Albert Wiley, Jr.

City of residence: Indian Beach, N.C.

Occupation: Physician, DOE first responder, former nuclear engineer

Political Experience: Appointed by Governor Tommy Thompson,(WI), to State of Wisconsin Biotechnology Council and Nuclear Waste Committee. I have been a previous candidate, for U.S. Congressman or Senator. This is my 7th, self-funded primary election campaign.

Why are you running against six-term incumbent Rep. Patrick McHenry?

AW: He voted for the Omnibus Budget Bill, which generously funds illegal immigration, Planned Parenthood and Obamacare, and leaves our children and grandchildren to pay for it with a $21 trillion federal debt. I believe that the U.S. Congress should primarily consist of term-limited citizens rather than special interest-funded, elected-for-life professional politicians. So, while politics has not been my profession, I have always appreciated President Eisenhower’s advice that “Politics should be every U.S. citizen’s avocation.” Accordingly, even though I’ve never been a professional politician, I have always thought that politics was important. I would now appreciate and enjoy the opportunity to use my diverse life and work experiences to serve the people of the 10th District.

Are you unhappy with the state of the Republican Party?

AW: I have been unhappy in some ways for years, primarily because, as the Bible says, “My people suffer from a lack of knowledge and wisdom.” Since the Reagan administration, I have not agreed with most of the national Republican Party leadership on some vital issues, such as in 2003-04 when I campaigned for U.S. Senate, primarily as opposition to the rhetoric coming from Republican neoconservative leaders to go to war in Iraq. In 1984 I ran for U.S. Congress and was endorsed by President Reagan. And even now, I think too many of the Republican leaders too readily yield to the Democratic policies of expanding federal government, ignoring good monetary policy, increasing the national debt and all the very serious issues created by our current “open border” policy.

If elected, you’d be a freshman congressman with little political clout. What do you realistically believe you can accomplish in your first term for the people of the 10th District?

AW: I have been blessed to have the opportunity to have uniquely diverse life experiences, which is very relevant to the workings of  Congress and would help me to perform well in the various congressional specialty and oversight committees. Specifically, my work experience began as a coal boiler-stoker on the midnight shift and working with union iron workers in a paper mill. I then became a nuclear engineer, and for the past 40-plus years a physician cancer specialist and medical researcher in the U.S. Navy. Congress urgently needs a few veterans and some people who can provide reliable scientific information to promote meaningful, factual debate in order to make informed decisions on our increasingly complex national issues.

How do you feel you can represent the 10th District’s various ideologies and people in a way that champions compromise and bipartisan efforts? Or do you have other beliefs on representing a varied constituency?

AW: I have learned to work closely with people of all ages and incomes in various jobs. I enjoy helping big medical engineering and social systems work well. I believe that with factual dialogue and definition of the questions followed by reasonable and respectful discussions, a functional solution is usually possible, even in Congress. I am not entirely naive about the challenges of working with Congress, since I learned much over the years working with congressmen. I have also worked in U.S. embassies, so I understand something about diplomacy and the importance and necessity of sometimes of having to work behind the scenes to resolve sensitive issues.

Which 2016 Republican presidential candidate (including those who have dropped out) do you most identify with?

AW: Trump, because he appears to be honest and sincere in his pledge to keep America safe and to make our economy strong again. He has experience and success in the business management of large projects and large personnel systems, which very well prepares him to effectively manage and save money in our ever increasing federal bureaucracy. Trump’s agenda also includes negotiating better trade agreements, to bring jobs back to the U.S., and reducing illegal immigration. He does not seem to get distracted with hypothetical issues or threats, such as global warming and seems to agree with me in being more concerned about Iran, the failure of nuclear nonproliferation strategy and the real threat of nuclear winter.

What’s the most important issue facing 10th District residents? How have/will you address it?

AW: The 10th District desperately needs more and better-paying jobs. The unemployment rate in some regions of the district is much higher than reported. As a physician, I have too often seen that the loss of a job by the family breadwinner can become a serious mental and physical health issue for the entire family. I would do the best I could to alleviate this tragic situation by facilitating the movement of good, high-paying jobs into the 10th District. Such jobs are available now, and more can be created nationally, especially in the new medical and biotechnology-based industries. What is needed is a new congressman who understands these technologies and can better articulate the advantages of moving such industries to the 10th District.

Job creation and cost of living affect many 10th District residents. What have you done/would you do to create living wage jobs?

AW: My response to this question is essentially the same answer as the previous question. In addition, one quick way to help small businesses in the district is to repeal Obamacare as soon as possible: The escalating cost of health insurance under Obamacare is only beginning. These increasing costs will cause small-business owners to further decrease work hours and defer raises and bonuses. I watched my father in his Forest City small engineering/realty business, and my mother in her small clothing business, struggle with the increasing federal mandates such as health, unemployment, disability and workers’ compensation insurance. So I know these federal regulations and small-business taxes are real deterrents to wages and job creation.

What makes you more qualified than the other candidates?

AW: I assume all of us Republican candidates are real fiscal and social conservatives. My long-term conservative values are verified by my endorsement for U.S. Congress by President Reagan in 1984. My past nine-year work experience as a federal government contractor working in 25 different countries (including Israel and Iraq, Asia and Africa) has been an unusual opportunity and instructive experience, working with many cultures with some very senior people in U.S. embassies and in foreign ministries of health. So, in general, I suggest and believe that my diverse work history would enable me to better serve, work and advocate for the people of this wonderful, beautiful part of the world.