My name is Chandler Tedholm, and I am putting myself forward as a candidate for the U.S. Congress for the 11th District of New Jersey. Believe me, there are things I would rather be doing with my life right now, but I feel our beloved country is in such a dire condition that I have no choice but to raise a voice in opposition to what has been done to us in the past few decades.
My family and I have lived in Rockaway, NJ, in the 11th District since 1985.
I am running because I think the problems we are facing are more drastic than any in our lifetimes, and the existing political structure has become almost entirely incapable of dealing with them. Maybe I won't win, but I hope I can give the incumbent a run for his money. Rodney "Bush" Frelinghuysen (the Republican incumbent), and his party have held the 11th District seat since it was last gerrymandered 24 years ago. His Democratic opponent (Tweedledum, whomever the Democrats trot out to oppose him), has lost by more than 2:1 every election until 2006 (when they managed a landslide loss of only 1.7 to 1). Those of us who feel the current political system has failed them deserve a voice, and I in all humility offer myself to provide that voice.
I feel strongly about a number of issues, and I have described my positions on the next two pages. However, there is really one major issue in this campaign. Rodney "Bush" Frelinghuysen, the Republican incumbent, voted with the Bush Republicans 93.2% of the time during the first six years of the Bush Administration. If you like Bush, vote for Rodney. If you are angry and sickened at the malfeasence and misgovernment practised by Bush, then you owe it to yourself to vote against Rodney.
The country I grew up in was one where ordinary people could find fulfilling jobs that bought them prosperity. Their children were expected to get a better education and get better jobs. They expected to drive off in their Winnebagos with a good pension and adequate health care benefits.
The United States has increasingly become a predatory jungle victimizing the average person. The economy for ordinary workers has been eviscerated. The health care system, the higher education system, the financial system, "white collar" criminals, and the government itself compete to vacuum every last penny out of our pockets. This must be stopped.
Every lesson I have learned from history, every item I see on the news, leads me to believe we are facing a confluence of crises unprecedented in our lifetimes. I hope I am wrong. The politics of the last 50 years has paralyzed our ability to deal with major issues. Desperate times call for desperate measures, so I am proposing real-world solutions for real-world problems.
You do not have to agree with all my positions to agree that the country is facing a future more uncertain than at any other time in our lives. If you want to send a message that the politics of extremism cannot solve the problems we face, then I ask you, I urge you, to vote for me in November.
For links to surveys I have filled out on my positions, and for letters I have sent to various organizations, please see the 'Why Vote for Me?' page.
If you live in the area above, you live in the 11th District.
Bernards,
Bloomingdale,
Boonton,
Boonton Twp,
Bridgewater (west),
Butler,
Byram
,Caldwell,
Chatham,
Chatham Twp,
Chester Twp,
Denville,
Dover,
East Hanover,
Essex Falls,
Fairfield,
Florham Park,
Hanover,
Harding,
Hopatcong,
Jefferson,
Kinnelon,
Lincoln Park,
Livingston,
Long Hill,
Madison,
Mendham,
Mendham Twp,
Millburn,
Mine Hill,
Montville,
Morris Plains,
Morris Twp,
Morristown,
Mount Arlington,
Mount Olive,
Mountain Lakes,
Netcong,
North Caldwell,
Parsippany-Troy Hills,
Pequannock,
Raritan
,Riverdale,
Rockaway Boro,
Rockaway Twp,
Roseland,
Roxbury
, Somerville,
Sparta
,Stanhope,
Victory Gardens,
Washington,
West Caldwell,
Wharton
Another listing:
MORRIS COUNTY: All ESSEX COUNTY: Caldwell, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Livingston (part), Millburn (part), North Caldwell, Roseland, West Caldwell PASSAIC COUNTY: Bloomingdale (part) SOMERSET COUNTY: Bernards Township, Bridgewater (part), Raritan, Somerville SUSSEX COUNTY: Byram, Hopatcong, Sparta (part), Stanhope
