Lesli Messinger Announces Candidacy for Congress, Focusing on Jobs, Economic Development and Rebuilding America's Future

An Independent Voice for GA-01

SAVANNAH, Ga., Dec. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Lesli Messinger officially launched her campaign for U.S. Congress today, vowing to bring an independent voice to Washington that is not beholden to special interests. 

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131230/DC39001)

Messinger, a small business owner, investor, wife and mother announced her candidacy in highlighting her upbringing, record of job-creation, and national presences as an advocate for single mothers, drug addiction, and as a former guardian ad litem supporting the legal rights of children.

Messinger was the 2012 Democratic candidate for the GA 1^st District winning nearly 93,000 votes in the 2012 General Election.   Running for only 5 months, Messinger won more votes vs. her GOP opponent than anyone across the previous 10 Congressional Elections.  Spending only $165,000 on this campaign, Messinger's GOP opponent (Jack Kingston) spent nearly $1.4 million dollars to save his seat in Congress.  Kingston is now running for the U.S. Senate from GA.

"Right now the voices of everyday Georgia Citizens are being drowned out by the special interests and party politics causing gridlock in Washington. We need an independent voice that will stand up to Washington Lobbyists, Big Oil, Big Banks and fight for middle class families," said Messinger. Growing up on a central Ohio farm, Messinger has a special relationship with family farmers in Coastal Georgia and across the region. 

"I'm proud of my record of growing small businesses, and in Congress, I will fight for common sense solutions to grow our economy and create good jobs."

Creating Jobs:

Messinger knows how to create jobs.  For nearly a decade, as an Investor and Director of a Rockville, MD medical research firm, Messinger has been involved in the creation of numerous new high paying jobs with employees in 18 states including Georgia.  Messinger also operates a popular retail store specializing in vintage clothing and home goods based in downtown Savannah, GA.   Earlier in Messinger's career she managed high volume customer service and support centers for several major cable television companies across the United States.

Unlike most of her opponents, Messinger is experienced in job creation, understands how businesses are created and run, and has a deep appreciation for the interplay between Federal and State taxation.  Lesli fully understands the challenges facing American businesses resulting from changes (good and bad) from the ACA and has her own solutions to help mitigate the burden of affordable healthcare between the private and public sectors.

Protecting Women's Reproductive Rights  

Lesli has been a life-long member of Planned Parenthood and has stood as an advocate for women's health and reproductive freedom.   Messinger considers the issue of "Reproductive Choice" with great respect.  Her perspective stems from personal involvement counseling young woman.  Messinger's position is straight forward.  Do everything possible to (1) first prevent an unplanned pregnancy; (2) Help the birth mother find alternative means to bring the child to full term for adoption; and (3) Only after all other avenues have been explored, assist the mother find a means to legally terminate the pregnancy in a medially approved facility by trained physicians and nurses.   Lesli does not believe abortion should be used as "birth control" but also believes the States and U.S. Government should allow trained physicians to conduct such procedures when needed.   Messinger feels that all American females should have the right to affordable healthcare for both reproductive and preventative medical care, and will fight for continued funding so women in all 50 States have reasonable access to such facilities.  Lesli never believes that termination of pregnancy should be a simple decision, however feels the government must provide a safe and secure environment for women who require such services.

Ideology from Liberal to Centrist to Conservative:

Lesli will be the first to tell you she is neither a Liberal or Conservative.  Lesli believes that for America to be successful, its Representatives in Congress must be Pragmatists and get the job done.  Lesli doesn't believe in raising taxes, but also knows that for too long we've overlooked our nation's schools, failing infrastructure, manufacturing sector, and have taken our family farmers for granted.   Messinger also believe that the Labor and Trade Union movement helped build America, invented the "middle class," the 40 hour work week and the minimum wage.  Lesli believes that each State including Georgia has an obligation to foster an appropriate balance of unionized labor within its workforce.

In the short-term, Lesli believes that within the tax structures already in place, Congress (working with the States) must improve their ability to designate truly necessary spending, and focus our tax dollars on those programs and projects that (1) add value to our community; (2) add high paying jobs; and (3) are sustainable and will help Georgia as it becomes not only an agricultural powerhouse, but a center of manufacturing and high technology.

Messinger says "I love Coastal Georgia.  It's where I purposefully chose to live, and I'm building my family, my home, and my business.  Right now the voices of everyday Georgia residents are being drowned out by the special interests and party politics causing gridlock in Washington. 

My Background:

We need an independent voice who will fight for us, and that's why I'm running for Congress. I was raised in a small farming town in central Ohio and went to public schools. My father worked his way up through the trades, and went on to be a foreman with the Iron Workers Union.  My mom grew up in a working-class family that had lived in Ohio for nearly 200 years.  My grand-father was awarded the Silver Star for his bravery during World War II and my oldest son is a member of the Teamsters Union.  My father-in-law was member of the U.S. Army Air Corps and flew 15 missions over Nazi occupied Germany and Austria.  He remained active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

I've raised two wonderful sons, Ryan and Austin and 4 accomplished step daughters.  My youngest son Austin died from an accidental overdose of Oxycontin at aged 24.  I've dedicated the rest of my life to helping other families in similar circumstance.

My parents taught me the value of public service and the importance of fighting for those who don't have a voice. And that's how I've tried to live my life.

My GOP and Tea Party Opponents:

There are 5 GOP and Tea Party candidates running for the 1^st CD.   They all appear identical, and are confusing ideology with pragmatic solutions to improve the lives of Coastal Georgia citizens.  Their platforms and ideology looks toward the past, not the future.  Each of the 5 are competing for the title of "Most Conservative."   These 5 men are "mirror images" of each other and their most immediate GOP predecessor.   None offer a plan for economic or societal growth beyond the talking points conceived by the GOP and Tea Party in Washington, and FOX News.   Not one GOP candidate offers reasonable solutions, rather ideological (non-pragmatic) visions of the past.   

The Future:

I've joined with important groups to fight for women's health and retired citizens.  I've worked to protect our children and Georgia's incredible natural resources.

And I've worked to reform our broken political system.  While I am running as a proud Democrat, one day, I'd like to say I'm proud of the GOP as well.  I have memories of the Republican Party headed by Bob Dole, Nelson Rockefeller, Kay Bailey Hutchison, George Pataki, and Elizabeth Dole.  These were good, hard-working American patriots, who together with the Democrats in Congress, helped to grow a sustainable America. 

Americans need a new start, and not party politics that divide rather than bring together.  We need a brighter day in America and I need your vote to make this a reality.

I'm proud of what we've accomplished, but we have so much more to do.

• To strengthen our economy and create jobs.
• Protect Medicare and Social Security.
• Maintain a strong, well prepared and well compensated military.
• Balance our budget.
• Provide tax relief for middle class families.
• And reduce the influence of money and special interests in politics.

Instead of looking out for Wall Street and Big Oil, we need Washington to help our small businesses and our family farms.

I have been very blessed in my life. I am proud to live in the greatest country on earth. I'm running for Congress, because I know that we can do better.

I hope that you'll join me.

Additional Information/Resources:  www.leslimessinger.com  www.messinger4congress.com

SOURCE Messinger for Congress