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NEW!! Pieper a true conservative
 Sentinel Tribune. (Bowling Green, Ohio)
POSTED: November 3, 2007
Photo by Aaron Carpenter/Sentinel-Tribune)
Fred Pieper makes some of his fellow Republican opponents in the 5th District congressional race look downright liberal. Pieper is passionate about supporting American troops in Iraq, pushing through immigration reform and backing the Patriot Act — while at the same time debunking the theory of global warming and standing firmly against amnesty for illegal immigrants.
“I have to work for a living. I’m not a politician,” said Pieper, of Paulding, who is a lineman for an electric cooperative. His frustration with those who are politicians has peaked with what he sees as a decline in the nation and in the Republican party.
“They will not stand up for what the party stands for,” Pieper said, offering to take over as the “strong conservative voice” for the region.
Pieper believes American troops need to remain in Iraq until they can go from city to city, getting rid of insurgents and training Iraqi police.
“I think they are needed in there to finish the job they are there to do,” he said.
Pieper, who is a Navy veteran, firmly believes the more freedom the Iraqis taste, the more they will want to defend it.
Immigration reform for the U.S. needs to include good border fences, steep fines for companies who hire illegal immigrants, and removal of federal funding for any communities declaring themselves, “sanctuary cities.”
“I’m dead set against any kind of amnesty for the illegals,” he said.
Pieper also believes man’s impact on global warming is a myth. “It’s the biggest hoax this country has seen in years.” He pointed to the relatively brief existence of thermometers to gauge the temperature changes, and the fact that the scientific community cannot agree on the validity of global warming.
“They cannot prove man is causing global warming,” he said.
Pieper does support alternative energy, suggesting more study of generating power from methane, ethanol, wind, solar, hydro, and nuclear sources. He also said the nation needs to access its own coal, natural gas and oil resources.
“We’re dependent on foreign oil way too much,” he said. Meanwhile, “this country is sitting on vast resources.” But too often, according to Pieper, environmental interests get in the way of energy exploration.
“They’d rather protect the yellow-bellied sap sucker.”
Pieper would also like to see Congress lower the tax and regulatory burdens on business.
“That’s why all these countries are getting all our companies,” he said. “We need to get rid of nonsense regulations.”
He wants Congress to keep the federal tax cuts in place, and keep its fingers off the money — then use revenues to pay down the nation’s debt. “They just don’t watch the spending, the way you and I have to,” Pieper said, adding that he is “deadset” against raising taxes.
Pieper also believes:
• Health care is not in the Constitution, and hence is not an entitlement. “I believe we need to take care of low income children,” he said, but the S-CHIP proposal went too far and was a step toward national health care, or as he called it, “Hillary care.”
• The Patriot Act is justified when it allows surveillance of those outside the U.S. “I like the idea of being able to monitor what the terrorists are doing and saying.”
• Gay lifestyles are all right if kept private, but they should not “preach and teach” to those they call “intolerant.” He also feels strongly that alternative lifestyle “crap” not be taught in schools.
• The right to bear arms needs to be defended. “Hit what you aim at — that’s my idea of gun control,” he said.
By JAN LARSON
Sentinel County Editor POSTED: October 31, 2007 Fred Pieper describes himself as an ordinary man with a love for his country. Pieper is a Republican seeking election in the 5th Congressional District.
“I am very frustrated with the declining morals and values in our country and the seeming lack of backbone from some of the conservative Republicans who have abandoned their ideals,” Pieper said. “I am a strong conservative Republican who will be guided by moral principles.”
Pieper spoke to his wife and consulted another source before making his decision to enter the race.
“I have great faith in allowing God to work in my life,” Pieper said. “I have to trust in him for guidance. This decision required some serious ‘knee-time’ at church. Monday night, the 24th of September, I asked God to give me direction. The peace that overcame me me provided the strength I needed to begin the process. Running for Congress provided the best way to speak out about the declining moral climate of our country and the need to return to traditional conservative values.”
