Thomas Speaks At St. Regis ClubHoping to unseat Mark Souder in the May 4 primary, Republican candidate Bob Thomas was in Warsaw Thursday night to try and gain some support in Kosciusko County.
Thomas is running against Souder for the U.S. 3rd district congressional seat.
Thomas spoke to about 25 people at the St. Regis Club in Warsaw.
Thomas, on several occasions referencing Ronald Reagan and Ron Paul, questioned how conservative Mark Souder really was.Labeling Souder a "career politician," Thomas said he would go to Washington, help curb spending and leave.
Thomas supports term limits and while his Web site sets the term limits for senators at 12 years and representatives at eight years, he said he wouldn't mind limiting both to eight years.
"You have these people who haven't held a real job their whole life," said Thomas.
With his wife and a daughter on hand, Thomas said he was running to save the future for his children and grandchildren.
"For the first time in the history of our country, the next generation will have a lower standard of living as the generation before. It's immoral to do that to our children," said Thomas.
Thomas owns car dealerships in both Allen County and Indianapolis.
Since the early 1980s, Thomas has lived in Hamilton County though his family recently moved back to Fort Wayne and lives in an apartment.
Thomas took issue with what he said where claims by Souder that he was an outsider. Thomas said Souder has taken to calling him Indy Bob, Big Bucks Bob or Beltway Bob.
"It's as if I had nothing to do with the community," said Thomas. "I've been paying millions in sales tax and property taxes in Fort Wayne for years. As well as millions in payroll to employees."
Thomas said if the U.S. keeps spending the way it does, it will go the way of Argentina and the country will see drastic inflation.
Thomas said the government needs to be run like a business.
"There's never been a recession in Washington. It's time to bring a recession there," said Thomas.
Some of Thomas' ideas to reduce spending were to eliminate the Department of Education as well as the Department of Energy and combining the Labor and Commerce departments.
Thomas also said if enough like-minded people were in Congress, they could band together to no longer fund federal programs when they come up for appropriations.
Thomas even said things like closing congressional offices like Souder's in Warsaw could be a way to save money.
"How many of you have ever been there?" asked Thomas. "With the Internet and email, I could stay in contact with my constituents and set up quarterly town hall meetings throughout the district."
Thomas said Souder's spending doesn't line up with Souder's image as a "good conservative."
"I see this as being a watershed election," said Thomas. "The next few years could be some of the most important years in our history."
On April 24, Thomas will be at Richard's in Warsaw starting at 8 a.m.
For more information on Thomas, visit his Web site at www.bobthomasforcongress.com
