Ron Mortensen for Senate - Looking Out For You

Good Day – I’m Ron Mortensen.

I have not asked anyone to introduce me because I believe in standing on my own merits.

And, the only endorsement that I seek is yours.

I live in Bountiful and I am a grandfather.

I have a long history of service to our nation.

I am a Vietnam-ERA veteran and a retired diplomat.

I continue to serve our nation by responding to international humanitarian crises in some of the most dangerous areas of the world including Darfur and Iraq.

I am a Ronald Reagan conservative, a life member of the NRA and a certified conceal carry instructor.

I believe that government is the servant of the people and that it must be limited.

I’m fed up with illegal immigrants stealing our children’s identities and I’m not willing to wait any longer for the federal government to do something about it.

My home belongs to me and government has no right to tax me out of it.

I don’t want the government controlling my health care or yours either.

I want an education system that is the best and most innovative in the world.

I have no tolerance for a political system that is controlled by professional lobbyists and their money.

I am running for the Senate in order to give a voice to the citizens of South Davis County.

During this year’s legislative session, I spent everyday on Capitol Hill as a full-time, unpaid, volunteer citizen lobbyist representing our interests.

When I learned that over 50,000 of our children have their identities being used primarily by illegal immigrants and that 1,626 companies are making salary payments to the social security numbers of our children, I took action.

I made illegal immigrant driven identity theft a key issue statewide and at the legislature.

I helped develop legislation, I wrote floor speeches, and I testified before committees.

We achieved some initial success but much work remains to be done.

If you choose me to be your Senator, I guarantee you that our children will be protected.

I was also privileged to lead a group of dedicated, citizen lobbyists who fought for fundamental property tax reform.

We proposed moving from our current unfair market value system to one based on the purchase price of your home or business property.

Our efforts met consistent opposition from professional lobbyists who place a stable source of revenue for government above your right to own your homes and businesses.

If I am elected to the Senate, I will always put home owners ahead of the government’s need for revenue.

We quickly recognized that we were operating on an uneven playing field.

The kings and queens of the legislature are the professional lobbyists who finance political campaigns and who provide free meals and other perks to the legislators.

Even before you select one us to be your candidate they are trying to influence our votes.

For example, several days ago, I received an e-mail from the Salt Lake Board of Realtors inviting me to come in for an interview.

I was told that if I passed the interview I would be eligible for financial contributions and other campaign assistance.

Now this is not uncommon. Many other special interest groups including the Davis Education Association do much the same thing.

But I declined the Realtor’s invitation because I don’t want to give even the perception of being beholden to any special interest group.

I thank you for being here today and for the time and effort you have devoted to this critically important task.

As you vote and rank the candidates, I respectfully ask you to put me at the top of your list.

And I would simply point out that if I am able to get 60% of your votes, we will deny the lobbyists the opportunity to fund a costly primary election and to sink their fangs into our candidates.

Now, if you choose me as your nominee, I promise you that I will represent ONLY you, the citizens, the taxpayers – not the special interests.

And you can be assured that like Ronald Reagan, I will be guided by principles, not by political expediency.

I’m Ron Mortensen, again I’m Ron Mortensen and I look forward to serving you. Thank you.

For more information on the issues Ron is fighting for please visit www.citizensfortaxfairness.org