The Palladium-Times: Hoffman Runs On Conservative Line For Congress

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The Conservative Party candidate for the vacant 23rd Congressional District seat made an appearance at the Elks Lodge, in Fulton, Saturday, to discuss his goals as a potential representative of the 11-county district.

Doug Hoffman, an upstate New York native and a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard, plans to apply his experience to improve the economy, which he noted career politicians have failed to do.

"I think it is time for average citizens to get involved and say, ‘I've had enough and we're fed up,'" Hoffman said.

"Career politicians and lawyers have been making promises to us for years and years and the minute they get elected it is their own agenda and what is good for their career and not what is good for the people," he added. "That is why we are in the mess we are in today, both financially and politically."

Hoffman has received ample endorsements from various organizations, including the New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association; former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson; Campaign for Working Families; and the Susan B. Anthony List, a national pro-life political action committee.

The Conservative candidate is a certified public accountant and opened the accounting firm Dragon Benware Crowley and Company, which has offices in Lake Placid, Malone, Massena, Canton and Watertown.

Hoffman added that he and his family operate 13 small businesses, including a bed and breakfast, an auto service, a modular home construction agency and a consulting business.

He noted that the experience he has obtained as a result of his participation in small business would serve him well in the district, particularly considering the struggling economic climate.

"Somebody like myself, that has worked daily in the real world, understands the problems, anxiety and needs of the people better than the politicians do," Hoffman said. "I got to the point where I was sick of going to the ballot and voting for the best of the two worst and seeing them not represent us when they get to Albany or Washington."

According to Hoffman, to round the corner to economic success in the 23rd District, as well as the rest of the nation, there needs to be less government regulation on business, less taxes and an end to the "spending spree."
"The proliferation of regulations and red tape on individuals and businesses continues to kill job growth," he said. "That is why in America we are losing jobs, especially in the north country and central New York.

"Every time you take away from our tough economy, it makes us less and less competitive and it drives us out of business," Hoffman added.

The 23rd Congressional District encapsulates 11 counties, including Clinton, Essex, Fulton, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, St. Lawrence and Oswego.

The special election for the 23rd Congressional District seat will be held Nov. 3. John McHugh, recently appointed as the new secretary of the Army, formerly held the seat for several terms.

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