Press Release: Gillespie wins more votes than Kingston in First District Primary elections

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (July 18, 2008) – First Congressional District Democratic candidate Bill Gillespie of Chatham County has won more votes in his primary election than incumbent Republican Jack Kingston.

With 97 percent of the precincts reporting, challenger Gillespie has received 32,734 votes in the Democratic Primary while incumbent Jack Kingston has only 32,430 votes in the Republican Primary. Click Here For Official Results.

The 32,734 votes Gillespie received in the 2008 Democratic Primary is 12,000 more votes than Democratic nominee Jim Nelson (20,722 votes) received in the last primary in 2006. (See page 6)

Gillespie, a retired Lt. Colonel who served with the Third Infantry Division and earned a Bronze Star in Iraq, launched his candidacy for Congress in October 2007. Since then, he has traveled throughout southeast Georgia talking with citizens and building a campaign organization.

“The results of the primary election show that Democratic support for my campaign is very strong and that the Democratic Party is alive and well in southeast Georgia,” said the 44-year-old Gillespie, who has launched a website, www.BillForGeorgia.com.

Gillespie also said he believes his background, message and vision for southeast Georgia will appeal to General Election voters too, no matter if they’re Democrat, Republican or independent.

“People are frustrated that Washington and its insiders are not meeting the important challenges of our time,” Gillespie said. “I understand how to lead southeast Georgia to prosperity in the global economy and to safety in an unstable world. I pledge to offer strong leadership that puts people first.”

Gillespie says his 23-year Army career, including time in Iraq as the Third Infantry Division’s Senior Logistician, prepared him well to be a Congressman who can defend America from terrorism and lead the United States toward winning the peace in Iraq.

His top domestic issue is creating the South Georgia Alternative Energy Initiative, making the region the center of American research and production of agri-fuel, solar, wind, methane and other alternative energies. “This initiative will bring high-paying jobs to southeast Georgia, which we desperately need,” Gillespie said.

Gillespie’s other top issues include: stopping illegal immigration, reforming the healthcare and insurance industries, improving benefits for veterans, lowering taxes for families and small businesses, repealing the No Child Left Behind Act, balancing the federal budget, and promoting ‘sustainable development.’

Vote tomorrow in the Democratic Primary!

I ask for your vote tomorrow in the Democratic Primary. I want to bring good jobs to our region, be a part of forming a smart foreign policy for America, and lead the effort to clean up Congress from the corruption of monied special interests. Even though I am running unopposed for the party's First District nomination, I want to win more votes than the incumbent Republican to show my base is strong. Polls are open in your community from 7am-7pm. Click here to locate your poll. Thank you for your support. Together, we can make our community a better place.

Editorial Response to the Savannah Morning News: Bush, McCain and Kingston out of touch with the military and its families

It is very unfortunate that my May 19th Press Conference comments about Senator John McCain are being taken out of context by the Savannah Morning News. The stories published by them on the press conference have been unfair to the purpose and intent of the twenty-minute speech. My speech was about the need to take care of Veterans, and the need to increase some of their key benefits, particularly their education benefits under the New GI Bill. In my speech, I outlined possible reasons why Senator McCain opposed the New GI Bill. Congressman Jack Kingston does not support this bill either. Despite no support from McCain or Kingston, the New GI Bill passed the House and Senate and is awaiting President Bush’s signature. However, Bush says he will veto the bill.

As a 23-year Army veteran who’s served in Iraq, Germany and many other countries; as the former ROTC Director for southeast Georgia; and as a former Professor of Military Science at GSU, AASU, SCAD and SSU, I have seen first hand the plight of returning enlisted soldiers. Many struggle financially to support their families, and those who want to seek higher-education often find it hard to do so. The financial struggles are especially hard now at Ft. Stewart, where soldiers and their families are dealing with multiple deployments. I currently teach ‘transition classes’ at Ft. Stewart, which help soldiers retiring or getting out of the military be successful in the civilian work force. This New GI Bill, which would give them free access to a college degree, is the answer to their needs; it is their just reward.

As the Global War on Terror enters its seventh year, we need to offer our ‘all volunteer military’ better benefits for their service. War is what awaits all of them as they enlist. I am disappointed that Bush, McCain and Kingston do not understand this. They are out-of-step with the needs of our soldiers and their families. Time after time they choose to protect big business and special interests over the needs of the common people who serve. Americans and South Georgia should rebel against this. It is time our government puts people first. I ask President Bush, Senator McCain and Congressman Kingston to make sure the New GI Bill becomes law. Post WWII, every tax dollar spent on GI’s came back seven fold in tax revenue. It helped usher in an age of great American growth and prosperity for many deserving heroes. Our present day war heroes have earned this same type of treatment.

Press Conference: Pass The New GI Bill Now!

