Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE – Yatish Joshi makes no bones about it.
The South Bend businessman, who is self-funding his campaign, said he is running on a platform of equality with the aim to help the people of the 2nd Congressional District.
And he’s clear about his impressions of President Donald Trump, calling him a habitual liar whose policies and comments on Twitter convey a shoot-from-the-hip approach toward governance.
The 68-year-old came to the United States from India about 40 years ago “with nothing” and was able to, over the years, to develop a successful container business, GTA Containers Inc., that employs about 60 people.
During a campaign stop at Mugshots, a coffee shop south of Syracuse, Joshi said he was motivated to run for Congress on Election Night last year when Trump pulled off a surprise victory over Hillary Clinton.
He said he is bothered by Trump’s behavior, his lies and contends that much of what he’s done as president is motivated by self interest.
He said he thought Democrats last year took a “holier than thou” approach in dealing with and challenging Trump on his “lies.”
Joshi said the more he talked with people, the more he realized how crucial the political circumstances have become.
The 2018 election is critical, he said, because Trump could gain a super majority in Congress that would be “a disaster for America” and democracy.
He said the current political atmosphere lacks civility and that he prefers a bipartisan approach.
He said his campaign will focus on issues of equality when it comes to gender and race issues and pointed to pay inequities in the workplace for women.
“To me, the people come first,” Joshi said. “I’m running for the people and not myself.”
“For me, every life counts,” he said.
When asked about his stance on abortion, Joshi said he is “pro-life” from birth to death, but said he believes the final decision rests with women when facing a decision on whether to end a pregnancy.
Obamacare, he said, is one of the best things to happen to America, but admits it needs some amending.
He said he believes Trump is trying to sabotage the health care reform system, and that current attempts by House Republicans to include a provision in the tax reform bill that would kill the individual mandate would cause premiums to skyrocket.
Trump, he said, is “lying” when he suggests the current health care law is a disaster.
Yatish is one of three Democrats actively running for the May primary in a bid to challenge incumbent Republican Jackie Walorski next November. Other candidates are Mel Hall and Pat Hackett.
Walorski, he said, is a “good person” but has made a career out of politics.
