Greenfield Reporter Video Interview(scroll to bottom)
Political Courage Test- Project Vote Smart
Indiana Family Institute Voter Guide
Responses to Indiana Equality Candidate Questionnaire
Responses to IndyStar Voter Guide
Interview By: Dominique
Conservative Blogger @ anunlikelyperspective2.squarespace.com
1. Where were you born and raised.
I was born in Dayton, Ohio. (There was a shortage of family doctors in our area. My mother had to travel to the neighboring state to find a doctor to deliver me.) I was raised in Carthage, IN, located in Rush County, by my Mother and Step-father, Gary and Sue Siler.
2. Are you married? Children?
I have been married to my wife Angela Jessup for 15 years this December. We have four incredible children. Our sons are Caleb John who will be 13 this month, and Aaron who is 10. Our daughters are Hannah who is 8 and Rachel who is 5.
3. What or who inspired (if anyone) you to run for U. S. State Representative.
As I watch my children go after the dreams they have, whether it be academically or in sports, I realize they are chasing those dreams for one reason: their father and mother told them they could do it. I have told my children not to give up on a goal because they will look back and regret it. My children know I have a passion for politics and public service, so I don’t want them to wonder why their father never practiced what he preached. Win or lose, I am making my stand for what I believe and am going after my dreams. I won’t look back and have any regrets as long as I at least add to the discussion and make one person think during this election.
4. What, do you feel is the role of an elected official?
The role of an elected official first and foremost, is to listen to the people. That does not mean that all the constituents are going to get what they want, but they should all have a voice. An elected official has to be concerned with what does the most good for the most people, unfortunately too many are concerned with what does the most good for themselves.
5. Do you have any previous experience that you are bringing into the position you are running for?
I ran my own construction firm for nearly ten years. In that time, for everything I learned to do right, I learned three things I did wrong. I have not sat on numbers of boards or commissions, but I have learned about people. I know how to interact with employees, clients, colleagues, lawyers, etc. I know how to make hard financial decisions. I’ve hired and I’ve fired people. I understand how one man’s decisions affect countless others. I know that responsibility.
6. Why are you running?
I want Indiana to be better off when we hand it to my kids than it was when it was handed to me. I want to see civics education improved and I want to see American heroes returned to our classrooms.
7. What do you see as the most pressing problem facing District 53?
I would have to say it is the economy. The cost of energy is pricing the working class right out of their jobs. Last week, I personally spent over 40% of my take-home pay on diesel fuel to get back and forth to work! Talking about energy independence is not cutting it. We MUST find the answer or our economy is going to collapse. Not go into recession, it will collapse.
8. What proposal you would like to put forward if elected (if you would wave a wand and accomplish anything you desire).
#1 I would like to see party affiliation removed from the ballot and the end of “straight ticket” voting. Voting is not just a right, it is a responsibility. People should not be voting for a party, they should be informed enough to vote for the individual.
9. What is your position on abortion?
I am firmly pro-life. I believe we can arrive at a consensus that abortion on demand as birth control is wrong and outlaw it. Since I have no personal experience with cases involving rape, incest, or the life of the mother, I would be persuaded to hear further debate on those circumstances. It is my personal belief however, that human life begins at conception and that abortion is the taking of human life.
10. Do you believe in “a woman’s right to choice”?
I believe that, when speaking of cases of abortion as birth control, the woman has the freedom of choice. The problem is that she already chose. She chose to have a relationship that ended in her being pregnant. The US Constitution does not anywhere give a woman the ”right” to take another human life. The Supreme Court in Roe vs. Wade got this wrong.
11. What do you feel is the most important one confronting our children in America today?
Our children are facing a situation where there are no heroes, no great ideals and no American Dream. We have removed our founding fathers from the classroom. We no longer teach children how to make a difference in our society. We desperately need to reintroduce civics education in our schools. We are quickly becoming a nation that does not know or remember our history. A nation in that condition does not long survive.
12. What would you (like to) accomplish in the first 100 days of your term?
I would like to see reform in Indiana’s election laws. The two major parties are given unconstitutional preference in our election codes. This is the major cause of voter apathy and the feeling that ordinary citizens are excluded from the process. If elected I would be a lone voice against 149 party backed legislators that have no interest in changing the status quo, but I will be a loud voice and one that needs to be heard.
13. What strength(s) do you bring to the table that your opponent doesn’t or it is his/her weakness.
Here is what I bring to the table, I’m young and hard-working. I am willing to listen to anybody who wants to be heard. I know how hard it is to get from Monday to Friday every week. I know what it is like to have to borrow twenty bucks for gas to get to work or make sure your son don’t miss football practice. I can relate to those who have had to call and ask their mortgage company to work with them. When I talk about the problems facing the middle class, I’m not reading off talking points… I’m speaking from experience.
14. Name one thing you agree with your opponent on.
I agree with Mr. Cherry that we need to abolish property taxes in Indiana. But to date, I have not seen how we are going to equitably replace the tax or properly fund the things that property taxes currently fund.
15. How do you feel about the Voter ID Act?
I do not personally have any problem with having to provide identification to vote. I do not believe as some of the law’s detractors do that it is difficult for some Americans to obtain a photo ID. I guess all in all it is a good law, though there was never any evidence that any voter fraud was taking place prior to its passage.
