Candidate for House seat visits Van Wert

Van Wert Times Bulletin
By Ed Gebert
February 11, 2008

He was the stranger in a room full of acquaintances. But Scott Radcliffe tried his best not to be a stranger for long.

This tall Iraq War veteran from Perrysburg found himself in Van Wert for the county Republicans’ monthly luncheon on Friday, making new friends and attempting to get his name and message out to those in attendance.

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He has gone from the world of the military to the world of politics, running for the 5th District Congressional seat in the March 4 Republican primary. But for Radcliffe, the two worlds have something in common.

In Iraq he found himself trying to convey to the people of that country that someone in an American uniform cared about them. On the campaign trail in America, he finds himself trying to overcome the suspicions of the voters. “The biggest thing is just trying to peel away the veneer of them seeing me as a politician,” he said. “Once they see beyond that, they can really get to know me and see what I’m all about. I’m the same man I was in Iraq. I’m the same man I was in New Orleans after Katrina.”

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Although disheartened at missing the opportunity to run in the fall, Radcliffe told the crowd of Republicans Friday afternoon, “I’m here now, and I’m here to serve. Just I have served our country in Iraq twice and once in New Orleans, I want to continue that service today for the good people of northwest Ohio.”

The job has special meaning for Radcliffe. It was Gillmor who nominated Radcliffe for West Point in the first place, an act which forged a bond between the two men. A 2002 West Point class ring stood out on Radcliffe’s hand as he talked with Van Wert County G.O.P. faithful on Friday.

Radcliffe doesn’t consider himself a longshot to take the nomination away from Latta next month. He is counting on the leadership abilities honed on the battlefield to set him apart both on the campaign trail and in the halls of Congress.

“This area deserves a strong conservative voice on Iraq,” he stated. “And I can be that voice.”

He certainly has a bond with veterans. On Thursday evening, Radcliffe spent some time at the V.F.W. hall in Van Wert, talking to other veterans about how Washington can best honor our soldiers.

“This country needs new veteran voices,” he declared. “Our World War II veterans are retiring. Our Korean War veterans are retiring. Our Vietnam War veterans are retiring. It’s time for the next generation of veterans to step forward.”

Radcliffe also vowed to strip away the negative image of politicians through openness and honesty. “I say what I mean and I try to make that clear,” he pointed out. “I want everyone to know where I stand.”

It will certainly be a tough battle for Radcliffe, who must best Michael Reynolds of Columbus Grove as well as the new incumbent Latta to make it to the November ballot. But Radcliffe has faced some pretty tough fights already.

For the full article visit the Van Wert Times Bulletin.

Candidate speaks to Kiwanis Club

The Lima News
By: Nancy Kline
February 4, 2008

OTTAWA – Scott Radcliffe feels he is a battle-tested leader. “I’ve been shot at and still went forth and built communities,” he said.
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Speaking at the Ottawa-area Kiwanis meeting on Monday, Radcliffe listed national security, the economy, health care, and the need in education to allow teachers to inspire creativity as important issues.

When questioned about the No Child Left Behind Act, Radcliffe said he felt the system was good in theory, but needed to be changed.

“We need to allow teachers not to teach just to the test, but be creative in how they teach the subjects,” he said. He spoke of meeting with teachers in other counties who have expressed concerns about the system.

“In some grade schools they are no longer allowed to have novels for children to read. Reading is something that is being pulled back on. So are social studies.” Radcliffe said.

While he said there needs to be a system to know how pupils are progressing, he does not feel it is necessary to do testing every year.

“Ohio is not as bad as some states,” he said. “In Texas they have three or four benchmarks before taking standardized testing. They are testing one month and a half out of the each year.”

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Radcliff said he would push for scaling back and allowing “our school districts to teach.”

“Nobody knows how to address our children better than superintendents, principals, and most assuredly the teachers,” he said.

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Radcliffe also said we need to continue in the war in Iraq.

