Opinion: Massachusetts’ 9th Congressional District can do better than Keating – Fall River Herald News

Jesse Brown| The Herald News

Jesse Brown, 43, of Plymouth, is a candidate for Congress.

For the past 10 years, the 9th Congressional District has been represented by Bill Keating, a professional politician who has been running for one office or another since before the day I was born. Its fair to say that there are few people who have spent so long in Washington and accomplished so little.

During his entire time in Congress, Keating has sponsored 84 bills, and not a single one is significant and substantive. To give credit where credit is due, in 2011 Keating did get one bill signed into law an act renaming the post office in Sagamore Beach. Thats the one and only bill he sponsored that became law.

A closer look at his voting record shows that he voted with Nancy Pelosi on every single vote in the last Congress. I dont agree with anyone 100 percent of the time, but it seems Keating is just along for the ride, taking his orders from on high. Its hard to imagine that the residents of Pelosis San Francisco share precisely the same interests as the residents of New Bedford, Fall River or Cape Cod.

I think the 9th District can do better than a go along to get along career politico.

I was raised by a single mom and some good friends who filled in the significant gaps while mom worked three jobs to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. Life wasnt easy, and there was no such thing as just skating by.

I joined the Marines when I was just 17 because I knew that for all the challenges I faced as a kid, America had already blessed me with all the opportunity I needed to climb out and up. And thats literally what I did.

After I was honorably discharged from the Marines, I put the skills I had learned to work as a technician climbing cell towers. Its not a job for the faint of heart. After working my way up the ladder, no pun intended, I decided that to make the best life for my newborn daughter I would start a business of my own.

Today, that business, Heidrea Communications, is one of the largest veteran-owned businesses in Massachusetts employing around 70 workers and doing projects throughout New England and New York.

Along the way, I started Heidrea for Heroes, a charitable organization that helps veterans, their families and others who are in need with customized solutions for their specific challenges. Its the most rewarding work Ive ever done and Im grateful to have had the opportunity to meet and help so many of my fellow veterans who sacrificed for our country.

For all its greatness, America has some big challenges. There is a crisis at the border. Runaway spending. Socialism is on the march. They want to defund the police, and political correctness has run amok. Its because of career politicians like Bill Keating whose only mission is to hang on to the perks and power that come with public office.

Im still a young man with more to offer the community, state and nation that has given me so much. Im not one to sit on the sidelines or chirp from the back bench, and it frustrates me to no end to see the gridlock, petty partisanship and sandbox politics that dominate Washington.

Ive worked hard for everything Ive ever had, and I know we can do better. Im running for Congress because I want to help, and I think I can. Its time for a change, and if Im given the privilege of representing you in Congress, Ill bring the same determination, energy and sense of duty that Ive brought to every endeavor. And I wont let you down.

Jesse Brown, 43, of Plymouth, is a candidate for Congress.

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Opinion: Massachusetts' 9th Congressional District can do better than Keating - Fall River Herald News