The race for the 10th Congressional District has two newcomers to the main stage. We reached out to Cathy Wright, but were not able to have her for an interview. However, we did get some feedback from candidate Dennis Flynn.
Dhiren Shah: Welcome to this interview. What made you reach the decision to run for Congress?
Dennis Flynn: I am running for congress due to the fiscal and social policies. Other candidates have a few real concerns and are interested in political issues, not real issues. I made the decision a few weeks after Payne passed away. I am running for any political seat for the first time. I live in Belleville.
DS: What issues are you talking about?
DF: There are real underlying issues besides poverty and crime. Fiscal crisis and national civil right issues; government spending at a horrible level to some corporations; drug policy that directly affects us; health issues related to social issues; a criminal justice system which has a disproportionate number of young black men on death row; black people rejected for jury duty. These are the social problems we have. We are spending trillions of dollars on wars, where people can’t get livable wages in America and it destroys the middle class. People work three minimum wage jobs and still cannot pay their bills.
DS: If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
DF: Improve myself incrementally. I am pretty open to people’s ideas. I am pretty happy with who I am.
DS: What do you consider your greatest success?
DF: My biggest success is adjusting to civilian life after coming back from the Air Force. It is a meaningful purpose dealing with your life.
DS: How can you stay in touch with your constituents if you get elected?
DF: I will spend enough time with the citizens. I serve with town hall meetings. This is a huge district with 750,000 people. I will organize and make them self-sustaining, so people don’t have to rely on government as such.
DS: Pakistan and United States are having some grievances since the capture of Osama Bin Laden? What is your opinion about the policies with Pakistan?
DF: We should respect Pakistan’s sovereignty. To strike without informing the local government is not a good policy.
DS: What will be your policies for the African Nations?
DF: I’m very concerned about Africa. There is a new race for Africa between China, Russia and more. What we see in Syria, we have to address massive social issues. Military government and supporting dictators are a long ways gone. Help these countries by joining the western democracy.
DS: What will be your policy for the withdrawal of troops in Afghanistan?
DF: Immediate pull back; our mission is completed. We are doing no service to Afghans or the U.S.
DS: Do you have any message for your constituents?
DF: The time is ready to send a message to party leaders in the state about people taking back the establishment. This is not about them; this is about the Democratic Party.
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