U.S. House of RepresentativesCandidate for District 50

During these days, when so many countries around the world view our American Republic in a bad or false light, it is refreshing to see a nation and its people extend a hand of peace and goodwill. That country is Curdistan, also known as Kurdistan. Between the nations of Armenia, Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Iran, there are some 30 million Kurds, living in diaspora. A recent look at American involvement in the Iraqi theater in the last 25 years has shown that the Kurds, in general, have been supportive and friendly to the United States. Since even the time of World War I, the Kurdish people have dreamed of their own, independent state and have had to battle oppressive regimes in order to keep that dream alive.

It is with great joy and hopefulness to declare that the reality of a free and independent Kurdistan is at our threshold. As Americans who love independence, freedom and the right to self-government without fear of oppression or tyranny, the creation and stability of a free and independent Kurdish state is something we must support, just by virtue of us being Americans, aside from the fact that we Americans also prize freedom and independence.

As it stands today, in the Middle East, there is no government or nation, besides Israel, that is placing itself in the heart of the fight against radical Islam. The brave Kurdish people have a standing army that is essentially doing our bidding against ISIS. If Kurdistan is strong and vibrant, then ISIS is weakened. On the other hand, if Kurdistan is weakened and destabilized, then ISIS is encouraged to proceed in taking more villages, towns and cities in north Iraq. The time has come for the United States to throw its full support behind Kurdistan, not only for purposes of its own self-determination, but for the promotion of democracy and representative government in the Arab world.

The level of commitment which the Kurdish people have shown in their longstanding fight against the ultra-radical ISIS in these last three years, is not only commendable, but also, a cause which demands our allegiance and support as a nation. Again, other than Israel, there is no other nation or state that has shown itself to be a serious contender to oppose the spread of ISIS and its ideology. This alone should cause us, as Americans, to throw our support behind her in every way.

I am here today to declare that, if elected as Congressman, I will be Kurdistan’s greatest supporter on Capitol Hill, not if, but when it finally becomes a nation. Let us look at the facts about Kurdistan and what it stands for in what is otherwise a geographically tough neighborhood:

Kurdistan is sovereign territory in north Iraq. Its business and economic development in the last decade is a welcome sign when compared with the infrastructural breakdowns in Iraq. It has stood by America as a staunch ally when needed. It has never turned its back on us. Now, when the times are most desperate, we cannot and should not turn our backs on Kurdistan, especially against an enemy who is intent on turning the clock back 1000 years, if given the chance.

In a region where so many women are fighting for such basic things as the right to drive a car or the right to attend school, or even the right to be free from physical abuse, the Kurdish governing authority has entrusted its own self- defense and survival to the mothers, daughters and sisters of Kurdistan.

Kurdistan’s Women Defense Units have done a remarkable job in standing up and fighting against ISIS. If there is one group of people who need to see our support and solidarity in the Middle East, it is the Kurdish people.

Even through its female population, Kurdistan has demonstrated its serious intent to become a beacon of democracy to its people groups, irrespective of their gender, religion or ethnicity. And by its example, I am hoping and trusting that other totalitarian regimes in the region would follow suit. There must be a strong and pronounced American declaration in support a free and independent Kurdistan, which will serve as a beacon of liberty, justice and equality.

The men, women and children of Kurdistan need you and I to act now. We can all become a part of history by demanding that our candidates for Congress, and incumbents in Congress, begin to work together to draft formal legislation which recognizes Kurdistan as a free and sovereign nation-state in 2016. There’s a lot of work ahead for a new Kurdistan, I am sure, but the starting point is to build on a foundation based on democracy and reverence for human rights and social development. Kurdistan and its people are serving by example.

As your Congressman, I will continue to be an active and committed proponent of an American foreign policy that encourages and supports a lively democracy in Kurdistan. It is with exciting hope that I will welcome the newly-built nation of Kurdistan.

Just recently in March 2016, it was reported that there are at least 100 Westerners who have joined the Kurdish fight against the Islamic State. They come from all walks of life and from every corner of the world. Too often, on the news, we hear the discouraging stories about confused or misled youth who are somehow deceived into joining ISIS or throwing their support behind this evil group of people. We rarely ever hear about these brave women and men who have locked arms in solidarity with the Kurdish people and their army to fight ISIS in the hills, mountains and deserts of Iraq and Syria. These men, some of whom are ordinary citizens and others who are in fact, former soldiers, see the practical need in lending support to the Kurdish cause and Kurdistan’s own fight for survival.

