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(s)Elections See other (s)Elections Articles Title: Traficant Declares: ‘I’m Going to Run’ YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Former U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. revved himself up in typical fashion (WATCH VIDEO), then eased off as he spoke for 30 minutes before quietly telling a new business networking group last night that he will indeed make a bid for Congress in 2010. “I’m going to run,” Traficant declared before some 35 members of The Biz Society assembled at the Rosetta Stone restaurant downtown to launch the group’s Youngstown chapter. Traficant said he still isn’t sure which district he’ll throw his hat in, but he has nominating petitions circulating in three congressional districts –the 17th, the 6th and the 16th. And, the former congressman noted he hasn’t decided on whether to run as a Democrat, a Republican, an independent, or perhaps on another party ticket. “I’m going to run for Congress somewhere,” he said. U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, a Democrat and former Traficant aide, represents the 17th District, which encompasses most of Mahoning County, Trumbull County and parts of Portage County. U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson, also a Democrat, holds the 6th District seat, which includes parts of Poland, Boardman, Canfield, all of Columbiana County and a 300-mile swath along the Ohio River. And U.S. Rep. John Boccieri, a Democrat who formerly represented the Mahoning Valley in the Ohio Senate, represents the 16th district, which centers on the Akron-Canton area and for decades sent a Republican, Ralph Regula, to Congress until his retirement in 2008. Traficant hinted at the possibility of returning to Congress two weeks ago when he hosted a press conference in Canfield to unveil plans to develop a casino/resort in the Mahoning Valley. He said then that he would be circulating petitions in the three districts to assess his political strength and support in the region, but stopped short of announcing he would jump in the race. Traficant’s announcement comes just four months after the former congressman was released from a federal prison in Rochester, Minn., where he served a portion of a seven-year sentence for racketeering and bribery. The congressman was convicted in 2002 and became the second member to be expelled from of the House of Representatives since the Civil War. “I won’t have much money,” Traficant told the hushed audience. “I don’t even have a campaign account -- I never raised a lot of money,” in his past congressional campaigns, he said. The group sat relatively quiet and refrained from interjecting with applause or supporting remarks during Traficant’s extemporaneous speech. “Most of you in here are probably sight-seers, and half of you are probably predisposed in opposition against” me, Traficant said. "Having heard me now, [you] are probably overzealous on my behalf -- literally crazed in your support of me,” he said with a smile to laughter from the crowd. Kim Cross, founder of The Biz Society, said the group’s decision to select Traficant as a guest speaker drew backlash among some members, but noted the most important goal is to foster small businesses growth. “We asked Jim Traficant to be our guest speaker because he knows a lot about Youngstown and done a lot of business in Youngstown,” she said. The new networking group isn’t the only organization extending invitations to Traficant these days. The former congressman said he’s accepted an invitation to speak at an event Feb. 13 in Washington, D.C., sponsored by a far-right pressure group, the American Free Press. “They want me to run as an Independent for president,” Traficant said, noting organizers have said that he has a solid following among supporters across the United States. “I’m going to address a group down there on Feb 13 unless the government says I can’t travel, and if they do that, we’ll hold it in Cleveland.” Traficant called the current tax code the single most detrimental impediment to growing American business, referring to it as a “communist program” equating the progressive income tax in this country with the policies of Karl Marx. “I don’t like this bashing of the rich,” he scolded. “I’m a capitalist. I don’t like an economy that rewards dependency, penalizes achievement, subsidizes illegitimacy and chases jobs overseas.” Traficant said he prefers a flat, 25% final sales tax affixed to everything sold in the United States, replace the current income tax and abolish the Internal Revenue Service. “If they do not do that, America will collapse like the Soviet Union.” The former congressman says his efforts toward tax reform led to laws that place the burden of proof on the IRS, which helps small business and taxpayers in the long run. “My opposition is getting ready for me, and they better get ready for me.” Traficant said he is heartened to see downtown Youngstown lined with new restaurants and bars, as well as a number of government buildings constructed while he was incarcerated. He credits the opening of Federal Street as a major factor in rebuilding the nightlife and vibrancy of the central business district. “I feel a little bit responsible for it,” Traficant said. “I opened up Federal Plaza with a federal grant and built the only free standing sports arena in history with federal funds,” he said, referring to the Covelli Centre. In 2000, the congressman secured $26.5 million toward the construction of the $45 million project. He also took credit for securing federal funding for infrastructure projects such as the 711 connector and an interchange that connects King-Graves Road with state Route 11 near the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport. “I brought over $2 billion in federal funds to this district during my 17 years in Congress,” he said. In the seven years Traficant was imprisoned, he said the area has missed out on two cycles of highway bills. He said with that money, he could have built the Hubbard arterial and other projects and predicted that area politicians would “build all these projects to keep me the hell out” of Congress. Traficant repeated that he plans to bring officials representing the Indigenous Tribal Affiliates of Native America, or ITANA, to the Mahoning Valley in order to begin the site selection process to develop a $100 million casino/resort to the region. “I expect to have the economic-development director of ITANA in here by mid-January and have a press conference,” he related. Traficant revisited claims of his innocence and that his conviction on bribery and racketeering charges was politically motivated -- and he vowed revenge. He said that five out of the nine people who provided information against him were pressured to lie by the government, and any audiotapes the government may have had in its possession would have exonerated the former congressman. “I want to get these suckers!” Traficant thundered. “You are being addressed by a very bitter guy.”
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#4. To: christine (#0)
Run as a dem or pub and I will keep my two bucks under the mattress.
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