Dear Friends
and Supporters,
My name is
Emory Dively and I want to be the next State Representative
from District 64B (Highland Park and Mac Groveland
neighborhoods in St. Paul.) I am asking for your help and
support.
Please take a
minute to read this letter. It is about my vision of our
community, city and the great state of Minnesota. If you
share this vision, I invite you to get involved by
volunteering or sending a check to my
campaign.
Let me first
introduce myself. I am co-pastor with my wife Cynthia, of
the Twin Cities the Twin Cities Deaf Assembly of God church
on Snelling Avenue. We are celebrating our tenth
year as co-pastors. We have been married for 26 years and
now have two grown children.
Although I was
born profoundly deaf, I have always lived my life with the
understanding that I can do anything that hearing people
can do except hear. I have always been eager for a
challenge. Running for State Legislator against DFL
endorsed Michael Paymar will be a challenge I plan to
win.
A REPUBLICAN
FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
My campaign is
all about social justice. I have been politically active
all of my life. I have been a strong advocate for those in
need. I have always believed in offering “helping
hand” not a just a “hand out.” I believe
that the role of government is to help make the playing
field level so that everyone has the access and the
opportunity to compete. I believe in equal access and
equal opportunity not equal outcomes.
I am often
asked, “Why are you a Republican?” The answer
is simple. I have lived through the era of the Democratic
inspired “Great Society.” I have witnessed
first hand how generations of individuals have become
dependent on the government for their very survival. I have
always believed that good intentions are not an excuse for
policies that continue to create harmful unintended
consequences. Don't get me wrong, I believe that those who
are unable to help themselves need a safety net. However,
far too often our well-intentioned Democratics have instead
created hammocks that have robbed individuals of their
freedom and opportunity.
JOBS, JOBS, and
MORE JOBS
My number
one priority is to provide everyone with the ability to
financially provide for themselves and their families.
Everyone should have the access and the opportunity to
succeed. I believe that State Government must live within
its means, just like families do. Many people in our
district live on a fixed incomes. Those individuals can't
just vote themselves an increase in their incomes; neither
should state government.
As your
legislator, I will strongly oppose any job killing tax
increases. It is an economic fact that increasing the tax
burden reduces wages and thwarts job creation. Hopefully we
can reduce the tax burden on individuals and businesses to
make Minnesota a better place to live and conduct
business.
THE NEED TO
IMPROVE EDUCATION
Equal access
and opportunity for all begins with education. I believe
that accountability and reform are the keys to improving
Minnesota's public education ststem. Without a doubt,
statewide testing provides comparative data and is the
best available tool for consistently measuring student
progress and providing accountability for results. Reform
requires maximizing the usefulness of the test results to
change in curricula and teaching
methods.
I will also
focus on the need to improve special education
programs. My special need has given me the insights,
resolve and determination to do what is right by all of our
children. I have witnessed first-hand the lack of licensing
required by educators for the deaf that are typically
required of mainstream teachers. This, and many other
concerns that do not just affect those with special needs
but affect all our children.
A
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR
EVERYONE
Most
Minnesotan’s agree that our legislature has neglected
our transportation infrastructure for more than 20 years.
Our transportation needs have gone unmet under the current
"pay as you go" system. I believe in using bonding
resources to invest in assets that will be used for
generations to come.
Equal access
and opportunity for all requires a transportation system
that works for our legislative district too. Our
legislative district does not need more roads and bridges.
Our district needs clean, safe, affordable and reliable
public transportation. I believe in dedicating specific
revenues to help improve public transportation, including
the support of light rail transit for the Central
Corridor.
MY PLAN TO
WIN
When I formally
announced my candidacy for State Legislator on behalf of
District 64B and Deaf Minnesotans, I invited all
Minnesotans to be a part of history. My announcement took
place at St. Paul's Charles Thompson Hall, a recognized
historical landmark, which is priceless to the Deaf
community of Minnesota. When I am elected this fall, I will
be the first Deaf Legislator in our state and
nation’s history.
Winning this
election means we must focus our proactive campaign on
issues with the broadest appeal and mark the best
contrast to my opponent, DFL endorsed Michael Paymar. We
need your financial help to get our message
out.
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED
Your $50
contribution, (or $100 per couple) to my campaign committee
-- “Friends of Emory Dively” -- is fully
refundable under Minnesota Political Contribution Refund
program. Here is how it works. When you send my campaign
committee a check, we will send you a PCR receipt and the
form you use to claim your refund. You complete the
form, and mail it along with your receipt to the MN Dept.
of Revenue. In about three to six weeks you'll
receive your PCR refund check from the State. It's
that easy!
Thank you in
advance for your contribution and your prayers as I
endeavor to serve as your State Representative. May God
bless you as I have been blessed with the desire to do what
is right for our neighborhoods, our city and our great
State of Minnesota
With humble
gratitude,
Rev. Emory
Dively
Candidate
for State Representative
District
64B
PS -- You
can also help me by allowing my sign in your yard. Please
call my campaign committee at (651) 699-4457.
Emory Dively for House
Social Justice - Equal Access and Equal Opportunity for Everyone.
© 2006 The Friends of Emory Dively
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