Pieper is a Navy veteran who lives in Paulding County. He has an undergraduate degree in religious studies and Bible from Anderson University and an MBA from the University of Toledo. He has experience as a business owner and has served as a credit union board member. Pieper is employed as a lineman for the Paulding-Putnam Electrical Cooperative.
Pieper is a past chair and current member of the Paulding County Republican Committee. Pieper summarized his positions on key issues.
“I am pro-life and pro-Second Amendment. I support our troops, oppose illegal immigration and all illegal activities, and believe a marriage is between one man and one woman. Those representing us in Congress have steadily increased our taxes and chipped away at our constitutional rights and freedoms. I believe in an American where an ordinary man can run successfully for Congress.”
Pieper said he has full confidence in the expertise, knowledge and experience of the officers and soldiers in the miliary in Iraq.
“I believe in trusting the military to do its job by ridding Iraq of insurgents who bully, intimidate and destroy the lives of countless innocent civilians,” Pieper said. “The leaders of Iraq must be committed to the peace process. The people of Iraq have had a small taste of freedom. The more they taste freedom, the more their hearts will desire something they lack and the harder they will fight. The United States must maintain the deployment levels necessary to insure success.”
Pieper said the U.S. must also keep an eye on Iran.
“Talk and diplomacy fall on deaf ears to those who want to destroy us,” Pieper said. “Talk and diplomacy give these countries more time to develop nuclear weapons and their plan to destroy us and Israel.”
Pieper said the U.S. should develop its own energy supplies where possible.
“If elected, I would support legislation that breaks down paperwork and environmental roadblocks to successfully and responsibly explore for, tap into and extract the oil and resources from our country,” Pieper said. “I would break down the barriers that prevent new refineries from being built. The application of alternative fuels and energy sources must also be a priority.”
Pieper said he is committed to attracting new business and industry to Ohio.
“As a lineman for a rural electric cooperative, there are times when I have to shut the power off to a consumer,” Pieper said. “These are our neighbors. Sometimes they talk with me about how their husband or wife just lost their job when their employer moved out of the country. They can go from tax-paying citizens to welfare recipient overnight. This must end.”
Pieper said small business owners are the backbone of the economy. The country must do everything possible to help them thrive and expand.
Illegal immigration is another issue on which Pieper speaks.
“When people ask, ‘are you against illegal immigration?’ I answer, ‘I’m against any illegal activity,” Pieper said. “There are legal ways a person can achieve citizenship. I am dead set against any form of amnesty.
“I will also support legislation that withholds federal funding from sanctuary cities. If a city chooses to violate federal law and protect the rights of illegals over their own citizens, they will also choose to forego financial help from the federal government.”
Pieper said he would support a constitutional amendment that defines marriage between a man and a women. He said he also supports overturning Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.
“The sanctity of life is our moral responsibility to protect,” Pieper said.
“I will oppose any legislation that permits birth control of any kind to be distributed in schools,” Pieper said. “There must be a dialogue established within the family.
“These are tough and controversial stands, but again, the fabric of our moral society is hanging by a delicate thread. I believe that ever since prayer was challenged in schools in the ’60s, and Roe V. Wade overtook the courts, we have been in a steady decline.”
Pieper said he has a backbone and will stand up for the morals and values he said have been in decline.
“America is not a monarchy,” Pieper said. “There is no predetermined line of succession or entitlement, no matter how much a candidate spends, how many years they have been in politics, or what their name is. You do not have to be a lawyer or a professional politician to know the issues and understand what America needs. I believe in an America where an ordinary man can run successfully for Congress.” NEW!! The Defiance Crescent News (Defiance, Ohio)
GOP Battles for Gillmor's Seat Click on the above link to read this article. The Advertiser Tribune (Seneca, Ohio)
Republican 5th District candidates debate
By Kevin Risner, krisner@advertiser-tribune.com
POSTED: October 23, 2007
Four Republican Congressional candidates and one representative of a candidate were back on the Columbian High School stage Monday night for a different kind of candidates’ forum.
The Heidelberg College Republicans and the Seneca County Teenage Republicans sponsored the party event. Heidelberg sophomore political science major Sarah Ward was co-moderator with high school senior Craig Gibson.
