📷 Former U.S. Marine Ready to Take on Bost and Restore Progressive, Inclusive Politics to Illinois

[riversedge]

David Bequette? @dbequette May 17

📷 Former U.S. Marine Ready to Take on Bost and Restore Progressive, Inclusive Politics to Illinois...

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David Bequette
Husband, father of 3, social entrepreneur, marketing trainer and consultant, political activist, and venturing representative politician.

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Former U.S. Marine Ready to Take on Bost and Restore Progressive, Inclusive Politics to Illinois District 12 Born and raised in Columbia, Illinois, I am the eldest of 3 boys, and a product of a blue-collar, hardworking American family. I graduated...

Former U.S. Marine Ready to Take on Bost and Restore Progressive, Inclusive Politics to Illinois District 12

Born and raised in Columbia, Illinois, I am the eldest of 3 boys, and a product of a blue-collar, hardworking American family. I graduated from Columbia High School and attended Missouri Baptist College on an athletic and academic scholarship. One year later, I set off to join the U.S. Marine Corps, where I spent five years serving our country and defending U.S. interests in Indonesia, China, and Malta. Over the past 15 years, I completed my degree at Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville, worked as a government contractor, built 3 businesses, lectured undergraduate and graduate students in marketing and leadership, and created two non-profit organizations. My wife, Irina, is a well-respected political scientist and activist, who also happens to be my best friend and confidant. I am deeply inspired by working to create a better future for our three amazing children.

Though my personal and professional journey has taken me around the world, I am returning to Illinois because I am passionate about giving our citizens the best opportunities the world has to offer, the most common-sense social protections our taxes should provide, and the most pragmatic leadership that can be mustered.

I want to restore the 12th District’s status as a place where our children can thrive. Where they know there are abundant opportunities for education and careers in every field. Where equal pay for women is not just a national concern but a local one. Southern Illinois deserves leadership that cares about every one of its citizens. My wife and children are proud carriers of Armenian heritage, and our family is a symbol of the multicultural families that are a natural part of a diverse and thriving Southern Illinois. I am a candidate that can relate to multiple generations of voters, channeling years of leadership and relationship training, inspiring our neighbors and friends to get out, vote, and WIN.

I would enter this race with an iron-clad commitment to fight on behalf of my neighbors and residents in the 12th district. This decision comes after years of research, soul searching, and an eventual realization that I want to serve my community through representative politics. I bring with me a dedicated team, and we are confident in our ability to take back the 12th in 2018 on behalf of Illinois and its citizens.

The 12th district has seen nearly 3 decades of political insiders come and go. It’s time for a fresh look, a fresh perspective, and a truly progressive warrior to represent the citizens of Southern Illinois’ District 12!

Some of my priorities for the 12th:

Voter registration and Voter Turnout

A key component to a thriving and participatory democracy is an interested, informed, and active voter base. A main priority of my campaign will be to inspire voters to register and participate in the process – no matter who they plan to vote for or where their political ideologies lie. The 12th district - specifically the Metro East counties - have historically had lower voter turnout numbers. This must change to ensure a truly representative political system in the Illinois 12th.

Economy and Jobs

The 12th district, much like most of Illinois, has seen nearly 20 years of dwindling jobs, increasing unemployment, and a crumbling of manufacturing and mining businesses. At the cusp of the 21st Century, we have a real opportunity to embrace high tech, renewable energy, and bio-tech as the means to bringing back high-quality, well-paying jobs to our district. Large corporations can make Southern Illinois their home base of operations. Miners and their families can receive new educational and professional tools to become the engine of this transformation. With our positioning in the Metro East, we have an opportunity not only to attract large corporations, but also to become a hub for start-ups in high tech enterprises.

The Environment

On climate change, I will take my advice from scientists, not lobbyists. When 97% of scientists, the U.S. Military, and all U.S. Intelligence Services confirm that climate change exists and is a real threat to our national security and the well-being of generations to come, we must listen. Illinois 12th District must take the lead on environmental friendly business policies and we must work together to formulate innovative solutions to protect the environment around us.

Women’s Health and Planned Parenthood

I will defend access to contraception, education, STD screening, and a woman’s right to choose. I will fight any legislation or executive action that would allow an insurance company to discriminate against women because of erroneously dubbed “pre-existing conditions.”

Civil Rights and Civil Liberties............................................

[Wounded Bear]

1. Semper Fidelis!

Go for it!

[democrank]

2. I like his priorities.

Sounds like a solid guy.

[riversedge]

3. yes. glad he stepped forward.

[The Polack MSgt]

4. Oh Hell Yeah

Please save the 618 from Bost.

People were saying stupid shit like"We need to put a Republican in office because we had decades of a crooked Democrat in IL 12"

Yeah, believe that if you wanna - except Costello got shit done. Bost is more crooked and he's an incompetent slobbering Trumpster as well

[friendly_iconoclast]

5. Good. He sounds like a solid candidate, and I hope he wins