Switching Parties, Same Focus
I have come to the conclusion that running for State Delegate in District 12B against Liz Bobo as a Republican would be an extreme uphill battle regardless of how favorable the election cycle might be for the Republican Party. For that reason as well as my personal belief that residents and businesses of Columbia are lacking representation in Annapolis I am switching my party affiliation to Democrat. As a public school teacher I see the importance of job creation and having a vibrant community surrounding the schools. From everything we have seen in the past few years, Liz Bobo opposes job creation, which negatively impacts school funding as well as leads to an increase in crime and unemployment.
Please help me send a message loud and clear that Howard County is tired of sending a legislator to Annapolis that does not represent the views of the community. You can help send this message by attending my April 15th fundraiser with special guest former County Executive and School Superintendent Dr. Chuck Ecker. Now is the time to take a step in the direction of creating the community we all know Columbia can be. Please help me bring a common sense reasonable approach to Annapolis. To RSVP to the April 15th event, please follow this link. It is time to send Liz Bobo a clear message that her time is over and it is time for real leadership in Annapolis.
I was considering voting for you until I recently heard this news. Such antics are contradictory to you message of a new kind of politics. One of the most important qualities I consider when deciding who receives my vote is honesty. It is disheartening that you are not able to stand behind the policies of the Republican Party which you were once a part of here in Howard County. It is dishonest to portray yourself as a Democrat when your beliefs are antithetical to the policies of the Democratic Party. I would have much more respect for a man who is up for a tough challenge. Instead of standing up for the principles you believe in, you have compromised your integrity and portrayed yourself as something you are not just for political gain. If you disagree with this assertion, I welcome your response. I think a response is necessary as many voters I have talked to in my community feel the same way.
Thank you for contacting me through my website and expressing your opinion about my party switch. I do have to disagree with you about the reason I made the switch. It was not for political gain, but rather a realization that I have more in common with the current Democratic Party then the existing Republican Party. I have always been a moderate believing individual, leaning to the more liberal side on social issues and the conservative side on economic issues. It is my belief that the current direction of the Republican Party is going too far to the right for my comfort. During the past few Presidential elections I have voted for both Republicans and Democrats for President. I look at the individual and vote based upon how I feel that person will lead. When I see a particular party drifting in a direction that makes me feel uneasy and I see the leaders of the party acquiescing to the new direction in order to try and gain new momentum I begin to start questioning the future and motives of that party. This is what I saw in the current Republican Party.
My core beliefs have not changed at all. I still believe that the government needs to watch how they spend their money and make tough choices in order to spend our tax dollars wisely. Increasing spending during a tough economy is not a good idea. Increasing taxes during a tough economy in order to try and bring in more revenue is not a good idea. We have seen in Maryland that this approach has not worked. The sales tax increase has not resulted in increased revenue, in fact there has been a decrease. If elected I will stand up against free spending regardless of the party I am a member of. I will also stand up for social issues that I feel are vital to the success of our community. As a public school teacher I think that a quality education for every child is a right and is something that they deserve. On my website I have a section detailing who I am and what I believe, http://www.votejohnbailey.com/about-2/who-is-john-and-why-should-i-vote-for-him/. These beliefs have been on the website since I first announced I was running for office and have not changed. So while my party title may have changed, who I am and what I believe has not changed.
I hope that I have answered your question and fully explained my rationale for the switch. If you still have concerns or questions, please ask. I would be glad to discuss this with you in more detail.