I am writing to thank each of you for all of the encouragement, hours of work, generous contributions and support that you have given to my campaign over the last 18 months.  Your involvement made a tremendous difference throughout the campaign, and I am humbled and very grateful.

For the last year and half I have been privileged to travel throughout the 4th district, to meet the many fine Hoosiers in our communities who share a common belief: That our government can and should be better, and that we can make that happen.

In communities like Bedford, Frankfort, Crawfordsville and Lafayette, I was inspired by the idealism, courage and determination of the many supporters who worked tirelessly on this campaign.

Like you, I was disappointed by the outcome of the election.  However, I am incredibly proud of the manner that we ran this campaign.  Over the course of eighteen months we were supported by more than three thousand local volunteers, developed strong community relationships in six field offices, had direct contact with over 100,000 voters, created a widely used and praised multimedia website, and developed an innovative radio and TV campaign.  Our campaign achieved widespread earned media attention, including receiving the endorsement of the Lafayette Journal and Courier — the first time in 12 years that the largest newspaper in the district chose not to endorse my opponent.

Thanks to your efforts we were able to raise significant issues and carry a strong message to voters here in the 4th district about the need to change Washington.  Although we ran in one of the most Republican districts in the nation, and even though the Republican Party turned out a huge and historic number of voters, together we achieved the strongest finish of any challenger race of either party in Indiana, receiving over 128,000 votes.  Thanks to bipartisan support we carried Tippecanoe County, including Lafayette and Purdue University, by a 10 percent margin, and received more votes than President-Elect Obama or any other democratic candidate in several counties in this district.

These results are astounding, and reflect the amount of hard work by so many here in the 4th District.  Over the coming weeks and months I look forward to thanking each of you personally, and I hope that you will keep in touch and continue to fight for the change we need here in Indiana and in Washington.

With sincere gratitude,

Nels Ackerson

The American Legion is one of the Nation’s leading veterans’ service organizations, with over 2.7 million veterans involved nationwide.  Tom Bock was elected National President of the Legion in 2005.  A lifelong Republican, Tom served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War and has a son serving in Iraq.

“Through our discussions about issues of great concern to military veterans and his approach to addressing them, I have reached the conclusion that Nels would be a true veterans’ advocate in Congress,” said Bock.

See full interview below!

In offering his endorsement, Tony noted that “I was touched by how much Nels cares about people, and how much he wanted to do the right thing, to lift everybody up, and to get this country moving in the right direction for all of us.”  He also added that in his judgement, “Nels Ackerson is the kind of man who will ask each day ‘did I do everything I could to help the people of this district’.”

Tony Roswarski is a great friend and a great Mayor, and we are tremendously pleased to have his help as we fight to restore America and to help Hoosiers every day.

You can watch the full interview here!

Says Ross, “I have never been a Democrat or Conservative… I have always voted for who makes sense. I have conservative views. I have liberal views. When I sat down with Nels, it was like I was sitting down with a guy in my back home mom and dad’s tavern, who was just concerned about the issuesand was not partisan.”

You can watch all of his comments below

Scott McKain is a lifelong Hoosier Republican who has known Nels for over 30 years, beginning with their involvement in the Indiana Future Farmers of America. Scott is also a very successful author and businessman here in Indiana, who has been active in Republican politics. But this year, he’s supporting Nels Ackerson for Congress and we’re glad to have his help!

Says Scott, “I know both the candidates in this race, and I’m choosing to support Nels, because Nels not only has the vision for what our country should be, he has the character to get it there!” To watch the full video,click below!

Watch the full video below!

September 25, 2008

Ackerson Addresses Bailout Issue with 4th District Voters

To my fellow residents of the 4^th District,

The unprecedented events of the past week have led to a great deal of controversy and concern.  Never in the history of our Nation has our Congress considered such sweeping, and to be quite frank such expensive, legislation in such a short time.  As one of two candidates seeking your support this November, I am concerned.  While events continue to unfold, I wanted you to know where I stand on this critical issue.

Last night President Bush addressed the Nation.  In his speech he noted that “our entire economy is in danger” and used phrases such as “serious economic crisis”, “panic”, and warned of a “long and painful recession.”  Like many of you, I am extremely frustrated to see yet another failure of our proud Nation.  Too often in recent times we have seen government ineptness lead to painful, and on occasion tragic, outcomes.

