Guest MINDSETTER™ Donald Gendron: Why I'm Running for State Rep.

Guest MINDSETTER™ Donald Gendron: Why I'm Running for State Rep.

I first joined the US Army in 1967 and after a long military career attempted to re-enlist again, after the attack on September 11th in 2001. After my retirement from the Armed Forces I felt it was my duty to help protect this country's freedom and our way of life. I have always been compelled to serve. As a native Rhode Islander, I have enjoyed all the wonderful things this state has to offer. Our state has always been a great place to live, work and bring up a family. Unfortunately in the last few years we have seen businesses leave, unemployment rise and cities and towns on the verge of bankruptcy. Rhode Island's economy is performing very poorly.

Now it's time for me to give back, and put my expertise in leadership and planning into action to help Rhode Island get back to financial prosperity. In my life I have been fortunate to meet amazing individuals; my fellow brothers in arms, General Westmoreland, and President Ronald Reagan. I was fortunate to meet with the "great communicator" President Ronald Reagan, in 1982 with a group of Vietnam Veterans, and in those precious moments speaking with President Reagan, I relearned that, "Open communications between people will never be wasted, and you can never go wrong with
the truth."

We are blessed with many great colleges here in Rhode Island; however our graduates leave for states that are more job and business friendly. We are ranked last for business and number two for unemployment. This has affected me personally. I have a family member that was forced to move to South Carolina because there was no work here. I have a friend that is living in Massachusetts because they are a tax-friendly to their military retirees. This is what our one party political system is doing to the citizens of our state. The democrat controlled General Assembly has weakened this state economically, concentrating on social issues which is really what is at the heart of the problem.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

My military career has taught me leadership, discipline, focus, and to meticulously plan; attributes that the RI General Assembly lacks. I am a homeowner, small business man, and a taxpayer. I am tired of seeing people lose their jobs, their homes, and even their businesses. The representation that we have elected has done nothing to help our state move forward economically. That should be the primary focus and it gets little to no attention.

I am a candidate for the RI General Assembly. I realize that we need to create a business friendly environment by lowering taxes and fees, and getting rid of laws that make it more difficult for businesses to succeed with complicated procedures and miles of red tape. We need to study the policies and procedures that work in states that are ranked at the top for their business friendliness.

I see this opportunity as a candidate for State Representative, to serve the citizens of my state, my city of Cranston, and to also serve my country again. I believe in "We the People" and I want to serve the voters as their representative, and make our state a better place to live and work. I feel I was born to do this job, and my motto will be "I WORK FOR YOU," when elected. I will never lose sight of who elected me and who I am working for.

Donald Gendron is a Republican candidate for State Rep. in District 18.