Office and district sought: Congress, District 7
Name: Rick O’Donnell
Party affiliation: Republican
Website: www.rickodonnell.com
E-mail: rodonnell@rickodonnell.com
Age: 36
Last degree earned: BA in History/Political Science from Colorado College
Occupation: Most recently serving as executive director of the Colorado Commission of Higher Education
Hobbies: Skiing and hiking as many 14ers as possible. Sports nutrition and exercise, especially spring running and strength training. Reading, especially history.
Family: Four siblings, nine nieces and nephews.
How long have you lived in Colorado? Life-long Jefferson County resident.
Last book read: Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Civic Involvement: Big Brother mentor; English as a second language teacher at a homeless shelter; co-founder and president of The Fund for Colorado’s Future; lead yearly literacy drive to provide needy children with books; board member for the Leadership Program of the Rockies.
Major endorsements: Citizens Against Government Waste; National Federation of Independent Business; US Chamber of Commerce; Trust in Small Business
Why are you running? Because we are desperate for new blood in Washington. Both Parties are guilty of petty, partisan politics. We need honest answers and real solutions. I m 36 years old, and will bring a new generation of leadership to Congress.
What are the top three challenges facing Colorado or the institution you seek to represent?
1. We need to clean up Congress by putting a check on special interest lobbyists and cracking down on public officials who use their office for public gain.
2. We need to enhance America s economic competitiveness to keep the economy strong and create high-paying, quality jobs right here in Colorado.
3. We need to prevent future tax increases and scrap the entire nine million word tax code and start over with one that is simple, fair and good for the middle class.
What steps, if any, do you think the federal government needs to take to address the problem of illegal immigration?
Secure the borders and stop illegal immigration. Create a new system of legal immigration that is fair and humane for immigrants. … Include a verifiable ID so we know who is coming into our country and why and doesn t allow them to overstay their visas or illegally take jobs from Americans.
Insist that all immigrants who come to America follow the path of previous generations of immigrants by learning English, believing in the U.S. Constitution, assimilating and becoming citizens.
Crack down on employers who knowingly hiring illegal workers.
Protect taxpayers and do not provide lawbreakers here illegally with taxpayer paid benefits.
Oppose amnesty for those in America illegally. Insist that they pay back taxes, fines and restitution.
Do you support the continued involvement of American troops in Iraq?
We need a new course of action to stabilize Iraq so our troops can come home. We need an Iraqi government capable of securing and governing itself. Anything short of this would leave a weak, failed state in the center of the most dangerous region of the world. We need to quickly train more Iraqi security forces to secure their own country and take over for American troops.
I am opposed to arbitrarily pulling out or establishing a false timetable, because the consequences of such a cut-and-run strategy before Iraq is stable would be exceedingly damaging to America and the world.
Terrorists everywhere would take heart and be emboldened to strike us again.
