Jeffrey Baker
City of residence: Mount Holly, N.C.
Occupation: Self-employed private investigator
Political experience: None
Why are you running against six-term incumbent Rep. Patrick McHenry?
JB: McHenry has let the voters of the 10th District down. He runs as a conservative but receives an F rating from all conservative groups. In December of 2015 McHenry was one of only 79 Republicans out of 246 (joining 99% of the Democrats) to vote for a massive $4.1 trillion budget that fully funded Obamacare, TPP, Planned Parenthood and further raised the debt ceiling.
Are you unhappy with the state of the Republican Party?
JB: Yes, they are not governing on conservative principles and are spending us into oblivion.
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?
JB: Use my position as congressman as a soapbox to raise awareness of a runaway government.
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?
JB: We are all created equal and have the same constitutional rights and privileges; everyone should realize this. We have historically been divided into victim groups and we need to stand as Americans. I believe in putting America first.
Which 2016 Republican presidential candidate (including those who have dropped out) do you most identify with?
JB: Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.
What’s the most important issue facing 10th District residents? How have/will you address it?
JB: Bring back the manufacturing jobs we lost from the horrible NAFTA trade deals.
Job creation and cost of living affect many 10th District residents. What have you done/would you do to create living wage jobs?
JB: Eliminate NAFTA and TPP, remove excess governmental interference, lower corporate taxes. If we have full employment, businesses have to compete for workers, therefore increasing wages and benefits.
What makes you more qualified than the other candidates?
JB: I’m not a politician.
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