It is no secret that the last few years have been fraught with turmoil, both abroad and now at here at home.  As events this week have made clear, we are now faced with the painful results of numerous failures in the financial sector and failures by our government.  In an economy already reeling from continued declines in the strength of the dollar, the massive explosion in the price of fuel, and ongoing foreclosures in home mortgages, our country is now facing a complete meltdown in the stock markets and the credit markets.

In response to the rapidly crumbling situation, this Wednesday I met here in Zionsville with several of my economic advisors, including Purdue faculty member Wally Tyner, a recognized expert in energy issues, and Tom Schelling, a Nobel Prize winning economist.  What is clear from our conversation is that while this problem was created by the failings of a small group of entrenched legislators and wealthy financiers, it is likely that the impact will hurt us all.

While many are already suffering from declines in their retirement, the longer term consequences of this failure may be worse.  When banks no longer offer credit, it is not the wealthy who suffer, but the middle class.  This crisis will hurt Hoosiers who need mortgages to buy a home, who depend upon student loans to receive an education, or auto loans to afford a car, who will suddenly find banks unwilling or unable to offer assistance.

And yet the proposed $700 billion solution concerns me a great deal.  This legislation represents one of the single biggest expansions of government in history.  That amount represents a sudden and unexpected tax of approximately $2,500 per person in this country.  And ultimately this fee must be paid for with increased taxes, more deficits, and further weakening the dollar, all of which hurt those who have been responsible in their personal finances and their savings.

The decision to pursue such a massive expense with no provisions for oversight represents a significant increase in government authority that is unprecedented.  As a lifelong advocate who has dedicated his career to protecting the constitutional rights of private citizens, I am highly concerned by the radical proposal that runs rough shod over the traditions of this Nation.  From what we have heard so far, the current proposal provides for little accountability, few assurances that tax payers will ever receive repayment, and little regard for the reality that it is we, the taxpayers, who are being asked to shoulder the price for the losing economic policies.

Given the severity of the crisis, we are now forced to consider drastic solutions that only a few months ago would have seemed inconceivable.  Expensive solutions that fly in the face of the fiscal conservatism that I have always embraced, and that may prove to create as many problems over the long term as they solve in the near term.

When I began my campaign to be your representative in Congress over a year ago, I spoke frequently about my concern about the direction our government was taking.  It seemed that our government no longer respected us.  Instead they treated their roles with a sense of privilege and entitlement, and spent our tax dollars with a recklessness more appropriate to Las Vegas than to Main Street.  Only a few weeks ago I travelled around the district presenting the Ackerson Pledge on the Economy, speaking directly to voters about the need for renewed fiscal discipline, greater government accountability, and more effective oversight by those whom we entrust to watch the soundness of our tax dollars, our banks, and our economy.

I want you to know that I take these issues very seriously.  Our government has failed us, and now they are asking us to pay the price for their losing policies.  It appears likely that regardless of what solution is adopted, it is we, the taxpayers, who will be held responsible.  It is failures like this that led me to run for Congress.

We must change Congress.  As your representative I will work tirelessly to ensure that Congress always respects their role as stewards of the taxpayers money.  As a fiscal conservative, I understand that tax money is not government money.  I will be accountable to you, and will fight for responsible government and effective oversight.

Over the coming days I will be actively monitoring the current crisis, meeting with advisors and voters, and discussing the likely outcome with legislators here in Indiana and in Washington.  As always, I will be listening to the people of this district, and welcome your thoughts as we continue through this difficult situation.

We need change in Washington.  It is clear that the current policies are not successful.  But America is a great Nation.  We have overcome great challenges before, and we will overcome this crisis.  Together we can, and we will, get our country back on the right track.

Yours for a new Congress,

Nels Ackerson

Nels is running for Congress to bring much-needed change and bipartisan leadership to Washington on behalf of Hoosiers in the Fourth District. From his childhood years on the family farm in Eagletown to a decades-long legal career representing the “little guy” against powerful governments and corporations, Nels has always stayed true to his Hoosier values. He is a champion of individual rights and economic opportunity who believes there is nothing we can’t accomplish by working together. Nels and his wife, Sharon, live in Zionsville. They have four grown children and a granddaughter. Learn more at www.nels4congress.com.