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Jane Kidd and candidate for U.S. House of Representatives Bill Gillespie today called on Republican John McCain to stand up for veterans by supporting the 21st Century G.I. Bill of Rights, introduced in the U.S. Senate by Democrat Jim Webb (D-Va.) The 21st Century GI Bill, if passed, would continue the legacy of the GI Bill by helping returning veterans obtain higher education in preparation for success in the private sector.

"Democrats believe in supporting our troops," Kidd said, "and that means sending them to war only when we have no other option, bringing them home when they've finished the job, and taking care of them and their families when they return. The 21st Century GI Bill helps the the newest generation of combat veterans obtain the education, prosperity and security that is such an important part of the American dream."

Gillespie said, "I'm running for Congress as a Democrat because I know our party has the commitment to take care of our veterans. "It's time for John McCain and Jack Kingston to stop playing politics with the future and well being of our veterans and their families. I know from experience that the GI Bill is one of the greatest achievements of our government, helping hundreds of thousands of veterans build a life after their military service. Now it's time to reinforce our commitment to the veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan."

McCain is visiting Savannah today, in hopes of raising almost half a million dollars for his presidential campaign. Democrats are calling on the Senator from Arizona to take advantage of his visit to take on a greater cause - standing up for veterans' benefits. The state of Georgia is home to a dozen active military bases, and has a large and thriving community of active-duty soldiers, reservists, National Guard personnel, and veterans. More than 50,000 veterans and active-duty personnel live in the 1st congressional district."Today, we're calling on Senator McCain to do right by our servicemen and women and take advantage of his appearance in Georgia to tell America that he supports the 21st Century GI Bill of Rights, and that he will be its biggest champion on the Senate floor," Kidd said. [See below for video highlights of this Press Conference].

GOP Leaders Warn of Election Disaster

Excerpt from the Politico: "Shellshocked House Republicans got warnings from leaders past and present Tuesday: Your party’s message isn’t good enough to prevent disaster in November, and neither is the NRCC’s money. The double shot of bad news had one veteran Republican House member worrying aloud that the party’s electoral woes — brought into sharp focus by Woody Jenkins’ loss to Don Cazayoux in Louisiana on Saturday — have the House Republican Conference splitting apart in everybody for himself mode." (Click here to read the news story in the Politico).

ALERT: Victory in the Democratic Primary!

Qualifying Week (April 28-May 2) has ended and no one has filed papers to challenge me in the First Congressional District Democratic Primary election. That means one election victory down, one more to go! Everyone is invited to my Victory Party on Sunday, May 4 from 2-4pm at Tybee Island's Memorial Park. You can click here to get more info and to RSVP online for the event. Come on out for some good food and fellowship and to celebrate our victory! This could not have been achieved without the outpouring of kindness and encouragement from so many. [UPDATE: see pictures from the event by clicking here.]

Recent Letters To Editor smash Kingston

There is a movement going on in South Georgia. People are tired of a Congressman who puts the wishes of his political party and special interest friends before the needs of the people. They also want a change to honest, transparent and competent government. There has been a flury of recent Letters To The Editor criticizing Jack. Here are some examples: Savannah Morning News and Camden Tribune & Georgian.

Featured Event: McIntosh Co. House Party

Thank you to hosts Peter Krull, Ron King, Clay Davis and Ann Mason for a wonderful party tonight. I also must thank Jessica Smith for her hard work organizing the event. Click here to see pictures. The party was a 'green' event, too, featuring items such as organic food, corn-based cups and plates, recycling and more. The event took place in a newly-built energy-efficient house, which uses up to 60 percent less energy than a normal house.

Four Vets Qualify for GA Congress as Democrats

Today four military veterans qualified to run for Congress in Georgia as Democrats. They are: Bobby Saxon (District 10), Doug Heckman (District 7), Bill Jones (District 6) and of course me (District 1). I took part in a joint press conference with these fine gentleman at the State Capitol. Each of us spoke for a few minutes, as well as Democratic Party of Georgia Chairwoman Jane Kidd. Here are pictures from the event. The four of us have served America well on foreign battlefields, from Iraq to Korea to Germany to points in between. Now we want to serve Georgia and America in the House of Representatives. We are fed up with the current Congressmen in our districts. There is a long list of failures. Urgent action needs to be taken to bring jobs to Georgia. Despite our many lakes, rivers and miles of coastline, our state faces a water crisis. Education scores in Georgia are near the bottom of the nation. Veterans in many parts of the state are being subjected to poor healthcare. Georgia's natural resources, parks and farm land are under attack from money-hungry developers. I could go on and on. Congressional representation in this state is embarrassing. Our opponents, each longtime Republican Congressmen, have spent their careers putting the wishes of their party and special interest friends before the needs of the people. It's time for a change in Georgia, and us vets are ready to lead the effort! [UPDATE: More than 100 media outlets have reported on this story. Here is a sampling: story 1, story 2, story 3, story 4]