Congressional Incumbent vs Libertarian in CA 7th
By Jennifer Gentile /Staff Writer
TheReporter.com
The race for the 7th Congressional District seat this November is a face-off between a congressional veteran and an avowed Libertarian.
Camden McConnell, the Libertarian in the race and a structural engineer by trade, is running against Democratic incumbent George Miller, who has served in Congress since 1975.
Miller, after graduating from Diablo Community College and San Francisco State University, earned his law degree from the University of California, Davis. The father of two is originally from Richmond and now resides in Martinez with his wife, Cynthia.
McConnell, 64, was born in Fort Bliss, Texas. The 64-year-old McConnell graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point as a second lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers. He also holds a master of science degree from the University of California, Berkeley. After his military service, which included tours in Vietnam, McConnell began a 16-year career as a structural engineer.
The married father, who has lived in Pittsburg since 1983, belongs to the Structural Engineers' Association of Northern California and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
McConnell said his philosophy is in line with the nation's founding fathers.
"I agree with the founding fathers that each man is entitled to own himself, his property and all that he produces and may dispose of all as he determines to be in his best interest without interference from the collective entity known as government," McConnell tells potential constituents on is Web site, www.camdenfor congress.org
In an interview Monday, McConnell said Libertarians favor smaller government, both in size and expense, and are against laws that inhibit the economy and citizens from making their own choices. The biggest difference between him and his opponent, he said, is their perception of government.
"I think we need to end the uncontrolled growth of government," McConnell said.
When government is in the hands of professional politicians from either of the country's major parties, McConnell said, it has a tendency to become out of control.
"Our country is broken," having strayed very far from the vision of limited government, personal liberty and respect for property rights held by the framers of the Constitution," the candidate said. "I want to help set it right."
Depending on the voter, Miller's experience could help him or hurt him in the election. According to a biography posted on his Web site, www.house.gov/George Miller, some of the congressman's primary issues are education, labor and the economy. He continues to serve on the House Resources Committee and founded the House Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families. He is also the Senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee.
The congressman was also among the four authors of the No Child Left Behind Act.
Miller "did not endorse every aspect of this bipartisan bill," according to the biography, "but some of its most important features came directly from some of Miller's earlier legislative efforts, such as improving teacher quality, holding schools accountable for the education of all children, and the need to provide greater financial resources to schools to meet the new goals."
One issue the candidates do agree on is the war in Iraq. McConnell said, "It was wrong for us to go there," and Miller has called the war "a historic blunder with tragic consequences."
"There were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, and there was no connection between 9/11 and Saddam Hussein," Miller said during a speech on the House floor. "The administration used fear to scare this country into war based upon those lies. He (Bush) refused to properly prepare for the war or for its aftermath. And now, our soldiers, their families, and our Nation are paying the enormous price of this President's tragic blunder."
McConnell said that in the eyes of many Libertarians, Martin Van Buren was one of the finest presidents in the nation's history. He was under great pressure to go to war with Mexico and Britain during his tenure, but resisted.
In the case of Iraq, McConnell said he would favor withdrawal.
Jennifer Gentile can be reached at vacaville@thereporter.com.
TheReporter.com
The race for the 7th Congressional District seat this November is a face-off between a congressional veteran and an avowed Libertarian.
Camden McConnell, the Libertarian in the race and a structural engineer by trade, is running against Democratic incumbent George Miller, who has served in Congress since 1975.
Miller, after graduating from Diablo Community College and San Francisco State University, earned his law degree from the University of California, Davis. The father of two is originally from Richmond and now resides in Martinez with his wife, Cynthia.
McConnell, 64, was born in Fort Bliss, Texas. The 64-year-old McConnell graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point as a second lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers. He also holds a master of science degree from the University of California, Berkeley. After his military service, which included tours in Vietnam, McConnell began a 16-year career as a structural engineer.
The married father, who has lived in Pittsburg since 1983, belongs to the Structural Engineers' Association of Northern California and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
McConnell said his philosophy is in line with the nation's founding fathers.
"I agree with the founding fathers that each man is entitled to own himself, his property and all that he produces and may dispose of all as he determines to be in his best interest without interference from the collective entity known as government," McConnell tells potential constituents on is Web site, www.camdenfor congress.org
In an interview Monday, McConnell said Libertarians favor smaller government, both in size and expense, and are against laws that inhibit the economy and citizens from making their own choices. The biggest difference between him and his opponent, he said, is their perception of government.
"I think we need to end the uncontrolled growth of government," McConnell said.
When government is in the hands of professional politicians from either of the country's major parties, McConnell said, it has a tendency to become out of control.
"Our country is broken," having strayed very far from the vision of limited government, personal liberty and respect for property rights held by the framers of the Constitution," the candidate said. "I want to help set it right."
Depending on the voter, Miller's experience could help him or hurt him in the election. According to a biography posted on his Web site, www.house.gov/George Miller, some of the congressman's primary issues are education, labor and the economy. He continues to serve on the House Resources Committee and founded the House Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families. He is also the Senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee.
The congressman was also among the four authors of the No Child Left Behind Act.
Miller "did not endorse every aspect of this bipartisan bill," according to the biography, "but some of its most important features came directly from some of Miller's earlier legislative efforts, such as improving teacher quality, holding schools accountable for the education of all children, and the need to provide greater financial resources to schools to meet the new goals."
One issue the candidates do agree on is the war in Iraq. McConnell said, "It was wrong for us to go there," and Miller has called the war "a historic blunder with tragic consequences."
"There were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, and there was no connection between 9/11 and Saddam Hussein," Miller said during a speech on the House floor. "The administration used fear to scare this country into war based upon those lies. He (Bush) refused to properly prepare for the war or for its aftermath. And now, our soldiers, their families, and our Nation are paying the enormous price of this President's tragic blunder."
McConnell said that in the eyes of many Libertarians, Martin Van Buren was one of the finest presidents in the nation's history. He was under great pressure to go to war with Mexico and Britain during his tenure, but resisted.
In the case of Iraq, McConnell said he would favor withdrawal.
Jennifer Gentile can be reached at vacaville@thereporter.com.
posted by Mike Lorrey at 2:26 PM
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