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Highlands Today Throws Support Behind Rooney

July 30th, 2008 at 02:12pm Boru

Tom Rooney Is Best Choice For Republicans In Congressional Primary
The Tampa Tribune
Published: July 30, 2008

Here’s what Highland County’s Highlands Today had to say in their endorsement of Tom Rooney:

“Republicans living in Florida’s 16th District have an extremely difficult decision to make when they cast a vote for U.S. House of Representatives in the upcoming primary election. In fact, it might be the most difficult choice they’ve made in years.

Two of the three candidates running for this office are so strong on the issues, so impressive in a number of ways, that it was with great difficulty that the Highlands Today Editorial Board made a choice for endorsement. At the end of the day, though, we believe Tom Rooney is the best candidate to represent Republicans in the primary election.

Rooney faces fellow Republicans Hal Valeche and State Rep. Gayle Harrell for an opportunity to run against incumbent Democrat Rep. Tim Mahoney in the general election.

All three candidates have impeccable conservative credentials, and Valeche was outstanding on the issues as well. His intelligence and maverick style is appealing to voters who want change in Washington. The former fighter pilot and investment banker was consistent on his beliefs, and we liked that he broke from the party line on a few specific issues. It’s always impressive when any candidate thinks for his or herself and not calls party central to be told how to think on important issues.

Rooney has that maverick style too, and he brings to the table recent military experience and a deep knowledge of military operational operations and code and what’s needed to fight the wars we now face. This knowledge is important, and the former criminal prosecutor for the Florida Attorney General and instructor of law at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point demonstrate his level of competence.

But military service is not, in and of itself, a prerequisite of being a good leader. Being an effective member of Congress requires someone who thinks clearly, knows how to sell his ideas but also knows when to stand strong on issues. Rooney has all of these attributes, and if elected, has no plans to be a professional politician.

Here are a few of his positions:

•Predatory lenders should be prosecuted for the damage they bring onto people wanting to buy a house.

•Transparency must be a part of the lending industry so that consumers know exactly what loan they are getting, at what cost, and lenders should show the success rate of the loans they offer.

•The United States must secure its borders and determine the number of needed “guest workers” required by the agricultural industry, but amnesty would not be offered.

•He would ramp up oil production for short-term needs, with the knowledge that it is not sustainable and other forms of energy must be found to handle America’s energy needs.

•Believes that the United States should never use torture to obtain information from enemy combatants.

Rooney and Valeche both are outstanding candidates for Congress. We have no doubt that either would serve Republican voters well. But Rooney gets the edge due to his personality and ability to sell his ideas to fellow members of Congress if given the chance.”

Editor’s note: The Highlands Today Editorial Board is made up of five employees of Highlands Today and two community members. All candidates were interviewed and the board voted on their choice for an endorsement.

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Highlands Today Throws Support Behind Rooney

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