Commenting on the Journal & Courier’s survey results, McCann said he found the results in the District 4 contest between Republican Congressman Steve Buyer and Democratic challenger Nels Ackerson to be the most surprising.

Of 1,338 respondents who answered the question, 38 percent chose Buyer, 36 percent chose Ackerson, and 26 percent said they were undecided.

“I would have expected a bigger gap,” he said. In the 2006 election, Buyer garnered 53 percent of the Tippecanoe vote compared with 47 percent for his nearest rival. Districtwide Buyer won by a 62-38 margin.

“It’s a rough year to run as an incumbent Republican, and Ackerson has more resources than some of the earlier challengers to Buyer,” McCann said.

Clarks Hill resident Sharron Parker said she’s voted for Buyer in the past but thinks it might be time for a change.

“I think most people in the United States are thinking that,” she said.

See entire article.

September 15, 2008

Ackerson Decries Culture of Entitlement and Corruption In Congress and the Energy Industry

Zionsville, Ind - Nels Ackerson, Candidate for the 4th Congressional District, today called for stronger enforcement of criminal laws and more effective Congressional oversight in the wake of yet another ethics scandal in Washington.  “Our government continues to betray our trust by tolerating corruption and waste of taxpayers’ money.”

“We are literally losing billions of dollars every year because of government employees who chase perks from oil, gas, mineral and energy companies in exchange for one-sided contracts and underpriced leases.  The conduct by employees of the Minerals Management Service (MMS) is outrageous,” stated Ackerson. 

The MMS scandal follows on the heels of the April criminal conviction of high-powered Congressional lobbyist Jack Abramoff for trading expensive gifts, meals and sports trips in exchange for political favors.  Ackerson noted that this behavior should have been stopped years ago.  “Legislation to stop government employees from taking gifts from lobbyists and contractors should not have waited so long.  It is terrible that stronger versions of this law were blocked by members of Congress, allowing corruption that costs taxpayers billions.” 

Ackerson specifically criticized 16 year incumbent Steve Buyer, a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, for not only failing to fight the corruption, but instead showing a consistent tolerance of lax ethics in the Energy industry and encouraging the lobbyists from oil, gas, and energy companies that he oversees.  “The incumbent Steve Buyer has shown his loyalty to oil industry executives and corporate PACs who have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund his campaigns.  Since taking office 16 years ago Steve Buyer has taken over $160,000 from energy companies, and voted repeatedly to stop reforms that might reduce his fundraising perks.”

“It is clear that there is a culture of corruption and entitlement in Washington that is being tolerated throughout the government,” said Ackerson.  As published in the Wall Street Journal, the report from the Inspectors Generals’ office uncovered corruption at every level of the MMS, including a former department head.  Investigators found that government employees responsible for managing more than $4.3 billion dollars in taxpayer money have been regularly engaging in acts of sexual behavior, drug abuse, and bribery with the very people they regulate.   

Congressional records show that Buyer has consistently voted against restricting the influence of lobbyists and against legislation that would forbid Congressman like himself from receiving gifts.  Among the positions Buyer has supported are:

• Voting against the investigation into Jack Abramoff’s illegal lobbying activities (3/30/06, RC#76);
• Voting against stronger reporting requirements for lobbyists involved in fundraising for candidates (5/24/07, RC#420);
• Voting against repealing weak House ethics rules (4/27/05, RC# 145); and
• Voting for allowing groups to pay for a Congressperson’s travel, and lobbyists to cater dinners to their offices (1/7/03, RC#4);

“This incestuous relationship between corporate money and the Congressmen who oversee them is costing taxpayers billions.  It forces voters to question who their representatives are actually representing, the voters or the lobbyists that shower Congress with perks and money.  Congress has not upheld the trust of the people they represent to prevent these illegal activities, and instead Congress has been auctioning off that trust for their own enrichment,” said Nels.  “I know that I am not the only American who is tired of it.  I want our government returned to us and I want an explanation from Steve Buyer for standing in the way of accountability, voting to protect Abramoff and his cronies, and for his acceptance of so much money from companies that he oversees.”