Today, I am announcing my candidacy for Congress. I'm Jill Derby, and I'm back, and I'm still fed up with Washington and want to give career politicians the boot.
While Dean has been in Washington, I've been traveling the state, Pahrump to Elko to Reno to the Carson Valley, talking with everyday Nevadans about the issues that they are concerned about and listening to their stories. What I've heard over and over is a frustration with politics as usual, special interest trumping the people's interest, and a deep desire for change.
I find myself once again ready to answer the call from Nevadans who deserve better. If we want to change Washington, we have to change the people we send to Washington.
As you all know, this is my second run for this seat. Now, as then, I'm running because I believe we need a fresh approach - working across party lines - putting people, not special interests, first. Sadly, Dean Heller has not provided that change. He has let us down.
I believed we needed someone who would bring true Nevada values to Congress - independence and straight talk - (back on the ranch we called someone like that a "straight shooter"). I ran because I believed we needed a problem solver who would always remain loyal to Nevada's western ways; someone who would stand strong against career politicians in Washington and put Nevada first.
You know, on Election Night in 2006, when I called Dean to congratulate him, he said that he would be independent and put Nevada first. And I said that I would hold his feet to the fire. Well, I have and he hasn't. Dean has not kept his word .
- Rather than be independent, he put the profits of drug companies ahead of making prescription drugs affordable for Nevada's seniors.
- Rather than push for new solutions to the quagmire in Iraq, he has been in lockstep with the Bush Administration.
- Rather than be independent and put Nevada first, he has put Big Oil first, giving corporate welfare to Oil companies making record profits, while Nevadans struggle with record prices at the pump.
- Rather than be independent and put Nevada's children first, he chose tax breaks for the wealthy and voted against check ups for kids.
- Rather than be independent, he has voted over 90% of the time towing the line of the Bush administration and his Party.
Dean has demonstrated that he's more of the same in Washington - not an independent voice that puts Nevada first. Sadly, Dean Heller has let Nevada down.
I'm a Democrat, and I know there are a lot of Northern Nevadans who aren't. But unlike Dean, I have always put Nevada first and I always will. Now I'm sure that over the course of this campaign, Dean will spend a lot of time highlighting the fact that I'm a Democrat, and hoping that's all you'll ever know about me. Like many in politics these days, he hopes voters will simply follow the party line and not question anything else, especially his record. But, I would like to ask a simple question, one more important than political parties or campaign tactics. The question is, ‘Are you satisfied?' After giving him two years to get it right in Congress, it's time to ask that question. Are you satisfied?
- Are you satisfied with a costly, ill-advised, unending war?
- Are you satisfied with a broken health care system and no attempt to fix it?
- Are you satisfied with rising costs - fuel costs, grocery costs- and falling home values?
- Are you satisfied with the way we treat our nation's veterans whether they be 19 or 90.
- Are you satisfied with a government that puts the interests of corporate lobbyists ahead of ordinary people.
Well I ‘m not satisfied, and it's time we had leadership in Washington that puts Nevadans first, ahead of special interests and party agenda. I will do that. Dean Heller has proven by his record that he has not.
My allegiance lies with those Nevadans _ Democrat, Republican, and Independent _ who know that we can do better. I don't believe anyone party has a monopoly on good ideas, and I know we can do better. (A Congress that talks about steroids, while our economy falters, a war rages on and the polar ice cap melts, deserves to be sent packing) It's time to move past the same old Washington politics that doesn't get it about the lives of people back home, one that leaves Nevada families behind.
I will say it again: If we want to change Washington, we have to change the people we send to Washington.
So I'm back, and I say Nevada deserves better. Nevada deserves an advocate in Washington
- Who will put kids health ahead of the special interests;
- Who will put Nevada's families ahead of big oil campaign contributors;
- Who will put Nevada's seniors ahead of drug companies;
- Who will balance our nation's check book instead of running up a national debt our grandchild will have to pay off.
- Nevada deserves an advocate, who will work for real change.
Working together we can solve the daunting challenges of the 21st century:
- A more secure world
- Health care for all citizens, all Nevadans
- A competitive economy with good jobs here at home
- Energy independence
- An educational renaissance for our public schools
- Global warming
Working together we can re-charge that "can do" attitude that has always been the spirit of the west and at the core of the American experience.
As many of you remember, I started life on the Flying Flapjack ranch out in Lovelock, where folks talk straight, look you in the eye and mean what they say. And I say we need more of that in Washington D.C.
It's time to send someone new to Congress who can really represent all Nevadans. Thank you.
