Army Lt. Col. Allen B. West is destined to lead. West is currently running as one of the Republican contenders for U.S. Congress in Florida’s 22nd District. He graduated from the University of Tennessee and received his master’s degree in political science from Kansas State University. West also holds a Master of Military Arts and Sciences degree from the United States Army Command and General Staff Officer College. He is the fourth generation in his family to serve in the military, defending our country on many battlefronts. West has received numerous awards and decorations for his service, including the Bronze Star, three Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals (one with Valor), and a Valorous Unit Award.
During a recent interview, when West was asked how and why he decided to go from military service to Current Events, he replied, “I think it’s a natural transition – we take an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, and we continue to serve our country; we just get a different set of fatigues.”

Go West – Tackling the tough issues
Recent polls show West leading his opponent for Florida’s 22nd district congressional seat. West believes in restoring America by addressing many issues, some of which are Florida’s skyrocketing unemployment – at a rate of 12 percent, Florida’s housing foreclosure rate – the third highest in the country, and reducing the unprecedented national debt. As Congressman, he will work to cut government spending, seek broader tax cuts and strive to bring jobs back to South Florida. West feels the federal government needs to “understand their limits and focus on two main topics: the fiscal and physical security of America.”
West estimates that the Democrats have already quadrupled the deficit, and with their healthcare bill, the nation’s deficit is projected to increase by $9.3 trillion over the next decade. To maintain peace, West also believes in a strong military defense for the United States as it combats global terrorism and remains prepared to address other threats on the horizon, such as China, North Korea, Venezuela, Russia and Iran.
West also expresses his concern that energy independence is vital to America’s future, as we are currently importing approximately 65 percent of our energy from foreign sources. This provides a great deal of funding to terrorists – through “petro-dollars.” He believes that Americans must invest in a full spectrum of energy sources for domestic use, and possibly for export, too.
Another hot topic on West’s agenda is cracking down on illegal immigration, because it directly relates to national security, crime, jobs, education, welfare, healthcare, human trafficking, drug running and terrorists. Also in favor of school vouchers, West feels “it is imperative that education be brought back down to the local level – parents, teachers and communities – instead of state-run education, which is a derivative of the Manifesto of Marx and Engels. We need to give people choices. If someone wants to home-school, we should set the conditions for refunding them with books and so on.”

NAACP, racism and the Tea Party
When asked about his views regarding the NAACP and their recent actions, West feels that they are “totally outside the mandates of what they are supposed to be doing, which is focusing on the black community. They should be addressing issues on high unemployment, teenage pregnancy, high school dropout rates and the incarceration rates of young black men.” He continued, “My daughters are aware that they are among the 30 percent of children in the black community that have both a mother and father in their home. These concerns should be part of the agenda of the NAACP. I don’t condemn them as an organization; I condemn the leadership and resolution that they put forth. Their specific charge of the Tea Party Movement having its roots in racism – I find that quite funny because I have spoken at six Tea Party events and have never seen these racist ‘signs’ that are supposedly occurring. With today’s modern technology, you would think someone would have had a video of this. The NAACP is stoking racial fires.”

An additional point of view
While interviewing West, Scott Spages also shared his point of view on the candidate and his current campaign. Spages, who has been active in the Republican Party for 25 years, has run numerous local campaigns, including those of current Ft. Lauderdale Commissioner Romney Rogers and former Davie Mayor, Tom Truex. He is also the founder and leader of the Faith Forum at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, a community group aimed at involving Christians in their government and democracy.
When asked about the differences in West’s campaign this time around, as opposed to the first time he ran, two years ago, Spages explained that, “The experience and momentum from his first run has allowed him to build a very solid foundation. His fundraising alone is now four times what it was for the first, where he did quite well, and it keeps getting better. This is a very competitive race.” Spages continued discussing what is impressive about West, stating, “Before Allen first ran, there were rumors about his arrival, and we really didn’t know what to expect. Well, there have been no disappointments. He is the real deal. A distinguished military career, well educated, dedicated husband and father, and tremendous charisma, with a unique ability that few have, to articulate what America’s problems are and how to correct them.”
“The difference between Allen and other contenders, such as Klein, is that Allen has truly lived a life of public service, with over 20 years in the military, as a school teacher, and now offering his services as a candidate. Klein, on the other hand, is a lawyer, a lobbyist and very liberal. In a word, Allen is a leader, Klein is a career politician. America needs more leaders,” he added. When asked how he views West against someone like our current president, Scott shared, “Allen, as a black American who grew up of modest means, but with strong family values, offers the perfect juxtaposition for most voters to President Obama.”

Meet and greet
For South Floridians who are people of faith and would like to get to know West better, there is a religious leaders’ breakfast planned for 8 a.m., Aug. 19, at Galuppi’s in Pompano Beach. Both Christian and Jewish leaders in the community will be attending the breakfast, where they will be recognizing America’s Judeo-Christian heritage.
West’s beliefs are based upon the Founding Fathers’ vision for America of creating and defending the Constitution and Bill of Rights. He feels that this country is headed down the wrong path, and that the federal government needs to be put back in its place to perform the role that was originally designed for it. Your vote is vital in directing the path of our nation, so don’t miss your opportunity to make a difference by voting for West in the primary election on Aug. 24, and the general election on Nov. 2.

For more information on West’s leaders’ breakfast at Galuppi’s, please visit the Calendar section in this Newspaper. Additional information can also be found on his website: www.allenwestforcongress.com.