Because we all know that a victorious Kurdistan is also a victory for the United States in our own fight against terrorism – at the very least – it will lessen the need for Americans to send their own sons and daughters back to the battle fields of Iraq and Syria. And that’s a good thing that I am sure we can all get behind. Sign the petition today!

As your next Congressman one of my greatest concerns is for our families. As a parent, an educator, and a youth pastor I see that our public health policies are inadequate and dangerously underfunded. To successfully combat contagious diseases on the state, national and international level, my plan will be proactive not reactive with a robust and adaptive public health policy.

Between 2008 and 2014 the National Association of County and City Health Officials have reported approximately 52K staff positions have been eliminated due to defunding. During this time our University of California system had some of the largest budgetary cutbacks in the nation, losing over 1.5 billion dollars, and during the same time our nation was confronted simultaneously with Ebola, West Nile and H3N2 flu virus. Our diverse climate, agricultural importance, both national and international, year-round booming tourism industry, global commercial cargo shipping hub, and being a major gateway to Latin America and Asia, it would take very little for a rapidly spreading disease to breakout into a pandemic. A breakout of an infectious disease can escalate from epidemic to pandemic within a matter of weeks to months.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported the Zika virus in over 61 countries and with the Zika virus' potential to become pandemic, I encourage all candidates running for all elected offices in the state of California to make combating the Zika virus a priority. 

Using Brazil as a tragic example, the Zika virus has already had an impact on Brazilian society and their economy. I believe that the Zika virus can not only be substantially controlled but perhaps eradicated, if a concerted effort is made by all of us running for elected office.

The impact of an outbreak of the Zika virus in California would have far-reaching consequences for both our economy and society. As your next congressman, I will fight for our California University system to be adequately funded and to provide medical research grants specifically to combat the Zika virus. Our University of California system in our state is globally recognized for research and development, particularly in medical research for contagious disease. It is my goal as an educator, a parent, a youth pastor, mothers and their children, are a top priority for me as your next Congressman to make sure that education returns as a priority in California.

Forward thinking public health policy for the prevention and control of contagious diseases is one important component of my Earthquake Preparedness Plan for California. It is a matter of “when” and not “if”, and that is why as your next congressman I will outline in the coming weeks my Earthquake Preparedness Plan. There are many important components to the short term and long term Earthquake Preparedness Plan, such as public safety, emergency rail infrastructure rebuilding, statewide economic recovery, preservation of law and order just to name a few. In the coming weeks additional information will be forthcoming. I invite and encourage my fellow candidates running for public office in California to join me to publically prepare, compare and share with the public their Earthquake Preparedness Plan. Let’s get the job done together!  

I propose a controlled, safe, Christian pathway to citizenship for the millions of undocumented people living in America. Like it or not, they are here. Here are my proposals:

* Amnesty for undocumented unaccompanied minors until the minor attains 18 years of age.

* A five-year Amnesty for undocumented adults and minors

* The individual must abide by all local, state, and federal laws.

* Undocumented parents with children who are born in the United States will have an expedited one-year amnesty to be followed by citizenship.  

* Undocumented individuals with violent-felony records will not be eligible. 

As your Congressman, I will support increased funding for federal criminal investigators to target internal corruption at the United States Customs and Border Patrol. I support the goals and objectives of the Homeland Security Advisory Council, an independent group that echoes my stance.

I do not support building an isolationist-type wall that will embolden adversarial nations like China and Russia to displace our Latin America foreign policy outreach so that it could be substituted with theirs.  This could exponentially compromise our national security for decades to come. Furthermore, building a wall will not work as intended to significantly deter illegal entry. As a matter of fact, tunnels as deep as 90 feet have been discovered on the border.

I propose along the international US-Mexico border a modified dual layered fence with accompanying surveillance equipment like cameras, motion tunnel sensors. I support building a secure, environmentally friendly, dual purpose fence, complimented with my plan to work with Mexico to secure the northern Mexican states as a secondary buffer zone. A successful, long-lasting and realistic border security plan will  require a reinvigorated binational cooperation initiative by the United States and Mexico.