16. What do you see as one of the most pressing problems facing District 53?
Obviously the economy is a pressing issue in every district. The cost of fuel has skyrocketed and I feel it has gone beyond a problem and landed in the area of a national crisis. Our state legislatures need to be pressuring and petitioning Congress to act. I believe we need to open up off shore drilling and allow drilling in ANWAR. Though it would take years for any of that oil to make it to market, it would have an immediate, dramatic impact on the futures market which is what is fueling crude oil’s bull run. We also need to push past the red tape that is keeping us from better utilizing nuclear energy and explore ways to bring gasified coal to market. Our legislatures should be playing a key role in “pestering” congress to act.
17. Do you feel teachers are getting paid enough?
Our teachers are a national treasure. They are in some cases underpaid, but I believe the bigger issue is job satisfaction. We have placed too high a paper work burden on our teachers. “No Child Left Behind” has turned our teachers into administrators and stripped them of the joy of teaching. Our children spend too much time preparing for standardized tests and very little time with interactive learning, which is by far more effective. Here in Indiana, we have a high school graduation exam that must be passed in order to obtain a diploma. It sounds like a great idea. However, it is first administered in the tenth grade. What does that say about our standards? What does that say about the quality or usefulness of the test? If it is a high standard, quality test, what is the point of the eleventh and twelfth grades? To sum up, I’m sure that our teachers would all enjoy higher pay just like everyone else, but I believe that they would trade that pay raise for the opportunity to have their hands untied to be able to do the job that they love.
18. Why are you running as an independent instead of Republican?
I do not believe in the two-party system. The two major parties exist to do one thing and that is to insure their own existence. The founding fathers envisioned a representative form of government where representatives knew their communities and their constituents and the needs of both. The goal of the local “Major Party” is to perform what is best for the state party. The state parties all exist to meet the goals of the national party. The national party is run by a very small committee that directs the thoughts and actions of millions of voters. Our founders would be appalled at so much power being centralized into the hands of so few people, especially, people who are not elected by the people. The two major parties have ingrained themselves so deeply into state statute here in Indiana that it is nearly impossible to be a part of the political process without their approval. Where it takes merely one signature to become a candidate if you are a party follower, it takes scores and scores of signatures to run as an independent. And endless hoops must be jumped through to be sure that you are properly placed on the ballot.
I am an independent because I want to represent the people of District 53. I have no interest in representing a political party that has lost sight of our American Ideals.
One of the worst examples:
If a Republican or Democrat holds an office in Indiana, all they have to do to run for re-election is sign on the dotted line and they automatically are back on the ballot. If I were to be elected as an Independent, in two years when it is time for re-election, I would have to go out and gather 350 signatures for ballot access again – as the incumbent! That is ridiculous. I believe that the gathering of signatures is not a bad thing – 338 verified voters signed saying they wanted me on the ballot. Not one person, save the incumbent himself, signed saying they wanted our current representative back on the ballot. I think all candidates -- Republican, Democrat, or Independent should have to meet the same requirements every election cycle.
19. Are you a conservative, an independent, or a liberal?
I am a social and fiscal conservative.
20. What job experience do you bring with you?
I was a business owner for 10 years. I am the father of four children, the youngest of eight children. As a project superintendent I oversee multi-million dollar projects. I know people. I mediate. I know what it is like at the top and at the bottom.
21. Do you have any degree(s)?
I never attended college. Instead I married at 18 and started a family and a business. College was not required in the field that I chose and love. It would be cliché’ to say, “I went to the school of hard knocks”, but I have life experiences that could not be purchased at the finest of universities.
22. What kind of work have you done?
I have been in the Construction industry most all of my life. I owned and operated a home framing company for nearly ten years. I took my current position with Gilliatte General Contractors in 2004 as a project superintendent.
23. Mike Huckabee always said, “They say they come to you, I say I come from you.” What would you tell the people about yourself?
I am a hard worker. I have always been self reliant. I believe what I believe because the things I have gone through in life led me to those conclusions. I’ve made just about every mistake out there, whether it be as a business man, a husband, a father, a friend, or a son. But I’ve learned from my every mistake. I am ready to listen and I am ready to lead.
24. In the past three years, name three of the most memorable things you have been involved in.
I have to list four. The lives of my four children. Watching them grow and learn
25. How can people contact you if they are interested in supporting you?
John Jessup
Jessup for 53 Committee
PO Box 148
Shirley, IN 47384
765-571-0813
26. How can people help you to get elected?
I am by necessity running a very low budget campaign, so obviously any monetary contributions are always appreciated to help with the necessities like signs and advertising. I also need yards to put these signs in. I need people who will make phone calls and tell their friends and family. Most importantly, though, I could use a lot of prayers.
27. How can people volunteer and help you in your campaign?
Go to the website or call me at 765-571-0813. I will need poll workers too!
28. What additional things would you like people to know?
I am just a hardworking husband and father. You don’t see a page long list of fraternities and clubs I belong to. I have not joined organizations or committees to make myself look good on paper to voters. I am far too busy just trying to survive just like most of the people I want to represent. I want to take your voices to the state house. If you elect me, that is what I will do. I will not be bought by the parties or by special interests
Copyright 2008
Paid for and authorized by: Jessup for 53 Committee...Angela Jessup, Treasurer