“We have an opportunity to build resources in Iraq,” he said. “There is hope.”

He said it was important to get the people, not just the politicians, in the country to be willing to invest in their future.

“Then we win,” he said. “Then they will do what is necessary to do what is needed to be successful.”

He also said the United States and its allies need to continue to be aggressive in Afghanistan.

“We took our eye off the ball for a bit, but we are addressing it.,” he said. “We are going forward to do what is necessary.”

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Veteran returns to run for Congress

The BG News
By: Tim Sampson
January 23, 2008

…Radcliffe is seeking the Republican nomination for Ohio’s 5th district congressional seat, calling his bid for office an extension of his service.

It’s an ambition that has been with Radcliffe since he was in sixth grade. His teacher went around the room one day predicting the future careers of each of her students. When she got to Radcliffe she pointed at him and simply said, “Congressman,” a prediction he was not particularly excited about.

“I’d heard some not-so-good things about these political people,” Radcliffe said. “And it was like, ‘Who? Me?’”

But his teacher’s prediction stayed in the back of Radcliffe’s mind as he went on to graduate from Perrysburg High School and West Point Academy. It also stayed with him while serving five years in the army.
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The 28-year-old Radcliffe felt close to Gillmor, the Congressman who had nominated him for West Point Academy. That’s why he was especially dismayed to see the ugly campaign tactics of the Republican candidates who fought to succeed Gillmor.

“I was motivated by the tenor of last fall’s primary – the bitter and hostile nature of it,” he said.

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Although he’s never held elected office, Radcliffe said his years in the military have given him amble leadership experience.

During his first tour in Iraq in 2004 and 2005, Radcliffe spent time as a scout platoon leader patrolling Baghdad’s Airport Highway and portions of the West Rashid district in the Iraqi capital.

Radcliffe likened the experience to being a mayor, saying he spent most of his time working to rebuild the areas he was responsible for patrolling. While serving as platoon leader, he worked to create schools, repair sewage systems and rebuild houses.

“There was no infrastructure in the district,” Radcliffe said. “You had the authority to do what you needed to do. But you had to fight for funds to do it.”

Radcliffe feels this time in Iraq has prepared him for Congress, where he said the most important job for the 5th district’s Representative is fixing the local economy and creating jobs – goals that he believes are best achieved through decreasing taxes and business regulations. …

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Supertalk 1560

Scott appeared on Toledo Today with host Tom Watkins. Listen here.

In Case You Missed It: Iraq Veterans for Congress in the News

The Conservative Voice
GOP Iraq Vets Unifying
January 02, 2008
By Jim Kouri – Peekskill, NY

Kieran Lalor, the Republican candidate for Congress seeking to unseat first-term Democrat John Hall, today announced the launch of Iraq Veterans for Congress, a group of Republican Iraq War veterans across the country who are running for Congress in 2008.

Lalor said he formed Iraq Veterans for Congress to help bring national attention to an outstanding group of pro-victory Republicans who share a common set of values that Lalor believes will resonate with voters.

. . .
Click here for the full article.

The Rochester Conservative
January 15th, 2008
Post by: Kieran Michael Lalor, founder Iraq Veterans for Congress
We are twelve pro-victory Republican Iraq War veterans running for Congress in districts across the country.
. . .
I am here to say that our veterans are heroes; that their sacrifices in Iraq and Afghanistan have made America a safer place; that America is proudly behind them. Standing with me are my eleven fellow Iraq veteran candidates. I hope you will join us.
. . .
Our goal is to raise 4,000 contributions of $25 for each Iraq Vet for Congress by the end of March. These contributions can have a powerful impact on who controls the House. You can visit www.IraqVetsForConress.com for more details.
. . .
Paul Phillips, an Air Force B-1 bomber pilot running in Ohio, adds: “Who better to relieve the Democrats of their command than a group of Iraq vets?” We need your support. Please consider contributing to our efforts.

Click here for the full article.

