miles across the district. “This is a huge district. It’s 6,000 square miles. I’ll be on the road for nine weeks.”
The Bell Buckle resident said he decided to walk across the district to show one man can make a difference and also to hear what the people of the district are saying.
“I’m hearing a lot of despondency. A lot of people have given up hope,” Anderson revealed, noting he plans to be part of the cure, not part of the problem. “We are going to save America and see there’s greater prosperity and personal freedom.”
Anderson said it is time to move past “glib talking points” so many politicians use and to settle on a plan that will restore the country.
“The real congress is the American people,” he said in urging citizens to attend public meetings and voice their opinions.
Anderson says he has a four-point plan, the entirety of which can be seen on his website – www.johnanderson4congress.com.
The first part of the plan is for congressmen to serve one term and leave office. Anderson says he will just serve one term if elected. Also, he plans to work a 50-week year “like the rest of America does.” He also says there should be no secrecy in Congress and that all meetings should be open. His fourth idea is to make sure members of Congress have to read every word of every bill before they vote.
Anderson knows he has an uphill battle against incumbent Scott DesJarlais, who he likes, and state Sen. Jim Tracy, who he referred to as a “big-money candidate.”
Regardless, he said he will remain in the fight until the primary in August. That fight includes walking the entire district and listening to voters.