“I think all the candidates came off well,” Gibson said. “They knew what they were talking about.”
The candidates are to appear on the special Republican primary ballot Nov. 6 as a step toward deciding who is to represent the 5th U.S. Congressional District for the remainder of the late Rep. Paul Gillmor’s unexpired term.
The candidates who participated were State Sen. Steven Buehrer, R-Delta, Mark Hollenbaugh of Bowling Green, Fred Pieper of Paulding and Michael Smitley of Van Wert. State Rep. Bob Latta, R-Bowling Green, was represented by Matt Parker.
Ward said the forum was important to give the minor candidates a greater voice in the campaign.
“It is very important that not just the major candidates have a voice,” Ward said.
Ward said she was impressed by Pieper’s answers. She cited his conservative values, and said she particularly liked his position in favor of the second amendment and his pro-life position.
The Second Amendment to the Constitution provides the right to keep and bear arms.
Gibson said he also was impressed with Pieper’s answers.
“Overall, I think Mr. Pieper came off very sincere and someone you could relate to,” Gibson said.
Buehrer and Parker, Latta’s representative, used opportunities during the forum to insert negative personal comments about the other major candidate. The comments were not always appreciated by Gibson.
“It was kind of annoying, the rhetoric going back and forth between Matt Parker, who was here for Bob Latta, and Steve Buehrer,” Gibson said. “We had asked them ahead of time to keep it to a minimum.”
Gibson said the forum was needed because the candidates were asked a different set of questions than an earlier candidates’ forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters and others. In that forum the candidates were asked to comment on local issues, Gibson said. Candidates were asked about national issues at this forum.
The candidates were provided time to offer opening and closing remarks and were asked 11 questions during the forum.
The candidates were asked about the Iraq war, expanding national government, health care, the national budget, about their stance on abortion and education issues. The candidates also were asked about the potential for war in Iran, about students carrying guns on campus, the Social Security system and education funding in Ohio.
On most issues the candidates shared agreement, but there were differences....
Each candidate said he opposes a nationalized health care system... Pieper said a wide coalition of people need to work together for a solution.
Pieper said we should not be in a rush to go to war with Iran, but offered a different idea.
“Not war, but a few well-placed bombs,” Pieper said. He said also the U.S. needs to improve surveillance in the region of Iran...
Gibson said the Seneca County Teenage Republicans hope to provide a video of the forum to Time-Warner for broadcast on local television.
The Advertiser-Tribune (Seneca, Ohio) POSTED: October 18, 2007  Six of the seven candidates seeking to become the next U.S. Congressman from the 5th District answered questions at Columbian High School Wednesday. Democrat Robin Weirauch was the lone candidate not to appear.
The five Republicans and two Democrats are to appear on primary ballots Nov. 6. One Democrat and one Republican are to appear on the special general election ballot Dec. 11. << snip>>
Republican Fred Pieper said his home county, Paulding County, is part of a highway development stretching from Fort Wayne, Ind., to Toledo. He said he would listen to voters when making decisions about how highway dollars should be spent from Washington.
Pieper said he would like to see an increase in export of farm products from Ohio and said there should be more development of products such as ethanol.
Pieper said there is no place for unfunded mandates. He said sometimes the systems mandated may not be compatible with the localities. When sewer systems or similar projects are mandated the cost should be spread as much as possible to lighten the burden on small communities, Pieper said.
Pieper said he would like to see the alternative minimum tax eliminated completely.
“The income tax system as a whole is too complicated,” Pieper said.
Pieper said he would favor a national sales tax.
Pieper said he would like to see a constitutional amendment to deal with the campaign finance issue. He said being able to raise large amounts of money should not be a deciding factor in elections.
Pieper said there is no role for the federal government in Ohio’s school system. He said he favors a voucher system to provide choices to parents.
[Used with Permission: The Advertiser-Tribune 320 Nelson Street, P.O. Box 778, Tiffin, OH 44883 PHOTO BY CYNTHIA BRUBAKER] |
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