Binational cooperation of the northern Mexican border states of Baja California North, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas are key to a successful border security. The total length of the continental border is approximately 1,989 miles. Our US-Mexico international border runs from Tijuana, Baja California, and Imperial Beach, California, to Matamoros, Tamaulipas, and Brownsville, Texas. Our international border consists of diverse terrain types, including harsh, uninhabitable deserts, also frequented by major urban areas.

It is imperative to work with Mexico to secure the northern Mexican border states. The incentive must be socioeconomic. Since 2005 the Mexican economy has suffered from the drug cartel rivalry. The violence and chaos must be contained and eliminated. Therefore, I propose the following:

1.  Mexico, and in particular the mayors, local governmental entities and residents, must have an incentive to secure the northern Mexican border states of Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas.

2. Unify the two states of Baja California Norte and California Sur to simplify, expedite and make more efficient security, administration and commerce.

3. Rename the newly merged states as Baja California.

4. Encourage Mexico to build a train line from Monterrey to Tijuana to improve internal commerce and offer passenger rail. This would create jobs that would improve the socioeconomic environment for Mexico overall for years to come, especially for the northern Mexico border states. This 20-year rail project would be the popular incentive for the people of the northern Mexican states to genuinely secure their borders within Mexico, thereby offering the US a secondary buffer.

5.  The 20-year rail project would be accompanied and preceded by a 5-year project to laydown fiber along the proposed train line corridor for improved Internet connectivity.  The fiber would commence in Tijuana then eastward. The main goal here is modernizing the schools in Mexico.

6.  Tijuana must be secured and become safe again to expand trade and tourism. It is the one of the major epicenters of illegal entry into the US. A five-year passenger train construction project accompanied by LTA  (Lighter Than Air, airship, blimp, etc.) transport from Tijuana to La Paz should be explored, discussed and considered to further consolidate safety and ensure lasting security on the Baja California peninsula that would stimulate economic growth. 

7.  LTA from San Diego to Tijuana and La Paz should be offered to expand tourism and cross boarder cooperation, with accompanying FAA, TSA and CBP law enforcement, immigration and trade protocols in place.  This would help in reducing traffic for our San Diego and Tijuana highways, which is an international metropolitan conurbation corridor. It is the largest shared bi-national conurbation for the United States and Mexico.

8. The Chinese Consulate in Tijuana is 5 miles from the US border. The Fleet 152 of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, consisting of the missile destroyer Jinan and the guided missile frigate Yiyang was in Mexico last November, 2015.  In other words, Chinese People’s Liberation Army considers Latin America, in particular Mexico and Venezeula, has a force multiplier for their long-term foreign policy and naval force projection.  This cannot continue for the sake of our Armed Forces in San Diego and for our overall national security posture in Latin America.

9. Implementing a secondary buffer zone within Mexico is essential for successfully deterring uncontrolled entry into the US. Uncontrolled entry into the US from the border can be effectively controlled, humanely with dignity and respect that reflects the best Christian values of America and Mexico. For this to happen, to reiterate, a more comprehensive cooperation between Mexico and the United States must happen.

In conclusion, a renewed partnership between Mexico and America must be inspired by mutually- assured security pacts, bi-national prosperity agreements, and international moral commitment. As your next Congressman, I am the most qualified to make this happen, sooner than later. A successful immigration policy, paired with genuine border security and a robust binational cooperation, will require a thorough understanding of the geopolitical challenges and socioeconomic realities that are now part of Latin America as a whole.

From Mexico, to Central and South America, regions that comprise of over 300 million people, a wonderful collage of new possibilities awaits us. We must make the right decisions so we can lead the way for future generations. Our border with Mexico is important for both economies. An immigration policy paired with a binational secure border of northern Mexican states is essential for both to succeed. Building a wall, literally or symbolically, would result in unintended consequence of unnecessarily stifling security, commerce and prosperity for both Mexico and the United States.
 

From the very begining, I have openly invited my fellow candidates running for public office to publically debate my immigration and border security plan!  

This June, I will be the only Independent self-funded candidate campaigning to become Congressman for California’s 50th Congressional District. Presently, there are four candidates running in this district, aside from myself, who are: David Secor (Democrat); Scott C. Meisterlin (Republican); Jeffrey P. Malloy (Democrat); and incumbent, Duncan D. Hunter (Republican). Let the debates begin as soon as possible. Justice delayed is justice denied. Democracy delayed is democracy denied.

Thank you for your time and consideration.