Military man running for 5th District seat

The Advertiser Tribune
By: Kevin Risner
January 11, 2008

Perrysburg native Scott Radcliffe is ready for a new challenge after two tours of duty in Iraq. He also was deployed to New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Now Radcliffe is a Republican candidate for the U.S. Congress in the 5th District.

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“I served my county in Iraq, I served my country in New Orleans, and I served my country in Iraq again,” Radcliffe said.

“The people of northwest Ohio have always been so great while I was over there. I just wanted to give back to them.”

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Radcliffe graduated from Perrysburg High School in 1998 and went on to attend West Point.

Admittance to West Point, as with the other military academies, requires the nomination of a student’s congressman.

Radcliffe was nominated by Paul Gillmor.

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Radcliffe said he believes Iraq will continue to be an important issue for the U.S. Congress. He said he believes he can bring a unique perspective to the debate in Washington because of his first-hand service in Iraq. He said positive changes have occurred in Iraq, and the U.S. should continue to support the efforts until the task is complete.

Radcliffe’s views on illegal immigration are framed by his military experience.

“I equate it to orders of business in the military,” Radcliffe said. “Your first order of business, whatever you do, is to gain and maintain a secure perimeter. That is what we have to focus on here first is gaining and maintaining a secure perimeter for the United States.”

Radcliffe said securing the perimeter is important so the country might know who is entering the country, especially to identify people who may have intent to harm Americans.

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Radcliffe said he believes the northwest Ohio economy could be invigorated by developing alternative energy sources.

“Look at someplace like California,” Radcliffe said. “They had resources there to continue to develop the technology sector there. Now they are doing the same in Texas. Why can’t we do something like that with alternative energies here? It’s not just an environmental issue any more. It’s a security issue, and we have the resources to do this, we have the capacity to do this, we have the natural resources to do this here.

“We need to encourage that because that could be an absolute boon for this community, encouraging alternative energies to come here because it can be a growth industry. It most certainly could be a growth industry.”

Radcliffe said layoffs and plant closings, like the recent closing of American Standard in Tiffin, tend to motivate him to want to do more for northwest Ohio. As a Republican, he supports lower taxes as a way to encourage economic growth, but his vision also is focused on the plight of potential constituents and finding other ways to help communities economically.

“I would say it is absolutely tragic,” Radcliffe said of American Standard closing. “I have friends the same thing is happening to. Not just friends here, but friends around the country that have lost their jobs for different reasons. It is a very, very personal battle and a very, very personal journey. That is why I want to go to Congress, to fight to make a better community for them, to stimulate growth in their community so they will not have to worry about losing 170 jobs, so we might be able to bring in those sorts of jobs.”

Radcliffe said trade agreements with other countries can be positive, but should be coupled with efforts to make communities in the U.S. more attractive to potential employers.

Radcliffe credits his home church community at Perrysburg Grace United Methodist Church for providing a foundation for personal faith as well as giving him the sense of community that colors his view of the 5th District. His church community supported him with prayers and communication while he was in Iraq.

“God has been a very important part of my life from the very beginning,” Radcliffe said. “I’ve been a member of Grace Church my entire life. It is a community in and of itself with extraordinary people. Just like everything else, it’s been through ebbs and flows, but in the end it is a community in and of itself.

Radcliffe said his church community laid a foundation that was built upon at West Point and used for support in Iraq.

Whether from the prediction of a sixth-grade teacher, from a church community or from education at West Point, Radcliffe said he believes he can be a leader in the 5th District as a congressman.

“Leadership is a very important part of my message,” Radcliffe said. “It is something that has been ingrained in me for my entire life. I have been in leadership positions in high school. I have been in leadership positions among leaders at West Point. I have led men into combat. I have led men into intense combat. I have led people into situations to stimulate hope. That is what I am here to do, to lead this community to a better future. I’m here to lead this community to a better present. That’s what I want.”

For the full article click here.