Ribble Responds to his Critics

In the comments to my initial post on 8th CD Republican candidate Reid Ribble, an anonymous commenter left two items raising concerns about Ribble's candidacy. You can read the original post and comments here, but here is the crux of Anon's complaint:

Is Ribble just a a carpetbagger picked by the GOP elite for the 8th? I hope we get a fair primary this time around.

Yesterday Ribble left a response in the comments responding to these complaints:

I have heard the "carpet-bagger" claim too often. I do live in Sherwood and I have lived there for 10 years. It is about 2 miles south of the 8th district border. I have been honest and straight forward about this right from the beginning.

Also regarding the "legal requirement" alluded to by anonymous. The US Constitution is pretty clear about residency requirements. It states in Article 1 section 2 "No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained the age of twenty five years, and been a citizen of the United States, and who shall not when elected, be an inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen." Pretty clear.

I have lived in the Fox Valley (and obviously WI) my entire life. That is longer than Steve Kagen, Andy Williams and Marc Savard. My company is in Kaukauna, WI and has been for over a decade. For two decades prior to that it was on Manitowoc Rd just south of Appleton. That location has been in and out of the 8th district a couple of times depending on gerrymandering. So the location where I sleep at night should not be a concern....

Now, onto the claim about me being prepicked by the GOP. NO ONE FROM THE GOP STATE OFFICE OR NATIONAL OFFICE has encouraged me to run. In fact some of the opposite has occured. They seem to have someone picked and rest assured it is not me. (Even though it should be) So let's put that rumor to rest right now.

Finally, let's discuss the money accusation. Congressman Kagen has raised more money from PACs and special interest groups around the country than you can imagine. If we conservatives are serious about winning we need to approach our friends and supporters wherever they live to help. Would it be nice if I raised all of the funds needed in the 8th? For sure. If anonymous is really concerned he/she should send me a check and it will help. Talk is cheap. Raising funds is hard work.

Almost all of my funds have come from personal business friends of mine through out the US.

Again, you can go read the whole comment, the original post, and Anon's two comments here.

Since I'm relatively new to party politics, I will take Ribble at his word until I find out otherwise with regard to contacts by GOP leadership. This seems like a charge that is thrown about quite a bit these days, and, as such, may or may not have any validity.

I looked at Ribble's fundraising and there's nothing there to be concerned about in my opinion. Raising funds from business contacts is no cause for concern. Raising money from Florida sugar growers when you are on the agriculture committee, is another matter entirely.

It still seems early, but this race may turn out to be very exciting. I hope that all of the candidates work hard to make the primary process as valuable as possible and ultimately to defeat Steve Kagen.