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elected officials

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Campaign Update: Ron Drake for Congress

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2016
Contact:  RON DRAKE FOR CONGRESS 
                 8TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
                 P.O. BOX 444
                 SULLIVAN, INDIANA 47882
                 (202) 365-8262   
                 rondrakeatty@msn.com


Today Ron Drake, 8th District Democratic Party candidate for Congress, reported that he has received a copy of a Campaign Update from Orenlicher for Congress, dated February 23, 2016.  That update states:
We [Mr. Orenlicher] formally filed our candidacy on February 5 for the May 3 Democratic primary, and we do not face any serious opposition for the nomination.  That will allow us to focus on the November general election.

Mr. Drake stated:  “Mr. Orenlicher is a stranger to the 8th Congressional District from Indianapolis who filed his candidacy on the last day for filing.  He previously was defeated for Congress in his own Indianapolis Congressional District.  He reportedly then explored but backed out of running for Indiana Attorney General.  He reportedly then explored but backed out of running for Congress in the 9th Congressional District.  He then reportedly recently rented an apartment in Terre Haute so that he can claim residency to run for Congress here in our own 8th Congressional District.”

Mr. Drake went on to state that: “Apparently Mr. Orenlicher has declared the race over and that he has already won the nomination in the May primary, and may now go directly to the November general election.  However, as a stranger to our 8th Congressional District, Mr. Orenlicher may not know that here we wait until the ballots have been cast and counted before we claim victory.”

Mr. Drake then stated: “My campaign for Congress from my own home 8th Congressional District is not funded by outsider Indianapolis contributors.  In fact, I am the only candidate in this race with a home in and ties to the 8th Congressional District.  I am the only candidate who has worked with homeowners, farmers and miners in this 8th Congressional District.  I am the only candidate whose family has been in the 8th Congressional District for nearly 200 years.  I am the only candidate whose family mined coal in the 8th Congressional District, and then helped rescue fellow miners in a mine disaster.  I am the only candidate who, for the sake of Democratic Party unity, stood aside so that another person could run in the 2014 election.  Further, I am the only candidate who, win or lose, will continue with a home, family and family farm in and ties to the 8th Congressional District.”

Finally, Mr. Drake stated that “It is unseemly for a stranger to come into our 8th Congressional District, make an expedient claim of temporary residency, and then declare that he ‘do[es] not face any serious opposition for the nomination,’ before the primary election is over and before the ballots have been cast and counted.”